Fordsmender's Dictionary of Proto-Germanic Roots

The Phonology of Proto-Germanic

Vowels Short Long i u ī ū e y o æ ō a ā Diphthongs: ai au ei eu

Those sounds given in white are those that do not occur frequently. There is also an /

�"

/ of very rare occurance; it sounds as IPA [e:].

Consonants Labial Dental Velar Labiovelar Plosives p

b t

d k kw Fricatives f

bh th

ð

s

z H

γ Hw

γw Nasals m n ŋ Liquids l, r Semivowels w j

A

a

duγunthiz.



abound

stampōjanan.



accustom

akrōnan.



add

γeγ.



against

anγeγ.



akin

sebhjō.



ale

ā, ō.



and

æ

ainaγás, ainiγá

s.

apple n aplu-.

apron n

skurtjōn.



arm

arHwō.



ascend

stīγ

anan.

ash n az

gōn.



ash

bōniz.



aspen

aspō.



at

naibhōγ

aizaz.

avenge v wrekanan.

avoid v wenkanan.

await v fra-biðjanan.

awe n

aγ-.



axe

aHsō.

B

back

bakōn-.



bait

ballōn, bhalnōn.



ban

bandōn.



bane

banōn.



bare

γelpanan.



barley

barwōn.



bastard

bathōn

.

be- pref bi-.

be v es-wes-.

beach n setla-.

beacon n bauknan.

bead n beðan.

beak n nabhjan.

beam n balkan-, belkan-.

beam n

sparrōn.



bean

baunō.



bear

bōkjōn.



before

frijōjanan.



belief

γa-laubhan.



believe

γa-laubhjanan.



belly

γerdu.



bench

rastō.



bend

biuγanan.



bequeathe

besmōn.



better

fuγlaz, fluγlaz.



birth

γa-bhurð

ís.

bitch n

bikkeōn.



bite

bītanan.

-n

æ

blasōn.



bless

blōðisōjanan.



blind

blīthiz.



block

blōð

an.

bloom n

blōmōn.



blow

æ

būlja-.



boil

n bōks.



boom

bōmanan.



border

γa-mairja-.



both

bā twā.



bottom

bōγ

az.

boundary n

markō.



bow

buγō

n.

bower n

būra-.



braid

breγð

anan.

brain n

braγnan.



brand

duHtīγ

ás.

bread n brauðan.

break v breuthanan.

breast n breustan.

breath n br æ thaz.

bride n

brūð

iγumō

n.

bridge n

bruγjō

.

bright adj berHtaz.

bring v breŋanan.

brittle adj brutilo-.

broad adj braiðaz.

brood n

brōð

-.

brook n

brōka-.



broom

æ

brōthar.



brow

brū-.



brown

brūnyz.



bruise

brūsjanan.



buck

bukkōn.



build

bullōn.



bundle

bundilīn.



bundle

burγisli-.



burn

burγjanan.



but

ūtan, bī ūtan.



buxom

būHsamaz.



buy

buγjanan.

C

cake

kōk.



calf

kallōjanan.



called, named

karōjanan.



carve

γrabhanan.



catch

jaγō

janan.

chest n

bōsm-.



chew

daγwō

.

chicken n

kiukīnan.



child

us-keukōjanan.



choose

kernjōnanan.



cinder

burγs.



clam

spanγō

.

claw n

klawō.



clay

swathaz, swathō.



cliff

brenkōn.



climb

klubhō.



club

klumbōn.



clue

kleuwīn.



clutch

γrutja-.



cold

æ

Hūð

janan.

cradle n kraðulás.

cramp n krampaz.

creep v kreupanan.

cripple n krupilaz.

crooked adj skank-.

crow n kraH-. -v

Hrōk-.



crowd

threnγá

n.

cultivate v

plaiγanan.



curdle

D

dam

pleγ-.



dare

daγaz.



dead

æ

γrubhjanan.



dim

slōHaz, sklōHaz.



dive

dūbhijanan.



divide

dokkō.



doe

Hindō.



dog

dōmaz.



door

daiγaz.



dove

ūbhōn.



draft

drupōn.



dross

drōHs.



drought

drūγōthuz.



drum

trōmilaz.



dumb

dwerγaz.



dwell

dauγō

.

E

ear

aznōjanan.



earth

erthō.



east

abhjōn.



-ed

æ

elH, alγú

s.

end n

endijōn.



-er1

-īro, -īzo.



