Where does “klein” come from?

klein (German) comes from Middle High German klein, from Old High German kleini, from Proto-West Germanic *klainī, from Proto-Germanic klainiz, from Proto-Indo-European g(e)lēi-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.

klein (German): small, little, tiny, wee, small-scale; little,...

Definitions

  1. small, little, tiny, wee, small-scale; little,...

Ancestry of “klein”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germanklein—
2Old High Germankleinismall, fine, slender; soft, clean; smart,...
3Proto-West Germanic*klainīfine, small
4Proto-Germanicklainizshining, fine, splendid; tender, precious
5Proto-Indo-Europeang(e)lēi-gleaming
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow

Words derived from “klein”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- →