Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “Liebe” come from?

Liebe (German) comes from Middle High German liebe, from Old High German lioba, from Proto-Germanic leubaz, from Proto-Indo-European lewbʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European lēw- — to sound, resound, sing out; to leave.

Liebe (German): love; a feeling of love for someone or something...

Definitions

  1. love; a feeling of love for someone or something...

Ancestry of “Liebe”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germanliebethe quality of love, pleasure, joy, favour, love;...
2Old High Germanliobafortune, health, pleasantness, joy
3Proto-Germanicleubazdear, beloved
4Proto-Indo-Europeanlewbʰ-to desire, covet, want; to admire, praise; to...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanlēw-to sound, resound, sing out; to leave

Words derived from “Liebe”

  • Liebestod
  • liebesfähig
  • Liebestod
  • Liebesbrief
  • lieblos
  • Liebeswerben
  • liebeshungrig
  • liebeskrank
  • Liebchen
  • Liebling
  • Ordnungsliebe
  • Lieblingsjünger
  • Liebesgedicht
  • liebestoll
  • Hassliebe
  • liebevoll
  • liebreizend
  • líbesbríf
  • ליבע
  • ליבשאַפֿט
  • Liibling
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lēw- →