Where does “willkamen” come from?
willkamen (Low German) comes from Middle Low German willekōmen, from Old Saxon *willikumo, from Proto-West Germanic *willjakwemō, from Proto-Germanic *wiljakwemô, from Proto-Germanic wiljaną, from Proto-Indo-European wélyoyt, from Proto-Indo-European wélyeti, from Proto-Indo-European welh₁- — to choose; to want.
willkamen (Low German): welcome
Definitions
- welcome
Ancestry of “willkamen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Low German | willekōmen | — |
| 2 | Old Saxon | *willikumo | — |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | *willjakwemō | a wished-for guest or arrival |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *wiljakwemô | A wished-for guest or arrival |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wiljaną | to want |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wélyoyt | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wélyeti | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | welh₁- | to choose; to want |