Where does “leben” come from?
leben (German) comes from Middle High German leben, from Old High German lebēn, from Proto-West Germanic libbjan, from Proto-Germanic libjaną, from Proto-Indo-European leyp-, from Proto-Indo-European lēy- — to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave...
Ancestry of “leben”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle High German | leben | — |
| 2 | Old High German | lebēn | to live; life |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | libbjan | to live, to be alive |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | libjaną | to live, to be alive |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | leyp- | to stick; fat or sticky substance |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | lēy- | to leave, let; to want, desire; to let; leave... |