Etymology of German Words and their Meaning in Modern German

This study is the analysis of the history and genesis of German words starting from their oldest forms. The purpose of this study is to delve into the original form of words, their linguistic origins, changes in meaning, and their usage in modern German. The study applied etymological analysis to trace back the origin of the earliest meaning of the word and compare it with its resulting meaning. The use of etymological research methods showed the key role of the derivational aspect in etymological analysis, especially when it comes to the origin of compound words in the German language. The formation of compound nouns in German is a unique phenomenon since German is the only language that can combine two or more words to form a new one (vivid examples are the words denoting chemical compounds). Identifying the constituents of a word means understanding its etymology. The research data were obtained through the analysis of several dictionaries of the German language. The results of this study can be exemplified by such words as Ameise, Heim, Mensch, etc., as well as such compound nouns as Handschuh, Briefträger, and many others. The practical value of the findings lies in their contribution to the ongoing discourse on the persistence of linguistic roots. In addition, the findings have practical implications for translation and intercultural communication. The data may also be useful for researchers interested in etymology.