Where does “Weh” come from?
Weh (German) comes from Middle High German we, from Old High German wē, from Proto-West Germanic wai, from Proto-Germanic wai, from Proto-Indo-European wai — oh!; woe!.
Weh (German): psychological suffering; misery, woe; physical...
Definitions
- psychological suffering; misery, woe; physical...
Ancestry of “Weh”, step by step
Weh traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle High German we
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle High German | we | — |
| 2 | Old High German | wē | woe |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | wai | woe!, alas! |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | wai | woe! alas! |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | wai | oh!; woe! |
via Middle High German wach
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle High German | wach | — |