Where does “Gradec” come from?
Gradec (Slovene) comes from German Graz, from German Gratz, from Proto-Slavic gradьcь, from Proto-Slavic gordъ, from Proto-Balto-Slavic gardas, from Proto-Indo-European gʰerdʰ- — to enclose, to encircle; enclosure, fence, belt.
Ancestry of “Gradec”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | Graz | — |
| 2 | German | Gratz | — |
| 3 | Proto-Slavic | gradьcь | small castle |
| 4 | Proto-Slavic | gordъ | fortification, castle; town, city |
| 5 | Proto-Balto-Slavic | gardas | enclosure |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰerdʰ- | to enclose, to encircle; enclosure, fence, belt |