Where does “Zgorzelec” come from?
Zgorzelec (Polish) comes from Lower Sorbian Zgórjelc, from Proto-Slavic gorěti, from Proto-Balto-Slavic garḗˀtei, from Proto-Indo-European gʷʰer-, from Proto-Indo-European gʷʰe-gʷʰór-e ~ gʷʰe-gʷʰr-ḗr.
Ancestry of “Zgorzelec”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lower Sorbian | Zgórjelc | — |
| 2 | Proto-Slavic | gorěti | to burn |
| 3 | Proto-Balto-Slavic | garḗˀtei | to burn |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷʰer- | warm, hot |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷʰe-gʷʰór-e ~ gʷʰe-gʷʰr-ḗr | — |