-er2

wrītanan.



evil

ǽ

æ

F

faded

faγrá

s.

fall v fallanan.

family n kunján.

far adj

ferrō-, fersō-.



fare

Hiγ-.



fasten

fastinōjanan.



fat

talγa-.



fate

�"

r.

fathom n fathmaz.

faucet n

tappōn.



feather

fethrō.



fee

fōð

ijanan.

fell v fallijanan.

fern n farnan.

ferry v farjanan.

fetch v

fatōjanan.



feud

lūti.



field

finγraz.



fir

furHjōn.



firm

fiskōjanan.



fist

fūHstiz, fūnHstiz.



five

fanōn.



flash

γlent-.



flavor

fluγγja-.



flee

flutōjanan.



flood

flōð

ús.

floor n

flōruz.



fly

fleuγanan.



foam

fulγ-.



food

fōt

-.

for prep fura.

for(e)- pref fra-.

forbid v fra-biðjanan.

force n dutniz.

ford n furðús.

forth adv furtha-.

foul adj

fūlaz.



foundation n

γrunð

ús.

four adj

fidwōr.



fowl

Hraiγrá

n-.

fragment n

bitōn.



frame

Hrīma-, Hrī-p-an-.



fur

fōð

ran.

furrow n furH-.

furze n

γurst-, γerst-.

G

gable

γabhlō

.

gall n

γallō

n-.

gallows n

γalγ-.



gargle

γaw

æ

γō

ð-.

gentle adj

γað

aftjaz.

get v

γaitan.



give

γabh-.



glass

γlá

sa-n.

gleam v

γlent-.



glide

γlī

dan.

glove n

γa-labhjō

-.

glow v

γlō

-.

gnat n

γnattaz.



go

γai-, γ

æ

γaitaz.



god

γuð

án.

gold n

γulth-.



good

γō

ðaz.

goose n

γanat-, γa

ns-.

grab v

γrabhjanan.



grass

γrasan.



grave

γrabh.



gravel

γiutan.



gray

γr

æ

wjaz, γr

æ

γr

æ

γrō

-.

grind v

γrindanan.



groan

γrain-.



groove

γrō

bhō.



ground

γrunthuz.



group

γaŋaz.



grow

γrō

nja-.

guest n

γastiz.

H

hail

Haγlaz.



half

Hallō-.



hammer

γlað

az.

hard adj Harðús.

harm n Harmuz.

harpoon n skutilaz.

harvest n Harbhi-s.

hate n & v

Hatōjanan.



have

Haitīn.

-v

Hitjō.



heath

Haithjō.



heave

Habhīγ

ás.

heavy adj sw

�"

raz.

hedge n

Haγjō

.

heed v

rōkijanan.



help

Hūð

ís.

high adj HauHaz.

hill n Hulnís.

hilt n Heltiz.

hip n Hupiz.

hive n

Hūfiz.



hold

Hailaγá

s.

home n Haim.

hood n

Hōð

az.

-hood suf Haiðús.

hoof n

Hōfaz.



hop

Hupnōjanan.

-n

Hūsan.



how

Hwō-.



human

manniskōn, γ

uman-.

hunger n

Hunγrá

s.

hunt v Hantjanan.

husk n kaf-, kef-.

hut n

bōthō.

I

I

īsa-.



in

muγjō

n.

intoxicated adj s æ

līγ

ás.

iron n isarnan.

-ish suf -iskaz.

island n

aujō, aγwjō.



it

J

jaw

kaukōn.



join

wōs

an.

K

keel

neγwHran.



kind

γa-kundjaz.

-n

γa-kunð

ís.

king n kuniŋaz.

kiss v kussjan.

knee n knewan.

knife n knibhaz.

knot n knuttán.

know v kn æ anan.

L

lack

laγá

s.

lamb n lambaz.

land n landan.

lap n lapn-.

laugh v HlaHjanan.

law n

laγan.



lawn

γar

ðaz.

lay v

laγjanan.



lead v laiðjanan, leithanan. -n laudan.

leaf n laubhan.

leak v lekanan.

lean v Hlinanan.

leap v Hlaupanan.

learn v

liznōjanan.



least

laubhō

.

æ

leγjanan.



lie, speak falsely

leuγanan.



life

lībha.



lift

γalī

kaz. -v

līkójanan.



limb

līstōn.



listen

Hlusinōjanan.



live

lībh

æ

libhrō.



load

lūkanan.



lock of hair

landwīn-.



long

laŋōjanan.

-adj

Hlūtan.



loud

Hlūð

ás.

louse n

Hnitō.



love

æ

γaz.



lower

lauγō

.

