Where does “de” come from?

de (Low German) comes from Middle Low German dê, from Old Saxon thē, from Proto-Germanic þa, from Proto-Indo-European tód, from Proto-Indo-European to-, from Proto-Indo-European só — this; that.

de (Low German): the; which, that

Definitions

  1. the; which, that

Ancestry of “de”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Low Germandê—
2Old Saxonthēthat, that one
3Proto-Germanicþa—
4Proto-Indo-Europeantóddemonstrative pronoun; that; it
5Proto-Indo-Europeanto-it; that; the, that
6Proto-Indo-Europeansóthis; that
Every word from Proto-Indo-European só →Every word from Proto-Indo-European to- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European tód →