Where does “havfrue” come from?
havfrue (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Norwegian Nynorsk frue, from Old Norse frú, from Old Saxon frūa, from Proto-Germanic frawjǭ, from Proto-Indo-European proHwo-, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.
havfrue (Norwegian Nynorsk): a mermaid
Ancestry of “havfrue”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Norwegian Nynorsk | frue | housewife, mistress; madam, Mrs; wife |
| 2 | Old Norse | frú | — |
| 3 | Old Saxon | frūa | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | frawjǭ | lady, wife of a lord |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | proHwo- | master, judge; right judge, master |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |