Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “gern” come from?

gern (German) comes from Middle High German gerne, from Old High German gerno, from Proto-West Germanic gernō, from Proto-Germanic gernô, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- — to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines.

gern (German): willingly; gladly; with pleasure; much; a lot;...

Definitions

  1. willingly; gladly; with pleasure; much; a lot;...

Ancestry of “gern”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germangerne—
2Old High Germangernowillingly
3Proto-West Germanicgernōwillingly, eagerly
4Proto-Germanicgernôwillingly, eagerly
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰer-to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines

Words derived from “gern”

  • gern geschehen
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- →