Where does “ne” come from?

ne (German) comes from Middle High German ne, from Old High German ne, from Proto-Germanic nē, from Proto-Germanic aiwaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eyu-, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ey- — vital force, life, age, eternity; day, morning.

ne (German): right?; is it?; is it not?; tag question;...

Definitions

  1. right?; is it?; is it not?; tag question;...

Ancestry of “ne”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germanne—
2Old High Germannenot
3Proto-Germanicnēnot
4Proto-Germanicaiwazlong time, age, eternity
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eyu-vitality; eternal; vital force, life, long life,...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ey-vital force, life, age, eternity; day, morning
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ey- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eyu- →Every word from Proto-Germanic aiwaz →