An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Leute

by Friedrich Kluge

Leute, plur only, ‘people,’ from MidHG. liute, m. and n. plur., ‘people, persons,’ with the sing. liut, m. and n., ‘nation’; OHG. liuti, m. and n. plur., ‘people,’ also liut, m. and n., ‘nation’; corresponding to AS. leóde, plur., ‘people’. It is uncertain whether we have to assume *liudus, ‘nation,’ in Goth. The word is common to Teut. and Slav.; OSlov. ljudŭ, m., ‘nation,’ plur.,’ ljudije, ‘people,’ Lett. laudis, m. plur., ‘people, nation.’ They are connected with an Aryan root ludh, ‘to grow,’ which retained its meaning in Goth. liudan, OSax. liodan, AS. leódan, OHG. liotan; comp. the Sans. root ruh, ‘to grow.’ The following Teut. words are also connected with the same stem, Goth. lauþs (gen. laudis) in swalauþs, ‘so great,’ samalauþs, ‘equally great, equal,’ juggalauþs, ‘youth,’ MidHG. lôte, ‘constituted’; Goth. ludjô-, f., ‘face’; AS. leód, m., ‘king.’