ang (Old Norse)

Where does "ang" come from?

The Old Norse noun 'ang', meaning 'fragrance'[1], has an unclear origin[1]. It is perhaps derived from the Proto-Indo-European root '*h₂enh₁-', which means 'to breathe'[1]. This ancestral root is itself likely of onomatopoeic origin[2].

Open questions

• The derivation of the Old Norse word from the Proto-Indo-European root meaning to breathe is uncertain. [1]
• The Proto-Indo-European root is reconstructed and likely onomatopoeic. [1] [2]

Full etymology tree

• ang (Old Norse), 'fragrance'
  • derived *h₂enh₁- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to breathe'

Ancestors

• *h₂enh₁- (Proto-Indo-European)

Sources

1. ang (Old Norse) - Wiktionary
2. h₂enh₁- (Proto-Indo-European) - Wiktionary

Updated August 2026

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