M

magic

maγið

īnan.



make

makōjanan.



man

γamakjō

n.

may v

maγanan.



meadow

æ

dwōn.



meal

æ

γa-mainiz.



meat

mō

tijanan.

melt v

thawōjanan.



melt

γa-maltjanan.



merry

murγijaz.



middle

γa-menthijan.



mine

mīnaz.



miss

æ

nōth-.



mood

mōð

á-.

moon n m æ

nōn.



mop

murγinaz, murγanaz, marγanaz.



mother

mōð

ér.

mouth n munthaz.

move v Hrap-.

mow down v m æ wanan.

much adj, adv, n mekilaz.

mucus n snuttán, snutnán.

mud n fanja-.

muscle n thawaz.

must v

mōtanan.



mutter

N

nail

naγlaz.



naked

namōn.



narrow

Hnekkōn, kneknōn.



need

æ

thlō.



nest

natilōn.



new

Hnaskwōjanan.



nimble

nō.



numb

daiγjō

n.

nut n Hnut-.

O

oak

airō.



oath

kōp-.



odd

ōs.



oven

aiγanan.



ox

uHsōn.

P

paddock

parrakōn.



part

Hūrja.



peace

kīkanan.



penis

penaγa-.



person

burōnan.



pig

γrī

panan.

place v

stō

wijanan.

play n laikanan.

pleasant adj linthijaz.

pluck v

taisilōjanan.



plum

slaiHwōn.



pod

Handaγá

s.

poke v

pukōn.



pool

ternō.



possession

krōgu-.



prank

warthō.



prick

prikōjanan.



profit

bōtō.



protect

berγan.



proverb

saγwú

.

pull v

draγanan.



punish

æ

Q

queen

æ

R

rabbit

æ

klūtaz.



rain

reγna-, reγaná-.



raise

γa-rai

ðijaz.

rear adj Hinðerán.

reckon v

γa-rekenō

janan.

recoil v skrenkanan.

red adj rauðaz.

reel n HreHulaz.

reindeer n Hrainaz.

reservoir n sumpaz.

restless adj w æ bhraz.

reward n

mizdō.



rib

snō

ðó.

rich adj

rīkjaz.



ride

rīa

ðanan.

ridge n

Hruγjá

s.

right adj reHtaz.

rind n

rendō.



ripe

rīpijaz.



rise

us-rīsanan.



roast

æ

raubhōjanan.



robe

rō

ðó.

roe deer n

raiHōn.



roe

Hruγná-, Hruγá

n-.

roof n

Hrōfaz.



room

rūman, rūmaz.



root

wartō.



root

wrōtanan.



rope

rūt-.



rough

rūHaz.



round

wlan, Hweγwlán.



row

rūwanan.



rub

wrībhanan.



rudder

rōthru-.



rude

wrauγō

.

S

sack

balγiz.



sadden

seγlan.



sake

sakō.



sale

salō.



salmon

samōn.



sand

saγú

.

say v

saγjanan, saγwjanan.



scab

thraγjanan.



scatter

skūm-.



scurvy

seγú

thō.



sea

æ

rūnō.



section

skīzó.



see

æ

æ

sōkjanan.



seem

sōm-.



seep

theγná

s.

set v satjanan.

seven adj sebhún.

sew v siwjanan.

shade n skadwó, skadwás.

shaft n skaftaz.

shake v skuð-.

shall v skal-, skul-.

shallow adj skala-.

shame n

skamō.



shape

skarō.



sharp

æ

skaithjō.



shed

æ

skaljō.



shield

γlīm-, γlaim-, γlim-.



shin

skinō.



shine

skīnanan.



shining

skōHaz.



shoot

hlō.



show

skauwōjanan.



shower

skūrō, skūraz.



shred

skrū

ðán.

shut v skutjanan.

sick adj seukaz.

sickle n H æ

bhjō.



side

sī

ðás.

sieve n

Hrī

ðran.

sign n taiknan.

silver n silubhra-.

sin n sunðjō.

sing v seŋwanan.

sink v senkwanan.

sip v

sūpanan.



sister

, slaγj-.



sleep

æ

slī

ðanan.

slide v

γlið

-.

slight adj slembaz.

sling v

slenγanan.



slough, shedded skin

slūk-.



slow

æ

slōγ

ís.

small adj smalaz.

smart adj Hántheraz.

smart v smertanan.

smear v smerwan.

smell n stankwiz.

smite v sm

ītanan.



smith

smel-, smul-, smōl-.



smooth

slīkas.



smuggle

smūγ

anan

snail n

snaγilá

s.

snake n

snakōn.



snare

snarHō.



sneak

saipō.



soft

slīmaz.



song

sanγwaz.



songbird

æ

nō.



soot

sōtan.



soothe

salbhōjanan.



sore

blajinōn.



sorrow

surγō

.

soul n

saiwalō.



sound

sūraz.



south

sunthrōnjaz.



sow

æ

suγú

.

space n kluftís.

spade n spaðōn.

spare n sparaz.

spark n spark-.

sparkle v

γleitmunjan.



sparrow

thrawōjanan.



speak

γaið

ō-.



speech

æ

kjō.



speed

spō

ðís.

spell n spellan.

spew v

spīwanan.



spider

spenthrō, spīnthrō.



spike

γazð

az.

spill v spelthjanan.

spin v spenwanan.

spinning wheel n rukka-.

spire n

spīraz.



spit

æ

spīkaz.



split

spaikōn.



sponge

æ

æ

sprī

ðanan, spraiðjanan.

spring v

sprenγanan.



sprout

Hruŋō.



stain

staiγrī

.

stalk v

stalkōjanan.



stall

-, stōð

-.

star n

stersōn, sternō.



starch

starōn, staraz.



stave

laththō.



steadfast

stalō.



stick

stakōn.



stick, cling

klibhōjanan.



stiff

stīfaz.



still

stenγanan.



stone

stōlaz.



stop

stranγú

thō.



stretch

stranγiz.



strip

strīpan.



stroke

strikōn.



stroke

straikōjanan.



strong

stranγaz.



strut

strūt-.



stud

stō

ð

ō.



stump

swalīkaz.



sulk

sunnōn.



surge

bulγ-.



swallow

swelγ-.

-n

swalwōn.



swamp

mōra-.



swan

swīpanan.



sweet

swōtjaz.



swell

swīnan.



swing v

swenγanan.



sword

T

tail

taγlá

-.

take v t æ kanan.

tale n

talō.



tame

tarγa-.



teach

taumaz, tauγmaz.



tear

rīfanan.

-n

taHr-, taγr-.



tease

teγá

n-.

testicle n

kūdilaz.



thanks

γa-Hrus.



thief

skīraz.



thing

thenγá

n, thénγaz.

think v thankjanan.

thirst n thurs-.

thong n

thwanγaz.



thorn

æ

thrūstjanan.



thud

thūman.



thunder

tauγō

wjanan.

tight adj thenHtuz.

till v

tilōjanan.



tiller

tī

ðís.

tin n tinan.

tithe n

teγá

nthōn, teHánthōn.



toad

taiHwō.



together

γað

-.

tomcat n

staγ-.



tongs

tanγó.



tongue

tunγō

n.

tooth n tanth-, tunth-.

total adj

ūtizōn.



tough

tuγō

janan.

towel n thwaHlijan.

tower n stapulaz.

town n

tūnaz.



tread

truγá

-.

trunk of a tree n bulás.

truth n santhaz, sunðjás.

turf n swarðu-.

turn v terbhanan.

twig n

twiγá

n.

twin n twinjaz.

twine n twizna-.

twist n

werbhilōn.



two

U

ulcer

smukkaz, smuγná

s.

unsteady adj taltaz.

up adv upp-.

urinate v miHstilaz.

utter n kwethanan.

V

vagina

krū

ðán.

vomit v Hr æ kjanan. -n Hr æ

kōn.

W

wade

waγō

janan.

wail v j æ meraz.

wake v wak-.

wallow v waltjanan.

war n

wersō.



ward

warō.



warm

γwarmaz.



warn

warnōjanan.



warp

wrakjōn.



wash

wōstjan.



water

weγaz.



we

wīz.



weak

æ

wisulōn.



weather

waγjaz.



weed

wīkon.



weep

wōpjanan.



weigh

weγanan.



weight

γaweHtiz.



well-being

welōn.



wench

thewernō.



west

æ

Hwi-līkaz.



white

Hwītaz.



who

Hōrōn.



why

Hwī.



wide

wī

ðás.

widow n wiðewō.

wife n

wībhan.



wild

weljōn.



win

wīpanan.



wire

wīraz.



wise

wīsaz, wītsas.



wish

skaγján.

word n wurðan.

work n werkan.

worm n wurmiz.

worry v

wurγjanan.



worth

banjō.



wrath

writhōn.



wrench

wrenγanan.



wrist

wranγaz.

Y

yard

γaz

ð

ijō.



yawn

γin-.



year

æ

γer-.



yellow

γelwaz.



yes

jā.



yesterday

γestra-.



yew

īwa-, īwō.



yield

γelð

anan.

yoke n & v spanwanan.

yon adv, pron jainaz.

you pron iuwiz.

young adj

juγ

únthaz.

yours pron

thīnaz.



youth

This text is the work of an amateur. In no way do I claim to represent any part of the formal linguistic community. I present this piece only to give those who are new to Germanic linguistics a starting place. Of course, suggestions and criticisms are always welcome.