links (German)

Where does "links" come from?

The German word 'links' originates from the Middle High German 'linkes,' which was the genitive form of 'linc.' Over time, this term evolved to describe the direction to the left, a spatial meaning it still holds today. It shares a common root with the Dutch word 'links,' reflecting a shared linguistic history across Germanic languages.

Full etymology tree

• links (German), 'on the left'
  • inherited linkes (Middle High German)
    • derived linc (Middle High German)

Cognates and doublets

• links (Dutch)

Updated July 2026

More words starting with L

Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris