Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “wachen” come from?

wachen (German) comes from Old High German wahhēn, from Proto-West Germanic wakēn, from Proto-Germanic wakāną, from Proto-Indo-European weǵ- — lively, awake; strong.

wachen (German): to be awake; to watch, to guard

Definitions

  1. to be awake; to watch, to guard

Ancestry of “wachen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old High Germanwahhēn—
2Proto-West Germanicwakēnto wake, to be awake
3Proto-Germanicwakānąto wake, to be awake
4Proto-Indo-Europeanweǵ-lively, awake; strong

Words derived from “wachen”

  • wachten
  • Aufwachraum
  • aufwachen
  • Überwachung
  • unbewacht
  • bewacht
  • durchwachen
  • überwachen
  • Wachturm
  • bewachen
  • wacht
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weǵ- →