Where does “דובֿ־בער” come from?

דובֿ־בער (Yiddish) comes from Hebrew דוב, from Proto-Semitic dubb-, from Proto-Afroasiatic dab- — big animal.

Ancestry of “דובֿ־בער”, step by step

דובֿ־בער traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Hebrew דוב

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Hebrewדובbear
2Proto-Semiticdubb-bear
3Proto-Afroasiaticdab-big animal

via Hebrew בער

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Hebrewבערto burn; to destroy, remove; fool, stupid person
Every word from Proto-Afroasiatic dab- →Every word from Proto-Semitic dubb- →Every word from Hebrew דוב →