wel

See also: Wel, we'l, and wel-

Translingual

Symbol

wel

1. (international standards) ISO 639-2/B language code for Welsh.

Dutch

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʋɛl/

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: wel
• Homophone: Well
• Rhymes: -ɛl

Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch wel, from Old Dutch *wela, wala, from Proto-Germanic *wela, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-. Compare German wohl, English well, Icelandic vel, Swedish väl, Danish and Norwegian vel.

Adverb

wel

1. the opposite of not (used to add positive emphasis to the verb, much like the auxiliaries do or does in affirmative sentences in English)

   Ik dacht dat je niet van golf hield? — Ik hou wél van golf!

   I thought you didn't like golf? — I do like golf!

   Je ziet wel dat...

   You [can] certainly see that...

   Ik ken hem wel, maar niet goed.

   I do know him, but not well.

   Maar wat wil je dan wel?

   Well then, what do you want?

2. no less than, as much as, as many as (expressing amazement)

   Zij heeft wel twaalf uur gewerkt vandaag!

   She has worked no less than twelve hours today!

3. fairly

   Ik voel me wel aardig, maar niet echt goed.

   I feel fairly decent, but not really good.

4. (dated, dialectal) well

   Wat God doet, dat is wel gedaan.

   What God does, that is well done.

   "Dat is wel gedacht," zeide hij.

   "That is well thought through, " he said.

Usage notes

• In sense 1, the word is often strongly stressed (especially when directly contradicting a negative statement or question) and may therefore be written with an accent, wél, as is common in written Dutch to indicate emphasis.
• Using wel as adverbial form of goed is rare. Usually, the adjective is used in its bare form (as with other adjectives).
• The use of wel in the sense of "fairly", while quite idiomatic, is very unemphatic. When translating to English, it is usually best to leave it out.

Derived terms

• ofwel
• wel eens
• wel-
• welgang
• welgesteld
• weliswaar
• welles
• welstand
• welvaart
• welvaren
• welzijn

 

Descendants

• Afrikaans: wel
• Negerhollands: wel
• Skepi Creole Dutch: wel
• → Kwinti: wel

Etymology 2

From the adverb wel.

Noun

wel n (uncountable)

1. weal (general state of well-being and prosperity)

Etymology 3

From Middle Dutch *welle, from Old Dutch *wella, from Proto-Germanic *wallijō.

Noun

wel f (plural wellen, diminutive welletje n)

1. (rare) well, source

Etymology 4

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Noun

wel c (plural wellen, diminutive welletje n)

1. well; shaft (excavation made for the extraction of mineral resources)

Etymology 5

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

wel

1. inflection of wellen:
   1. first-person singular present indicative
   2. imperative

Middle Dutch

Etymology

From Old Dutch *wela, wala, from Proto-Germanic *wela.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wel/

Adverb

wel (comparative bat or beter, superlative best)

1. well

Alternative forms

• wāle

Descendants

• Dutch: wel
  • Afrikaans: wel
  • Negerhollands: wel
  • Skepi Creole Dutch: wel
  • → Kwinti: wel
• Limburgish: wèl, waal

Further reading

• “wel (III), wale”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
• Verwijs, E., Verdam, J. (1885–1929) “wel (I)”, in Middelnederlandsch Woordenboek, The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN, page I

Middle English

Alternative forms

• well, weel, weele, wele, welle
• (rare, adverb only) wulle, wille, wal, wol

Etymology

From Old English wel, from Proto-Germanic *wela.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wɛl/, /wɛːl/, /weːl/

Adverb

wel (comparative bettre, bet, superlative best)

1. Well, amazingly, expertly; in a good or excellent way:
   • Geoffrey Chaucer

     Ful wel she sange the service devine, / Entuned in hire nose ful swetely.

   1. Fittingly, suitably; in a fitting way.
   2. Correctly, accurately; in an accurate way.
   3. Stoutly, boldly, bravely; with courageousness.
   4. In an easily discernible or understood manner.
   5. (rare) In a way suggesting acute discernment or reasoning.
   6. With no challenge, struggle, or hardship.
   7. In a large quantity or amount; copiously or plenteously.
2. With care, attention, or fastidiousness:
   1. Mindfully; with care taken to others' wishes or beliefs.
   2. Painstakingly; with care taken to include or incorporate details.
   3. Cautiously; with care taken to avoid mistakes.
3. In a way that is appealing or pleasing to someone or some standard:
   1. Traditionally; in the prescribed or proper way.
   2. Virtuously, morally, religiously; according to morals.
   3. Healthily; in a way displaying good health and condition.
   4. Beautifully; in a way pleasing to senses or sensibilities.
   5. Kindly, approvingly; in a way causing respect.
4. To or with a great extent or depth: extensively, comprehensively:
   1. In an intensifying sense; highly, greatly, very.
   2. In a superlative sense; incredibly, really, extremely.
   3. Totally, entirely; in a way that encompasses everything
   4. With the right or required depth or efficacy; enough.
   5. In a final or decisive manner; with finality.
5. Luckily, fortuitously; with good luck or fortune.
6. In a rigid or secure way; stably or fixedly.
7. For a suitable or fitting reason or cause; appropriately.
8. As much as; to the specified extent, not smaller than.
9. Around, about (a given quantity or measure)
10. (semi-interjectional) Probably, maybe, potentially.
11. (rare) Truthfully, honestly; in a heartfelt way.

