Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “Portugal” come from?

Portugal (German) comes from Portuguese Portugal, from Middle English Portyngale, from Middle French Portingal, from Latin Portucale, from Latin Portus Cale, from Latin Portus, from Proto-Italic portus, from Proto-Indo-European pértus — passed , crossed.

Ancestry of “Portugal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1PortuguesePortugal—
2Middle EnglishPortyngale—
3Middle FrenchPortingal—
4LatinPortucalePortugal
5LatinPortus CaleOporto
6LatinPortus—
7Proto-Italicportusharbour
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpértuscrossing
9Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →