Etymology Explorer › Scottish Gaelic

Where does “anam” come from?

anam (Scottish Gaelic) comes from Old Irish ainim, from Latin anima, from Latin animus, from Proto-Italic anamos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁mos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁- — to breathe.

anam (Scottish Gaelic): soul, spirit; mind; life, breath

Definitions

  1. soul, spirit; mind; life, breath

Ancestry of “anam”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old IrishainimAlternative spelling of ainimm; blemish, defect
2Latinanimasoul, spirit, life; air, breeze; breath
3LatinanimusThat life-giving aspect which animates: life...
4Proto-Italicanamosbreath; spirit, soul, life force
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂enh₁mosbreath
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂enh₁-to breathe
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁- →