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Appendix:List of German cognates with English

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There are many hundreds of German words that are cognate to English words, in fact a sizeable
fraction of native German and English vocabulary, although for various reasons much of it is not
immediately obvious. Yet many of them are easy to correlate, since the German words follow the
rules of High German consonant shift, which is a German phenomenon and makes English stay
closer to the Proto-Germanic language, from which both, English and German, derive.
For convenience of presentation this list has been limited to cognates whose etymologies can be
established to the Proto-Germanic period at the earliest, or within the past 3000 years or so. The
Modern English language includes in its vocabulary a large number of words of French origin
many of which can be related as cognates to German words due to mutual descent from roots in
the common Proto-Indo-European language (about 6000 years or so ago) from which both
Germanic and Romance languages descend. This list ignores cognates of this linguistic depth.
Etymology resources for further investigation of cognates include:
For German words:
1. Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache (DWDS)
(direct link to a one-word entry:  https://www.dwds.de/wb/[insert search word
here] )
2. Duden
3. Wiktionary (German)
(direct link to a one-word entry:  https://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/[insert
search word here] )
4. Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob Grimm und Wilhelm Grimm (at DWDS and at
woerterbuchnetz.de) (for advanced investigation; no modern orthography)
For English words:
1. dictionary.com
2. Oxford Dictionaries
3. Online Etymology Dictionary
(direct link to a one-word entry:  https://www.etymonline.com/word/[insert
search word here] )
4. Wiktionary (English)
(direct link to a one-word entry  https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/[insert
search word here] )

Contents

 1Mutual Inheritance from Proto-Germanic


o 1.1Schleicher's Fable
o 1.2Old English and Old Norse
o 1.3Organization of tables
o 1.4Regular cognates with matching consonant
values
o 1.5Regular cognates with differing consonant values
 1.5.1Proto-Germanic Voiced Stop Consonants
 1.5.1.1Proto-Germanic *b
 1.5.1.1.1German b ~ English f, ff
 1.5.1.1.2German b ~ English v
 1.5.1.1.3German b ~ English f : v
 1.5.1.2Proto-Germanic *d
 1.5.1.2.1German dt, t, tt ~
English d, dd
 1.5.1.3Proto-Germanic *g
 1.5.1.3.1German g ~ English Ø, y
 1.5.1.3.2German g ~ English  ∅, gh /∅/
 1.5.2Proto-Germanic Unvoiced Stop
Consonants
 1.5.2.1Proto-Germanic *k
 1.5.2.1.1German ch ~ English ch
/tʃ/, tch /tʃ/
 1.5.2.1.2German ch ~ English ck, k
 1.5.2.1.3German ck, k ~ English ch
/tʃ/, tch /tʃ/
 1.5.2.2Proto-Germanic *p
 1.5.2.2.1German f, ff ~ English p
 1.5.2.2.2German pf ~ English p
 1.5.2.3Proto-Germanic *t
 1.5.2.3.1German s, ss, ß ~
English t, tt
 1.5.2.3.2German tz, z ~ English t, tt
 1.5.3Proto-Germanic Fricative Consonants
 1.5.3.1Proto-Germanic *f
 1.5.3.1.1German f ~ English v
 1.5.3.2Proto-Germanic *h
 1.5.3.2.1German ch ~ English gh /∅/
 1.5.3.2.2German ch ~ English ff
 1.5.3.2.3German ch ~ English gh /f/
 1.5.3.3Proto-Germanic *s
 1.5.3.3.1German r ~ English z
 1.5.3.3.2German s ~ English Ø
 1.5.3.3.3German s ~ English r
 1.5.3.3.4German s ~ English z
 1.5.3.4Proto-Germanic *þ
 1.5.3.4.1German d ~ English th
 1.5.3.4.2German t ~ English th
 1.5.4Proto-Germanic Liquid Consonants
 1.5.4.1Proto-Germanic *l
 1.5.4.1.1German l, ll ~ English  ∅, l (∅)
 1.5.4.2Proto-Germanic *r, *z
 1.5.4.2.1German  ∅ ~ English r
 1.5.4.2.2German r ~ English  ∅
 1.5.5Proto-Germanic Nasal Consonants
 1.5.5.1Proto-Germanic *m
 1.5.5.1.1German m, mm ~ English mb
 1.5.5.1.2German n ~ English m
 1.5.5.2Proto-Germanic *n
 1.5.5.2.1German  ∅, n ~ English  ∅, n
 1.5.6Proto-Germanic Semivowels
 1.5.6.1Proto-Germanic *w
 1.5.6.1.1German Ø ~ English w
 1.5.7Proto-Germanic Consonant Clusters
 1.5.7.1Proto-Germanic *liquid + velar stop
 1.5.7.1.1German lg ~ English llow
 1.5.7.1.2German lg ~ English lly
 1.5.7.1.3German rg ~
English ro, rough, rrow
 1.5.7.1.4German rg ~ English ry, rry
 1.5.7.1.5German rk ~ English rrow
 1.5.7.2Proto-Germanic *stop + liquid or
nasal
 1.5.7.2.1German gel ~ English l
 1.5.7.2.2German gen ~ English n
 1.5.7.2.3German ger ~ English r
 1.5.7.2.4German ter, tter ~
English ther
 1.5.7.2.5German tr ~ English dr
 1.5.7.3Proto-Germanic *sibilant + nasal
 1.5.7.3.1German schm ~ English sm
 1.5.7.3.2German schn ~ English sn
 1.5.7.4Proto-Germanic *gj
 1.5.7.4.1German ck ~ English dg
 1.5.7.5Proto-Germanic *ht
 1.5.7.5.1German cht ~ English ght
 1.5.7.6Proto-Germanic *hw
 1.5.7.6.1German  ∅ ~ English gh /∅/
 1.5.7.6.2German ch ~ English gh /∅/
 1.5.7.6.3German w /v/ ~ English wh
/ʍ/
 1.5.7.7Proto-Germanic *lw
 1.5.7.7.1German lb ~ English llow
 1.5.7.8Proto-Germanic *mb
 1.5.7.8.1German mm ~ English mb
 1.5.7.9Proto-Germanic *mf
 1.5.7.9.1German nf ~ English f, v
 1.5.7.10Proto-Germanic *rs
 1.5.7.10.1German rsch ~ English ss
 1.5.7.11Proto-Germanic *sk
 1.5.7.11.1German sch ~ English sc, sk
 1.5.7.12Proto-Germanic *sl
 1.5.7.12.1German schl ~ English sl
 1.5.7.13Proto-Germanic *sw
 1.5.7.13.1German schw ~ English sw
 1.5.7.14Proto-Germanic *wr
 1.5.7.14.1German r ~ English wr
 1.5.8Proto-Germanic*∅
 1.5.8.1German d, t ~ English Ø
o 1.6Irregular and Singleton Cognates
o 1.7Archaic, Dialectical, Obsolete, Poetic, Rare, or
Regional Cognates
o 1.8Borrowings into Proto-Germanic
 1.8.1Greek Borrowings into Proto-Germanic
 1.8.2Latin Borrowings into Proto-Germanic
 2Borrowings into Old German and Old English
o 2.1Latin Borrowings into Old German and Old
English
 3References

