Where does “it” come from?
it (Middle English) comes from Old English hit, from Proto-Germanic hit, from Proto-Indo-European ḱe- — demonstrative particle; here; this, here.
it (Middle English): Alternative form of hit
Ancestry of “it”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | hit | it |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | hit | nominative/accusative singular neuter of *hiz |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱe- | demonstrative particle; here; this, here |