Etymology Explorer › Spanish

Where does “gala” come from?

gala (Spanish) comes from Old Spanish gala, from Old French gale, from Old French galer, from Old French galle, from Latin galla, from Gaulish gallā, from Proto-Germanic gallǭ, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰelh₃- — to flourish; green, yellow.

gala (Spanish): feminine singular of galo; gala; elegant dress,...

Definitions

  1. feminine singular of galo; gala; elegant dress,...

Ancestry of “gala”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Spanishgala—
2Old Frenchgalepomp; show; festivity; mirth; rejoicing
3Old Frenchgalerto rub; to scratch; to have fun; to enjoy oneself
4Old Frenchgalle—
5Latingallathe oak apple, gall-nut; a harsh, sour kind of...
6Gaulishgallāvessel
7Proto-Germanicgallǭgall, bile
8Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰelh₃-to flourish; green, yellow

Words derived from “gala”

  • gala
  • gala
  • gäll
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰelh₃- →