Where does “jólasveinn” come from?

jólasveinn (Icelandic) comes from Icelandic jól, from Old Norse jól, from Proto-Germanic jehwlą, from Proto-Indo-European yekə- — joke, play.

jólasveinn (Icelandic): a Yule lad

Definitions

  1. a Yule lad

Ancestry of “jólasveinn”, step by step

jólasveinn traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Icelandic jól

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1IcelandicjólChristmas, Noel; Yule
2Old Norsejólyule, midwinter season
3Proto-Germanicjehwląfestivity, celebration; Yule
4Proto-Indo-Europeanyekə-joke, play

via Icelandic Sveinn

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1IcelandicSveinnboy, lad
2Old Norsesveinnboy, lad; servant, lackey
3Proto-Germanicswainazrelative; kinsman; young man; herder; herdsman,...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanswéself
Every word from Proto-Indo-European yekə- →Every word from Proto-Germanic jehwlą →Every word from Old Norse jól →