Where does “wowo” come from?

wowo (Papiamentu) comes from Kabuverdianu odju, from Portuguese Olho, from Old Portuguese olho, from Vulgar Latin oclus, from Latin oculus, from Proto-Italic okʷelos, from Proto-Indo-European h₃ókʷs, from Proto-Indo-European h₃ekʷ- — to see; eye.

wowo (Papiamentu): eye

Definitions

  1. eye

Ancestry of “wowo”, step by step

wowo traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Kabuverdianu odju

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Kabuverdianuodjueye
2PortugueseOlhoeye
3Old Portugueseolho
4Vulgar Latinocluseye; Alternative form of oculus
5LatinoculusAn eye; the power of sight; a spot resembling an...
6Proto-Italicokʷeloseye
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ókʷseye
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃ekʷ-to see; eye

via Spanish ojo

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishojoeye; keyhole; caution
2Old Spanishojoeye
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃ekʷ-