Where does “bienvenue” come from?
bienvenue (Old French) comes from Proto-Germanic *wiljakwemô, from Proto-Germanic wiljaną, from Proto-Indo-European wélyoyt, from Proto-Indo-European wélyeti, from Proto-Indo-European welh₁- — to choose; to want.
Ancestry of “bienvenue”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-Germanic | *wiljakwemô | A wished-for guest or arrival |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | wiljaną | to want |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | wélyoyt | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | wélyeti | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | welh₁- | to choose; to want |