Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “unumgänglich” come from?

unumgänglich (German) comes from German umgänglich, from German Umgang, from Middle High German umbeganc, from Old High German umbigang, from Proto-Germanic umbigangaz, from Proto-Germanic umbiganganą, from Proto-Germanic umbi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂m̥bʰi — on, onto.

unumgänglich (German): essential; inevitable; difficult; prickly

Definitions

  1. essential; inevitable; difficult; prickly

Ancestry of “unumgänglich”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanumgänglichcompanionable, accostable, affable
2GermanUmgangdealings, intercourse; acquaintances; procession
3Middle High Germanumbeganc—
4Old High Germanumbiganga course, return
5Proto-Germanicumbigangaza going around, going about, circuit
6Proto-Germanicumbiganganąto go about, go around
7Proto-Germanicumbiaround, about
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂m̥bʰiaround, on either side of, about; in exchange...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂n̥tbʰi—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntsforehead; front
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ent-face; forehead; front
12Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂en- →