ear
The organ of hearing on either side of the head.
Etymology
From Old English ēare, from Proto-Germanic *ausô, from PIE *h₂ews- "ear." The root is remarkably well preserved across Indo-European languages. Latin auris gave English "aural" and "audience" (those who hear). The Greek form oûs is the origin of the prefix "oto-" in medical terms like otology. Note: this root is distinct from *ḱlew- "to hear."
The Journey: *h₂ew-s- → ear
*h₂ew-s-
*ausô
ēare
ear
Cognates Across Languages
These words in other languages descend from the same PIE root *h₂ew-s-. They are not borrowings but independent inheritances from a common ancestor.
| Language | Word |
|---|---|
| Greek | oûs |
| Latin | auris |
| Sanskrit | karṇa |
| Old Irish | áu |
| Lithuanian | ausis |
| Old Church Slavonic | ucho |
Did You Know?
Latin auris gave English "aural" and "audience" (those who hear). The Greek form oûs is the origin of the prefix "oto-" in medical terms like otology.
This word descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂ew-s-. See the full root page for descendant trees, sound law references, and scholarly discussion.