Where does “bitte” come from?
bitte (German) comes from German bitten, from Middle High German bitten, from Old High German bitten, from Proto-West Germanic biddjan, from Proto-Germanic bidjaną, from Proto-Indo-European bʰidʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeydʰ- — to compel, force; to trust.
bitte (German): please, if you please; you're welcome; excuse me,...
Definitions
- please, if you please; you're welcome; excuse me,...
Ancestry of “bitte”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | bitten | to ask, to beg, to plead, to request |
| 2 | Middle High German | bitten | — |
| 3 | Old High German | bitten | to ask |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | biddjan | to ask, to make a request |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | bidjaną | to make a request; to ask; to request, ask |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰidʰ- | to command; pot, bucket, barrel |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeydʰ- | to compel, force; to trust |