Etymology Explorer › German

Where does “wenig” come from?

wenig (German) comes from Middle High German weinec, from Old High German weinag, from Proto-Germanic wainagaz, from Proto-Germanic wainōną, from Proto-Indo-European wáy, from Proto-Indo-European uwáy — to see oneself.

wenig (German): little, few

Definitions

  1. little, few

Ancestry of “wenig”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle High Germanweinec—
2Old High Germanweinag—
3Proto-Germanicwainagazwoeful, sad; pathetic, pitiable
4Proto-Germanicwainōnąto cry, to lament, to grieve
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwáyoh!; ah!; woe!
6Proto-Indo-Europeanuwáyto see oneself

Words derived from “wenig”

  • ebensowenig
Every word from Proto-Indo-European uwáy →