Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “Island” come from?

Island (German) comes from Danish Island, from Old Norse Ísland, from Old Norse íss, from Proto-Germanic īsą, from Proto-Indo-European h₁eyH- — ice, frost.

Ancestry of “Island”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1DanishIsland—
2Old NorseÍslandIceland
3Old Norseíssice
4Proto-Germanicīsąice
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁eyH-ice, frost

Words derived from “Island”

  • Isländerin
  • Isländer
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁eyH- →