Where does “välbehållen” come from?
välbehållen (Swedish) comes from Swedish väl, from Old Swedish hval, from Old Norse hvalr, from Proto-Germanic hwalaz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)kʷálos — large fish; sheatfish.
välbehållen (Swedish): safe and sound, unscathed
Definitions
- safe and sound, unscathed
Ancestry of “välbehållen”, step by step
välbehållen traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Swedish väl
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swedish | väl | well; accurately, completely, to a significant... |
| 2 | Old Swedish | hval | whale |
| 3 | Old Norse | hvalr | whale |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | hwalaz | whale, sheatfish |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)kʷálos | large fish; sheatfish |
via Swedish behållen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swedish | behållen | safe, substantial, stanch, kept, preserved |