Mutual Inheritance from Proto-


Germanic[edit]
Both German and English descend from a single language
which is conventionally called Proto-Germanic. The earliest
written stages at which the daughter languages that ultimately
evolved in to modern German and English are treated as
separate languages are denoted Old High German and Old
English, respectively. We may represent this in a simple
diagram as:

 Proto-Germanic → Old High German → Modern (Standard)


German
 Proto-Germanic → Old English → Modern English
As the languages evolved away from Proto-Germanic in a
largely ordered way, there remain a large number of cognates in
the two languages that are the result of the evolution of the two
languages from Proto-Germanic to their modern, contemporary
forms. In this section we exhibit regular
correspondences between modern German and English
resulting from their evolution from the common Proto-Germanic
mother language.
See also:
Proto-Indo-European:

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proto-Indo-European_language
 https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indogermanische_Ursprache  (th
is article has been marked as 'excellent')
Proto-Germanic:

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proto-Germanic_language
 https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urgermanische_Sprache
Schleicher's Fable[edit]
We can compare the grammar and vocabulary of German and
English to each other as well as to that reconstructed for Proto-
Germanic using Schleicher's fable (originally written in 1868). In
order to facilitate comprehension of the historic German version
and the Proto-Germanic version, modern English and German
translations have been placed at the top as an introduction.
Lastly, a schematic English word-by-word translation of the
modern German version is provided to demonstrate how the
ability to identify cognates by detecting regular
correspondences can help English speakers when learning
German. For example, in section 1.3.2.2 - German b ~ English
v you can see how German b corresponds to English v and
thus Silber corresponds to silver, and Grab to grave and so
forth.

