Etymology Explorer › Old Irish

Where does “ben” come from?

ben (Old Irish) comes from Proto-Celtic benā, from Proto-Indo-European gʷḗn, from Proto-Indo-European gʷen- — woman.

ben (Old Irish): woman; wife; third-person singular present...

Definitions

  1. woman; wife; third-person singular present...

Ancestry of “ben”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Celticbenāwoman
2Proto-Indo-Europeangʷḗnwoman
3Proto-Indo-Europeangʷen-woman

Words derived from “ben”

  • banshee
  • bansheelike
  • Bebhionn
  • bandraíodóir
  • banchuire
  • bansabhdán
  • banadhaltrach
  • banalmsach
  • banambasadóir
  • banchosantóir
  • banchoimeádaí
  • banchealgaire
  • fáidhbhean
  • spéirbhean
  • banphrióir
  • ban-ab
  • bean
  • bantréadaí
  • banógh
  • banphrócadóir
  • banphríosúnach
  • bandia
  • banmharcach
  • banmharcas
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷen- →