Where does “ísbjörn” come from?

ísbjörn (Icelandic) comes from Icelandic ís, from Old Norse íss, from Proto-Germanic īsą, from Proto-Indo-European h₁eyH- — ice, frost.

ísbjörn (Icelandic): polar bear

Definitions

  1. polar bear

Ancestry of “ísbjörn”, step by step

ísbjörn traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Icelandic ís

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Icelandicísice; ice cream
2Old Norseíssice
3Proto-Germanicīsąice
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁eyH-ice, frost

via Icelandic Björn

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1IcelandicBjörnbear mammal
2Old NorseBjǫrnbear (animal)
3Proto-Germanicbernuzbear
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁eyH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic īsą →Every word from Old Norse íss →