Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/hwō

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

Alternative forms

• *hwē, *hwī

Etymology

From a form of Proto-Indo-European *kʷos, *kʷis. Compare Latin quō (“where(to); why; so that”) (Proto-Italic *kʷō) and Ancient Greek πω (pō, “ever”), Ionic Greek κω (kō) (Proto-Hellenic *kʷō). Equivalent to *hwaz (“what”) +‎ *-ō (instrumental ending).

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /xʷɔː/

Pronoun

*hwō

1. how, with what, by what means; instrumental of *hwaz

Descendants

• Proto-West Germanic: *hwō
  • Old English: hū, hwu
    • Middle English: how, hou, howe, hu, hwu, whu, wou, wu
      • English: how
      • Geordie English: hoo
      • Scots: hoo, how, foo
      • Yola: fowe, how
  • Old Frisian: hū, hō
    • North Frisian: ho
    • Saterland Frisian: wo
    • West Frisian: hoe > hoe't
  • Old Saxon: hwō, hwuo, hū
    • Middle Low German: wô, wû
      • Low German: wo
  • Old Dutch: huo
    • Middle Dutch: hoe
      • Dutch: hoe
      • Limburgish: woe
  • Old High German: wuo (Franconian)