English
The Sheep and the Horses
[On a hill,] a sheep that had no wool saw horses, one of them pulling a heavy wagon, one
carrying a big load, and one carrying a man quickly. The sheep said to the horses: "My
heart pains me, seeing a man driving horses." The horses said: "Listen, sheep, our hearts
pain us when we see this: a man, the master, makes the wool of the sheep into a warm
garment for himself. And the sheep has no wool." Having heard this, the sheep fled into
the plain.[1]

Modern Standard German version


Das Schaf und die Pferde
Ein Schaf, das keine Wolle mehr hatte, sah Pferde, eines einen schweren Wagen
fahrend, eines eine große Last, eines einen Menschen schnell tragend. Das Schaf
sprach: Das Herz wird mir eng, wenn ich sehe, dass der Mensch die Pferde antreibt. Die
Pferde sprachen: Höre Schaf, das Herz wird uns eng, weil wir gesehen haben: Der
Mensch, der Herr, macht die Wolle der Schafe zu einem warmen Kleid für sich und die
Schafe haben keine Wolle mehr. Als es dies gehört hatte, floh das Schaf auf das Feld.
(Quoted from German Wikipedia: Indogermanische Fabel: Deutsche Übersetzung)

Historic German version


(This is Schleicher's translation of his
Indogermanic fable. (Note: Unlike the
modern version above, this text is
grammatically incorrect by today's
standards.)
[Das] schaf und [die] rosse
[Ein] schaf, [auf] welchem wolle nicht war (ein geschorenes schaf) sah rosse, das [einen]
schweren wagen fahrend, das [eine] groſse last, das [einen] menschen schnell tragend.
[Das] schaf sprach [zu den] rossen: [Das] herz wird beengt [in] mir (es thut mir herzlich
leid), sehend [den] menschen [die] rosse treibend. [Die] rosse sprachen: Höre schaf, [das]
herz wird beengt [in den] gesehen-habenden (es thut uns herzlich leid, da wir wissen):
[der] mensch, [der] herr macht [die] wolle [der] schafe [zu einem] warmen kleide [für] sich
und [den] schafen ist nicht wolle (die schafe aber haben keine wolle mehr, sie werden
geschoren; es geht ihnen noch schlechter als den rossen). Dies gehört-habend bog
(entwich) [das] schaf [auf das] feld (es machte sich aus dem staube).

Proto-Germanic
Awiz ehwōz-uh
Awiz, sō wullǭ ne habdē, sahw ehwanz, ainanǭ kurjanǭ wagną teuhandų, ainanǭ-uh
mikilǭ kuriþǭ, ainanǭ-uh gumanų sneumundô berandų. Awiz nu ehwamaz sagdē: hertô
sairīþi mek, sehwandē ehwanz akandų gumanų. Ehwōz sagdēdun: gahauzī, awi! hertô
sairīþi uns sehwandumiz: gumô, fadiz, uz awīz wullō wurkīþi siz warmą wastijǭ. Awiz-uh
wullǭ ne habaiþi. Þat hauzidaz awiz akrą flauh.
Many more versions can be found at Wikipedia: Schleicher's fable

English translation
of the modern
Standard German
version using as
many recognizable
cognates as
possible, retaining
German sentence
structure
The following text is identical to the modern German version. Obvious cognates are
written in bold font. Non-obvious cognates and obvious cognates that differ in meaning in
this specific context are written in bold font and italics. In the second line, corresponding
English translations are given, retaining German sentence structure (word-for-word).
Starting at the third line, explanations are given for non-obvious cognates. Note that (both
generally speaking and in this particular text) not all cognates have Proto-Germanic roots;
most however have Proto-Indo-European roots, and some (such as "sheep"/"Schaf"
might e.g. have roots in West Germanic, but not trace back further to the earlier Proto-
Germanic, or Proto-Indo-European, which explains why the Proto-Germanic text starts
with "awiz" (whence "ewe", a female sheep)).

Das Schaf und die Pferde


The Sheep and the Horses

Ein Schaf, das keine Wolle mehr hatte, sah Pferde, eines


einen schweren Wagen fahrend, eines eine große Last, eines
einen Menschen schnell tragend.
A sheep, that no wool any more had, saw horses, one a heavy wagon {faring}, one a
great weight, one a {man} quickly {dragging}.
{fahrend: faring; driving}
{Mensch: man, human; the -sch corresponds to "-ish", thus "man-ish" (man-like, human)}
{tragend: dragging; carrying (cf. "drag": carrying clothes)}

Das Schaf sprach: Das Herz wird mir eng, wenn ich sehe, dass


der Mensch die Pferde antreibt.
The sheep spoke: The heart becomes me tight when I see that
the {man} the horses drives.
(note: for "wird", cf. "worth" (archaic): "woe worth the day"; becomes)
{eng (tight): cf. anguish, angst: from a feeling of tightness, thus distress}

Die Pferde sprachen: Höre, Schaf, das Herz wird uns eng, weil wir gesehen haben:


The horses spoke: Hear, sheep, the heart becomes us tight because we seen have:
(no comments)

