An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Wahl

by Friedrich Kluge

Wahl, f., ‘choice, election,’ from the equiv. MidHG. wal, OHG. wala, f.; to this is allied ModHG. wählen, ‘to choose,’ from the equiv. MidHG. węln, węllen, OHG. węllen (from *waljan), wk. vb. Comp. OIc. val, n., ‘choice,’ with velja, ‘to select.’ Allied to the Aryan root wel, ‘to wish,’ appearing in wollen.