Etymology Explorer › Spanish

Where does “subalterno” come from?

subalterno (Spanish) comes from Late Latin subalternus, from Latin alternus, from Latin alter, from Proto-Indo-European h₂élteros, from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- — to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam.

subalterno (Spanish): subordinate; subaltern

Definitions

  1. subordinate; subaltern

Ancestry of “subalterno”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Late Latinsubalternus—
2Latinalternusalternate , successive; interchangeable; mutual,...
3Latinalterthe other, the second; the one...the other
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂élterosother , second
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂el-to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- →