Where does “auto” come from?

auto (Neapolitan) comes from Latin altus, from Proto-Italic altos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eltós, from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- — to grow, nourish.

auto (Neapolitan): tall; high

Definitions

  1. tall; high

Ancestry of “auto”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinaltushigh, tall; deep; profound
2Proto-Italicaltos—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eltós—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂él-to grow, nourish
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eltós →Every word from Proto-Italic altos →