Etymology Explorer › Spanish

Where does “güey” come from?

güey (Spanish) comes from Spanish buey, from Old Spanish buey, from Vulgar Latin boem, from Latin bōs, from Ancient Greek βοῦς, from Latin corvus, from Proto-Italic korwos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱorh₂wós — army.

güey (Spanish): chump, punk, dumbass, idiot, jerk; dude, guy,...

Definitions

  1. chump, punk, dumbass, idiot, jerk; dude, guy,...

Ancestry of “güey”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishbueyox, bullock, steer; guy, dumb, dude; cuckold
2Old Spanishbuey—
3Vulgar Latinboemfirst-person singular present active subjunctive...
4Latinbōs—
5Ancient Greekβοῦςcow, ox, cattle; shield: ὃτι ἐκ βοείων ἐστι...
6LatincorvusA raven; a bird associated with prophecy and...
7Proto-Italickorwos—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱorh₂wós—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
10Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
11Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army

Words derived from “güey”

  • we
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →