Etymology Explorer › Norwegian Nynorsk

Where does “kjempe-” come from?

kjempe- (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Norwegian Nynorsk kjempe, from Old Norse kempa, from Old English cempa, from Proto-West Germanic kampijō, from Proto-West Germanic kampijan, from Latin campus, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂emp-, from Proto-Indo-European kh₂em- — to bend, to curve.

kjempe- (Norwegian Nynorsk): terrific, very, super-, extremely; large, of big...

Definitions

  1. terrific, very, super-, extremely; large, of big...

Ancestry of “kjempe-”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Norwegian Nynorskkjempea giant, titan; ribgrass, ribwort, plantain
2Old Norsekempagiant
3Old Englishcempasoldier, warrior; champion
4Proto-West Germanickampijōcombat soldier
5Proto-West Germanickampijanto battle; to campaign
6LatincampusOpen flat level ground: a plain, a natural field;...
7Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂emp-to bend; crooked; to bend, curve
8Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂em-to bend, to curve

Words derived from “kjempe-”

  • kjempebra
  • kjempesuksess
  • kjempejobb
  • kjempestor
  • kjempemessig
  • kjempediger
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kh₂em- →