Der Mensch, der Herr, macht die Wolle der Schafe zu einem warmen Kleid


für sich und die Schafe haben keine Wolle mehr.
The {man}, the {hoar man}, makes the wool (of) the sheep (in)to warm clothes
for himself and the sheep have no wool (any) more.
{Herr: hoar man; master (also: Mister)}
Als es dies gehört hatte, floh das Schaf auf das Feld.
As it this heard had, {fled} the sheep {up (=to)} the field.
{floh: fled: cf. fliehen: flee}
{auf: up; (here:) "to")}

Notes:
1. In modern German, "Pferd" is usually used for "horse". The modern German cognate
to' "horse" is "Ross" (horse). "Ross" is essentially a synonym to "Pferd", though not
used as frequently (e.g. poetically or regionally), or in compositions such as modern
Standard German "Schlachtross" (warhorse).
2. In modern German, in the context of this story, "Last" is used for "weight, burden". The
modern German cognate to "weight" is "Gewicht", which also means "weight" and is
used in particular in the context measurement. "Load" is not a cognate to German "Last".
However, German "Last/lasten" ("weight"/"to weigh") is etymologically connected to the
German verb "laden, beladen" ("to load")[2], which is a cognate to English adjective
"laden" (German: "beladen" (participle)).
3. In modern German, in the context of this story, "Herr" is used for "master". The
German cognate to "master" is "Meister" ( "foreman"; "master" (1. crafts: professional
qualification: e.g. Elektriker-Meister; 2. to master s.th./to be a master of s.th.: etw.
meistern/ein Meister von etw. sein)). In academia, "Master of Science/Arts" has been
introduced to replace the German "Diplom" qualification, i.e. the anglicism "Master", not
"Meister" is used in an academic context.

Old English
Modern English
regions of Anglo
speakers of Old
Middle English w
both Old English
very similar, wo
cognates for the
better reflect thi
either the sourc
English and Old
Organization
In general, only
forms of other w
interest. Portion
out by parenthe
since the Proto-
These portions
"Schade(n)" me
since the Proto-
traf, getroffen".
always requires
Regular cog
We treat alterna
alternations betw
[1] The etymolo
Regular cog
Proto-Germani
Proto-Germani
German b ~ En
German word-in
always in cases

German b ~ En
In other cases, G
occurs between
silent e). English
developed from
German b ~ En
That the two ab
by words where
Proto-Germani
German dt, t, tt
Proto-Germani
German g ~ En
German g ~ En
Proto-Germani
Proto-Germani
The correspond
exhibit two kinds
while in English
German ch ~ E
German ch ~ E
German ck, k ~
Proto-Germani
German f, ff ~ E
German pf ~ En
Proto-Germani
German s, ss, ß
German tz, z ~
Proto-Germani
Proto-Germani
German f ~ Eng
Proto-Germani
The correspond
kinds of change
/f/. This yields tw
German ch ~ E

German ch ~ E

German ch ~ E
Proto-Germani
Both languages
German r ~ En

German s ~ En

German s ~ En
German s ~ En

Proto-Germani
German d ~ En
We treat alterna
German t ~ Eng

Proto-Germani
Proto-Germani
German l, ll ~ E
Proto-Germani
Proto-Germanic
some tendency
German ∅ ~ En

German r ~ En
Proto-Germani
Proto-Germani
German m, mm
German n ~ En

Proto-Germani
German ∅, n ~
Both languages
Proto-Germani
Proto-Germani
German Ø ~ En
Proto-Germani
Proto-Germani
German lg ~ En
Proto-Germanic
German lg ~ En

German rg ~ E
German rg ~ E

German rk ~ En

Proto-Germani
German gel ~ E
German gen ~

German ger ~ E

German ter, tte
German tr ~ En
Proto-Germani
German schm 
German schn ~

Proto-Germani
German ck ~ E

Proto-Germani
German cht ~ E
Proto-Germani
German ∅ ~ En

German ch ~ E
German w /v/ ~
Proto-Germani
German lb ~ En

Proto-Germani
German mm ~

Proto-Germani
German nf ~ En

Proto-Germani
German rsch ~

Proto-Germani
German sch ~
Proto-Germani
German schl ~

Proto-Germani
German schw ~
Proto-Germani
German r ~ En
Proto-Germani
German d, t ~ E
Irregular and
Archaic, Dia
Cognates[ed
Cases where ei
are considered
Cases where th
the language ar
Borrowings
Greek Borrowi

Latin Borrowin
Borrowing
While there are
'pound'), this se
stage and up to
borrowings have
and largely appe
evolved to the c
Latin Borrow

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