Where does “Kopenhagen” come from?
Kopenhagen (German) comes from Middle Low German Kôpenhāgen, from Old Danish Køpmannæhafn, from Old Danish hafn, from Old Norse hǫfn, from Proto-Germanic habnō, from Proto-Indo-European kopno-.
Ancestry of “Kopenhagen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Low German | Kôpenhāgen | — |
| 2 | Old Danish | Køpmannæhafn | Copenhagen |
| 3 | Old Danish | hafn | harbour, port |
| 4 | Old Norse | hǫfn | port, harbor, haven |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | habnō | harbour, haven; harvour, haven |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | kopno- | — |