LNG 201/ENGL 202
Prof. G. Steinberg
Grimm's Law

Grimm's Law

Proto-Indo-European Sound Germanic Latin Later English Borrowing
p f (father) p (pater) paternal
t q (three) t (tres) trio
k h (hound) k (canis) canine
b p (lip) b (labium) labial
d t (two) d (duo) dual
g k (acre) g (ager) agriculture
bh b (brother) f (frater) fraternal
dh d (mead) f, l, or w (mel) mellifluous
gh g (wagon) h (veho) vehicle

Fill in the missing English words below.

Proto-Indo-European Sound Latin Later English Borrowing Original English Word
p piscis Pisces  

 

d decem decade  

 

k centum (c = k) century  

 

bh, g fragilis fragile  

 

 Click here to go to the course syllabus.