Neuter

germen

Meaning

Concepts

(declension-3, neuter) shoot, sprout, bud
(declension-3, neuter) germ, seed, origin
(declension-3, neuter) embryo, fetus

Pronounced as (IPA)

[ˈɡɛr.mɛn]

From earlier *genmen via dissimilation, from Proto-Italic *genamen, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵénh₁mn̥ (“offspring”, “seed”), from the root *ǵenh₁- (“to beget”, “to give birth”). Equivalent to gignō (“I beget”) + -men (noun-forming suffix). Compare with genimen.