Where does “el” come from?

el (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch elli, from Proto-West Germanic alljas, from Proto-Germanic aljas, from Proto-Indo-European h₂élyos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- — to grow, nourish.

el (Middle Dutch): other, another; else, otherwise; elsewhere

Definitions

  1. other, another; else, otherwise; elsewhere

Ancestry of “el”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchelli—
2Proto-West Germanicalljaselse, otherwise, besides
3Proto-Germanicaljasof another, of something else
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂élyosother, another
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂él-to grow, nourish
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂élyos →Every word from Proto-Germanic aljas →