sawol

Old English

Alternative forms

• sawel, sawal, saul, and sowhul

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *saiwalō. Cognate with Old Frisian sēla (West Frisian siel), Old Saxon sēola (Low German Seel), Old Dutch sēla (Dutch ziel), Old High German sēla (German Seele), Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐌹𐍅𐌰𐌻𐌰 (saiwala). Further etymology uncertain, though the word corresponds formally with Greek 'αιολος' quick-moving, Albanian gjallë (“alive”) and Russian сило (silo, “strength”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈsaːwol/

Noun

sāwol f (nominative plural sāwla)

1. soul
2. the intellectual or immortal principle in man

Descendants

• Middle English: sawle, sowle
  • English: soul
  • Scots: saul
• Old Norse: sála, sál