Italian word alto comes from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-, and later Proto-Indo-European *h₂életi (To be nourishing.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *h₂el- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | to raise, feed, nourish, beyond, to grow |
| *h₂életi | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | To be nourishing. |
| *alō | Proto-Italic (itc-pro) | |
| alo | Latin (lat) | I feed, I maintain, I develop. I foster, nourish. |
| adoleo | Latin (lat) | I emit an odor, smell. I consume or destroy by fire, burn.. I magnify or pile up with for sacrifice; burn, sacrifice. |
| alto | Italian (ita) | Deep. High, tall. Loud. |