An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/stöhnen

by Friedrich Kluge

stöhnen, vb., ‘to groan,’ ModHG. only, property a LG. word. Comp. the equiv. Du. stenen, AS. stunian, OIc. stynja. The verbal root sten, ‘to groan,’ is common to Teut.; comp. Sans. stan, ‘to rustle, roar,’ Gr. στένω, ‘to groan, roar,’ OSlov. stenją, ‘to groan.’ The root sten is a variant of the Aryan root ten, discussed under donnern.