In·do-Eu·ro·pe·an
ˌin-dō-ˌyu̇r-ə-ˈpē-ən 
: of, relating to, or constituting the Indo-European languages
1
a
: a member of the people speaking an unrecorded prehistoric language from which the Indo-European languages are descended
b
: this language
Examples of Indo-European in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jessie Yeung, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025
Origins of Indo-European Language: A new study claims to have identified the first speakers of the language, which gave rise to English, Sanskrit and hundreds of others.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
There are over 400 variations of the Indo-European language which are spoken by over half of the world’s population.
—Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025
Another group moved south into Anatolia, likely bringing an early form of Indo-European with them.
—Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
The Phrygians were an ancient Indo-European people who inhabited central Anatolia (in what is now modern-day Turkey) during the early first millennium B.C.
—Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024
These words might be connected to an earlier Indo-European root related to burning or heat, since brass is made by smelting copper and zinc, though this is not definitively established.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024
The newfound mobility of these early riders, the story goes, helped catalyze huge migrations across the continent, distributing ancestral Indo-European languages and cultures across Eurasia.
—William Taylor, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2024
Another 30% speak an Asian language and 10% speak an Indo-European language.
—Ray Chavez, The Mercury News, 4 July 2024
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Adjective
One group argues the script has links to Indo-European languages such as ancient Sanskrit, which spawned many languages now spoken across northern India.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 28 Feb. 2025
Origins of Indo-European Language: A new study claims to have identified the first speakers of the language, which gave rise to English, Sanskrit and hundreds of others.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
There are over 400 variations of the Indo-European language which are spoken by over half of the world’s population.
—Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025
Another group moved south into Anatolia, likely bringing an early form of Indo-European with them.
—Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Feb. 2025
The Phrygians were an ancient Indo-European people who inhabited central Anatolia (in what is now modern-day Turkey) during the early first millennium B.C.
—Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024
These words might be connected to an earlier Indo-European root related to burning or heat, since brass is made by smelting copper and zinc, though this is not definitively established.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024
The newfound mobility of these early riders, the story goes, helped catalyze huge migrations across the continent, distributing ancestral Indo-European languages and cultures across Eurasia.
—William Taylor, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2024
Another 30% speak an Asian language and 10% speak an Indo-European language.
—Ray Chavez, The Mercury News, 4 July 2024
Cite this Entry
“Indo-European.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Indo-European. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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