Where does “isbjörn” come from?

isbjörn (Swedish) comes from Swedish is, from Old Swedish is, from Old Norse íss, from Proto-Germanic īsą, from Proto-Indo-European h₁eyH- — ice, frost.

isbjörn (Swedish): polar bear

Definitions

  1. polar bear

Ancestry of “isbjörn”, step by step

isbjörn traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Swedish is

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1SwedishisIce; frozen water; Ice; a sheet of ice lying on a...
2Old Swedishis—
3Old Norseíssice
4Proto-Germanicīsąice
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁eyH-ice, frost

via Swedish Björn

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1SwedishBjörna bear an ursid
2Old Swedishbiørnbear (animal)
3Old NorseBjǫrnbear (animal)
4Proto-Germanicbernuzbear
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁eyH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic īsą →Every word from Old Norse íss →