Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “sich” come from?

sich (German) comes from Middle High German sich, from Old High German sih, from Proto-Germanic sik, from Proto-Germanic sīką, from Proto-Indo-European seykʷ-, from Proto-Indo-European sey- — to be wet; dribble; run; to stretch one's arm;...

sich (German): herself, himself, itself, oneself; themselves

Definitions

  1. herself, himself, itself, oneself; themselves

Ancestry of “sich”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germansich—
2Old High Germansihself
3Proto-GermanicsikAlternative form of *sek
4Proto-Germanicsīkątrickling water; a dribble; a slow brook; a...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanseykʷ-to moisten; to filter
6Proto-Indo-Europeansey-to be wet; dribble; run; to stretch one's arm;...

Words derived from “sich”

  • forelske
  • forelska
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sey- →