Where does “bernstein” come from?
bernstein (German) comes from German stein, from Middle High German stein, from Old High German stein, from Proto-West Germanic stain, from Proto-Germanic stainaz, from Proto-Indo-European steyh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- — to stand.
bernstein (German): amber
Definitions
- amber
Ancestry of “bernstein”, step by step
bernstein traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via German stein
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | stein | stone, rock |
| 2 | Middle High German | stein | stone |
| 3 | Old High German | stein | stone |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | stain | stone |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | stainaz | stone |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | steyh₂- | to stiffen |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | steh₂- | to stand |
via German bär
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | bär | — |
| 2 | Middle High German | bër | bear |
| 3 | Old High German | beri | A berry |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | baʀi | berry |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | bazją | berry |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂- | to shine, glow light; to speak, say |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂-s-ri- | — |
via Middle Low German Bernstein
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Low German | Bernstein | — |