Where does “niedlich” come from?
niedlich (German) comes from Old Saxon niudliko, from Old Saxon niud, from Proto-West Germanic *niudi, from Proto-Indo-European newdʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European new- — new; to nod, assent to.
niedlich (German): cute, pretty, charming, adorable; tiny, minute
Definitions
- cute, pretty, charming, adorable; tiny, minute
Ancestry of “niedlich”, step by step
niedlich traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Old Saxon niudliko
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old Saxon | niudliko | zealously, carefully |
| 2 | Old Saxon | niud | desire, longing; zeal, eagerness; pleasure |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | *niudi | desire, eagerness |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | newdʰ- | seeking, need |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | new- | new; to nod, assent to |
via Old High German nītlīche
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old High German | nītlīche | — |
via Middle Low German nütlik
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Low German | nütlik | — |