Etymology Explorer › Middle High German

Where does “malen” come from?

malen (Middle High German) comes from Old High German mālōn, from Old High German māl, from Proto-West Germanic māl, from Proto-Germanic mēlą, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

Ancestry of “malen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old High Germanmālōnto paint, to draw
2Old High Germanmāla time; spot, stain
3Proto-West Germanicmāltime, occasion; mealtime
4Proto-Germanicmēląmeasure, measurement; time, occasion; point in...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmelh₂-to grind, to crush
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

Words derived from “malen”

  • male
  • ausmalen
  • malen
  • Einmaleins
  • mal
  • malte
  • zigmal
  • paarmal
  • malować
  • malowidło
  • malebný
  • malovat
  • malba
  • olejomalba
  • zvukomalba
  • מאָלן
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →