wĺ̥kʷos (Proto-Indo-European)
Where does "wĺ̥kʷos" come from?
The Proto-Indo-European noun '*wĺ̥kʷos', meaning 'wolf', is a thematic accented zero-grade form that may derive from the adjective '*wl̥kʷós' meaning 'dangerous'[1]. This stress shift onto the zero-grade matches patterns seen in nominalized adjectives, such as the Sanskrit word for 'black antelope'[1]. Alternatively, the term might stem from the verbal root '*welh₂-' meaning 'to tear up'[1]. Its formation closely mirrors that of '*h₂ŕ̥tḱos', the word for 'bear', reflecting another animal name tied to cultural taboos[1].
Open questions
- The etymon '*wĺ̥kʷos' is reconstructed and may derive either from the adjective '*wl̥kʷós' or from the verbal root '*welh₂-'. [1]
Full etymology tree
- *wĺ̥kʷos (Proto-Indo-European), 'wolf'
- derived *wl̥kʷós (Proto-Indo-European)
Cognates and doublets
- 𒉿𒀠𒆪𒉿𒀸 (Hittite)
- olc (Old Irish)
- कृष्ण (Sanskrit)
Descendants and derived words
- *wl̥kʷíh₂s (Proto-Indo-European)
Sources
Updated August 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris