An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/wohnen

by Friedrich Kluge

wohnen, vb., ‘to dwell,’ from the equiv. MidHG. wonen, OHG. wonên, wk. vb.; corresponding to OSax. wunôn, Du. wonen, AS. wunian, ‘to dwell, be, remain.’ Beside these West Teut. cognates there are those of gewohnt; the Aryan root wen, on which they are based, probably meant ‘to please,’ which is suggested by Goth. wunan, OIc. una, ‘to rejoice’; the ‘wonted thing’ is ‘that with which one is pleased’; wohnen, lit. ‘to find pleasure anywhere.’ From the same Aryan root wen are derived OSax. and OHG. wini (MidHG. wine), ‘friend,’ Lat. Venus, ‘goddess of love,’ the Sans. root van, ‘to be fond of, love,’ Sans. vánas, ‘delight.’ Comp. also Wonne and Wunsch.