Where does “kleine” come from?

kleine (Middle Low German) comes from Old Saxon klēni, from Proto-West Germanic *klainī, from Proto-Germanic klainiz, from Proto-Indo-European g(e)lēi-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.

kleine (Middle Low German): small, little; narrow, thin; minor, unimportant

Definitions

  1. small, little; narrow, thin; minor, unimportant

Ancestry of “kleine”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Saxonklēni—
2Proto-West Germanic*klainīfine, small
3Proto-Germanicklainizshining, fine, splendid; tender, precious
4Proto-Indo-Europeang(e)lēi-gleaming
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow

Words derived from “kleine”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European g(e)lēi- →Every word from Proto-Germanic klainiz →