Where does “frau” come from?
frau (German) comes from Middle High German vrouwe, from Old High German frouwa, from Proto-West Germanic *frauwjā, from Proto-Germanic frawjǭ, from Proto-Indo-European proHwo-, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.
frau (German): one, they
Definitions
- one, they
Ancestry of “frau”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle High German | vrouwe | woman, lady, madam |
| 2 | Old High German | frouwa | lady |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | *frauwjā | lady, wife of a lord woman of high standing |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | frawjǭ | lady, wife of a lord |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | proHwo- | master, judge; right judge, master |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |