Where does “gern” come from?
gern (Old Saxon) comes from Proto-West Germanic gern, from Proto-Germanic gernaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- — to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines.
gern (Old Saxon): eager; willingly
Ancestry of “gern”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Proto-West Germanic | gern | eager, willing |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | gernaz | eager, willing |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰer- | to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines |