Etymology Explorer › Norwegian

Where does “Oslo” come from?

Oslo (Norwegian) comes from Old Norse Ósló, from Proto-Germanic ansuz, from Old High German helm, from Proto-West Germanic helm, from Proto-Germanic helmaz, from Proto-Germanic halmaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱolh₂mos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- — to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab.

Ancestry of “Oslo”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old NorseÓsló—
2Proto-Germanicansuzdeity, god; name of the A-rune
3Old High Germanhelmhelmet
4Proto-West Germanichelmhelmet
5Proto-Germanichelmazhelmet
6Proto-Germanichalmazhalm; stem; stalk; straw; hay
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱolh₂mosstalk
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱelh₂-to pierce, strike; to stick; prick; stab

Words derived from “Oslo”

  • Oslo
  • Oslovian
  • Osloite
  • Oslo
  • オスロ
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱelh₂- →