Descendants

• English: well
• Geordie English: weel
• Scots: weel, wele, weil, weill
• Yola: waal, wull, well, wel; vella

References

• “wel, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-02-17.

Adjective

wel (comparative bet) (almost always predicative)

1. Lucky; experiencing good luck or fortune.
2. Good, worthy, commendable; of good quality or moral status.
3. Wealthy, prosperous, accomplished; experiencing success.
4. Pleased, happy, glad; experiencing happiness.
5. Healthy; experiencing good health and/or in good condition.
6. Fine, acceptable, suitable, useable; having no problems.
7. (rare) Having good grooming or personal hygiene.

Descendants

• English: well
• Scots: weel, wele, weil, weill

References

• “wel, adj.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-02-17.

Interjection

wel

1. Used to preface or begin a statement or situation.
2. Used to acknowledge or reply to a statement or situation.
3. Used to indicate victory, realisation, or overcoming.

Descendants

• English: well
• Scots: weel, wele, weil, weill

References

• “wel, adv.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2019-02-17.

North Frisian

Etymology

From Old Frisian wel, from Proto-Germanic *wela.

Verb

wel

1. (Föhr-Amrum Dialect) to want
2. (Föhr-Amrum Dialect) shall, will (future tense auxiliary verb)

Usage notes

• wel, wal, wääl, wul, and wulen were previously written as well, wall, wäl, wull and wullen respectively.

Conjugation

Conjugation of wel

infinitive I	wel
infinitive II	-
past participle	wulen
imperative singular	-
imperative plural	-
	present	past
1st-person singular	ik wal	ik wul
2nd-person singular	dü wääl	dü wulst
3rd-person singular	hi/hat/at wal	hi/hat/at wul
1st-person dual	wat wel	wat wul
2nd-person dual	jat wel	jat wul
1st-person plural	wi wel	wi wul
2nd-person plural	jam wel	jam wul
3rd-person plural	jo wel	jo wul
	perfect	pluperfect
1st-person singular	ik haa wulen	ik hed wulen
2nd-person singular	dü heest wulen	dü hedst wulen
3rd-person singular	hi/hat/at hee wulen	hi/hat/at hed wulen
1st-person dual	wat haa wulen	wat hed wulen
2nd-person dual	jat haa wulen	jat hed wulen
1st-person plural	wi haa wulen	wi hed wulen
2nd-person plural	jam haa wulen	jam hed wulen
3rd-person plural	jo haa wulen	jo hed wulen
	future (skel)	future (wel)
1st-person singular	ik skal wel	ik wal wel
2nd-person singular	dü skääl wel	dü wääl wel
3rd-person singular	hi/hat/at skal wel	hi/hat/at wal wel
1st-person dual	wat skel wel	wat wel wel
2nd-person dual	jat skel wel	jat wel wel
1st-person plural	wi skel wel	wi wel wel
2nd-person plural	jam skel wel	jam wel wel
3rd-person plural	jo skel wel	jo wel wel

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *wela, from Proto-Indo-European *welh₁-. Akin to Old Frisian wela, Old Saxon wela, Old High German wola, Old Norse vel, Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐌹𐌻𐌰 (waila).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wel/

Adverb

wel (comparative bet, superlative betest)

1. well

Descendants

• Middle English: wel, well, weel, weele, wele, welle; wulle, wille, wal, wol
  • English: well
  • Geordie English: weel
  • Scots: weel, wele, weil, weill
  • Yola: waal, wull, well, wel; vella

Squamish

Etymology

Cognate with Halkomelem wô:l (“cattail”).

Noun

wel

1. cattail, bullrush

Tok Pisin

Etymology

From English oil.

Noun

wel

1. oil

Adjective

wel

1. slippery
2. tricky; cunning
3. inedible
4. feral

Welsh

Etymology

Borrowed from English well.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wɛl/
• Rhymes: -ɛl

Interjection

wel

1. well

Yola

Adverb

wel

1. Alternative form of waal (“well”)
   • 1867, “VERSES IN ANSWER TO THE WEDDEEN O BALLYMORE”, in SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, number 1, page 100:

     A laafe ing lemethès chote wel ta ba zang,

     A leaf in tatters, I know well to be sung,

References

• Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 100