Where does “Kleine” come from?

Kleine (German) comes from Middle High German kleine, from Old High German kleini, from Proto-West Germanic *klainī, from Proto-Germanic klainiz, from Proto-Indo-European g(e)lēi-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.

Kleine (German): girl; young woman

Definitions

  1. girl; young woman

Ancestry of “Kleine”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germankleine—
2Old High Germankleinismall, fine, slender; soft, clean; smart,...
3Proto-West Germanic*klainīfine, small
4Proto-Germanicklainizshining, fine, splendid; tender, precious
5Proto-Indo-Europeang(e)lēi-gleaming
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European g(e)lēi- →Every word from Proto-Germanic klainiz →