Etymology Explorer › Greek

Where does “ποινή” come from?

ποινή (Greek) comes from Ancient Greek ποινή, from Proto-Hellenic kʷoinā́, from Proto-Indo-European kʷoynéh₂, from Proto-Indo-European kʷey- — to pay; to avenge.

ποινή (Greek): punishment, sentence, penalty

Definitions

  1. punishment, sentence, penalty

Ancestry of “ποινή”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekποινήblood money, wergeld; fine, ransom, penalty,...
2Proto-Hellenickʷoinā́—
3Proto-Indo-Europeankʷoynéh₂payment; punishment, vengeance
4Proto-Indo-Europeankʷey-to pay; to avenge
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷey- →