Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/walaz

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 1

From Proto-Indo-European *welh₃- (“to wound; death (in battle); slain (in battle)”). Cognate with Lithuanian vėlė (“ghost”), Czech válka (“war”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwɑ.lɑz/

Noun

*walaz m

1. corpse, dead body
2. battlefield

Inflection

masculine a-stemDeclension of *walaz (masculine a-stem)
	singular	plural
nominative	*walaz	*walōz, *walōs
vocative	*wal	*walōz, *walōs
accusative	*walą	*walanz
genitive	*walas, *walis	*walǫ̂
dative	*walai	*walamaz
instrumental	*walō	*walamiz

Derived terms

• *in walą fallaną (“to fall in battle”)
• *walakuzjǭ (“slain-chooser; Valkyrie”)
• *walaraubō (“corpse-plunder”)

Descendants

• Proto-West Germanic: *wal
  • Old English: wæl n
    • Middle English: wæl, wal, wel
  • ⇒ Old Saxon: waldād
  • Old High German: wal m or n
    • Middle High German: wal m or n
      • German: Wal (primarily in compounds)
• Old Norse: valr; valkyrja; Valhǫll
  • Icelandic: valur; Valhöll
    • → English: Valkyrie; Valhalla, Walhalla
  • Norwegian: val (in compounds)
  • Swedish: val (archaic)
  • Danish: val (primarily in compounds)

Etymology 2

From pre-Germanic *wolhH-os, "turned or turning", from Proto-Indo-European *welH- (“to turn, wind”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈwɑ.lɑz/

Adjective

*walaz

1. round; oval

Inflection

Declension of *walaz (a-stem)

strong declension
	masculine		feminine		neuter
	singular	plural	singular	plural	singular	plural
nominative	*walaz	*walai	*walō	*walôz	*walą, *-at(ō)	*walō
accusative	*walanǭ	*walanz	*walǭ	*walōz	*walą, *-at(ō)	*walō
genitive	*walas, *walis	*walaizǫ̂	*walaizōz	*walaizǫ̂	*walas, *walis	*walaizǫ̂
dative	*walammai	*walaimaz	*walaizōi	*walaimaz	*walammai	*walaimaz
instrumental	*walanō	*walaimiz	*walaizō	*walaimiz	*walanō	*walaimiz
weak declension
	masculine		feminine		neuter
	singular	plural	singular	plural	singular	plural
nominative	*walô	*walaniz	*walǭ	*walōniz	*walô	*walōnō
accusative	*walanų	*walanunz	*walōnų	*walōnunz	*walô	*walōnō
genitive	*waliniz	*walanǫ̂	*walōniz	*walōnǫ̂	*waliniz	*walanǫ̂
dative	*walini	*walammaz	*walōni	*walōmaz	*walini	*walammaz
instrumental	*walinē	*walammiz	*walōnē	*walōmiz	*walinē	*walammiz

Related terms

• *waluz

Descendants

• Old Norse: valr

References

• Kroonen, Guus (2013) Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Germanic (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 11), Leiden, Boston: Brill, →ISBN