Where does “könig” come from?
könig (German) comes from Middle High German künec, from Old High German kuning, from Proto-West Germanic kuning, from Proto-Germanic kuningaz, from Proto-Germanic kunją, from Proto-Indo-European ǵn̥h₁yom, from Proto-Indo-European ǵenh₁- — to produce, to beget, to give birth.
Ancestry of “könig”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle High German | künec | — |
| 2 | Old High German | kuning | king |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | kuning | king |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | kuningaz | king |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | kunją | kin, family, clan; omen, portent, miracle |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵn̥h₁yom | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵenh₁- | to produce, to beget, to give birth |