Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/wela

This Proto-Germanic entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Germanic

Etymology

Probably from earlier *welat, neuter accusative to an unattested adjective *welaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁- (“to want”). Cognate with Sanskrit वर (vára, “better, best”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwe.lɑ/

Adverb

*wela (adjective *gōdaz, comparative *batiz, superlative *batist)

1. well (in a good manner)

Descendants

• Old English: wel
  • Middle English: wel, well, weel, weele, wele, welle, wulle, wille, wal, wol
    • English: well
    • Geordie English: weel
    • Scots: weel, wele, weil, weill
    • Yola: waal, wull, well, wel, vella (before consonant)
• Old Frisian: wel, wal, wol
  • North Frisian: wel, weil, wal
  • Saterland Frisian: wul, wäil
  • West Frisian: wol
• Old Saxon: wela, wel, wala, wola
  • Middle Low German: wole, wol, wal
    • Low German: wol, wull
• Old Dutch: *wela, wala
  • Middle Dutch: wel
    • Dutch: wel
      • Afrikaans: wel
      • Negerhollands: wel
      • Skepi Creole Dutch: wel
      • → Kwinti: wel
    • Limburgish: wèl, waal
• Old High German: wola, wela (we- > wo- as in wohha etc.)
  • Middle High German: wol, wole
    • Cimbrian: bóol, boll
    • German: wohl
    • Luxembourgish: wuel
    • Yiddish: ווויל (voyl)
• Old Norse: vel
  • Icelandic: vel
  • Faroese: væl
  • Norwegian: vel
  • Old Swedish: væl, val
    • Swedish: väl
  • Old Danish: væl
    • Danish: vel
• Gothic: 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌰 (waila)