where etymology

English word where comes from Proto-Germanic *hwaz, Proto-Indo-European *kʷi-, Proto-Germanic - r, and later Old English (ca. 450-1100) hwær (Where.)

Detailed word origin of where

Dictionary entry	Language	Definition
*hwaz	Proto-Germanic (gem-pro)	(interrogative) who, what. (interrogative, in dative) whom. (interrogative, in genitive) whose. (interrogative, in instrumental) with whom, with what, how, in what way.
*kʷi-	Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro)
- r	Proto-Germanic (gem-pro)
*hwēr	Proto-Germanic (gem-pro)
hwær	Old English (ca. 450-1100) (ang)	Where.
hwǣr	Old English (ca. 450-1100) (ang)
quher	Middle English (1100-1500) (enm)
where	English (eng)	(legal) In a position, case, etc., in which.. At or in which place or situation.. To which place or situation.. Wherever.. While on the contrary; although; whereas. The place in which something happens. The place in which. In what situation.. Interrogative adverb, used in either a direct or indirect question: at what place; to what place; what place.. With the preposition from.

Descendants of *hwaz: anyhow anywhere elsewhere everywhere hoo how however nowhere somewhat somewhere wai what whatnot whatsoever whereabouts whereas wherever which whichever who whoa whoever why wo
Descendants of *kʷi-: complete contact cost count country couple court cover either neither right when whether whom whose
Descendants of - r: der haircut hairdresser hairy her here hereafter hereby hire hyah that the'e there thereby they yonder