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-. Cognate with Sanskrit वर (vára, “better, best”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈwe.lɑ/

Adverb

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

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)