Etymology Explorer › Middle Dutch

Where does “open” come from?

open (Middle Dutch) comes from Old Dutch opan, from Proto-West Germanic *opan, from Proto-Germanic upanaz, from Proto-Indo-European upó, from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp-.

Ancestry of “open”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Dutchopan—
2Proto-West Germanic*opan—
3Proto-Germanicupanazopen
4Proto-Indo-Europeanupóunder, below
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ewp-—

Words derived from “open”

  • opendoen
  • openhalen
  • opensperren
  • openlucht
  • opengaan
  • open
  • oopgaan
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ewp- →