What Is Etymology? That means and 35 Examples

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Each language is a posh and evolving system of phrases and phrase patterns. These phrases and the best way they’re used inside a language can depict a tradition’s worldview, values, and experiences—and this historic journey is revealed in every phrase’s particular person etymology.

However what’s etymology, and what can it reveal concerning the phrases we use in dialog every single day? Discover how etymology connects English phrases like “buddy” and “youngster” in historical past, the way it brings phrases like “galaxy” and “turkey” collectively in fashionable utilization, and why understanding a phrase’s etymology could make you a stronger linguist and conversationalist.

What’s etymology?

The phrase “etymology” (pronunciation eh-teh-MAH-loh-jee) refers back to the technique of learning a phrase’s true that means. It combines the Greek roots etymon, that means “true sense,” and logia, that means “examine of,” to explain the best way we monitor a phrase’s evolution over recorded time. 

In brief, consider an etymology as a phrase’s DNA take a look at. It reveals the phrase’s language of origin, historic varieties and usages, and the way it made its option to fashionable languages.

The etymology of the phrase “etymology,” for instance, dates again to the Previous French phrase etimologie within the late 14th century. That type of the phrase originated from the Greek etymologia. The Greek origins of “etymology” replicate its use in Classical Greek phrases corresponding to Plato’s Cratylus, a humorously pedantic examination of the connection of phrases to their semantic meanings. 

At the moment, we use the phrase “etymology” in English, which is nearer to the unique Greek phrase than the Previous French. You might even see a phrase’s etymology listed in its dictionary entry, which may embrace its language of origin or earlier meanings and varieties.

Etymology of high-frequency English phrases

Have you ever ever puzzled how a few of the phrases you utilize every single day made their manner into fashionable English? The etymologies of most of the most often used English phrases hint again to Previous English, indicating that they’ve been a part of the language for hundreds of years, and in some circumstances, practically a millennium. These phrases usually originate in a protolanguage, sometimes a proto-Germanic language.

Check out these etymology examples with Previous English roots. Some might embrace Previous English letters which are not a part of the Latin alphabet we use every single day, together with ash (æ), which makes a brief “a” sound, and thorn (þ) or eth (ð), which make a “th” sound in Previous English phrases.

*sourced from etymonline.com

Though there wasn’t an ordinary English alphabet and spelling on the time these phrases had been in use, it’s not tough to see the connection between the older and fashionable varieties. The etymologies of greetings like “good morning” (good morwe) and good evening (good evening) additionally hint again to Previous English, making these greetings integral components of the language itself.

Etymology of English phrases with Greek and Latin roots

Previous English isn’t the one origin language in lots of English etymologies. Over 60% of English phrases come from Greek or Latin in some type, together with phrases that predate Previous English. Learn how the etymologies of those frequent English phrases hint again to Latin and Greek, and the way they might have made a couple of twists and turns in different Romance languages alongside the best way.

Magnificence

Used to explain one thing or somebody who’s visually engaging, each “magnificence” and its adjective type “stunning” come from the Vulgar Latin bellitatem, that means “pleasing to the senses” (later, Latin bellus). The English spelling of the phrase “magnificence” traces again to the Twelfth-century French beauté, which appears to be like fairly near the trendy spelling of the phrase.

Beef

The odd-looking phrase “beef” involves English by the use of the Latin phrase bovem, that means “ox or cow.” It transitioned to buef in Eleventh-century Previous French, and was spelled “beef” in English across the thirteenth century C.E. Curiously, whereas “beef” comes from Latin and French, the etymology of the associated phrase hamburger comes from German, and refers to “an individual from Hamburg.” (It later got here to imply “a beef sandwich” within the early twentieth century.)

Sofa

It’s straightforward to assume that the etymology of “sofa” takes it again to Previous English, however this phrase truly traces again to the Latin phrase collocare, that means “to lie down.” The Previous French phrase couchier has the identical that means however a distinct spelling and hyperlinks proper as much as the straightforward English phrase we use to explain a cushty sitting (or mendacity down) place in our residing rooms.

Doubt

Some English phrases have odd spelling and pronunciation mixtures, and “doubt” is considered one of them. However while you see the Latin phrase dubitare (to query or hesitate) in its etymology, the spelling of “doubt” makes a bit of extra sense. 

Dubitare (the identical root for the phrase “doubtful”) entered Previous French as doter and English as douten. Although scribes would ultimately add that Latin “b” again to each French and English spellings someday within the 14th to sixteenth centuries C.E., solely the trendy English model of “doubt” retains it. (French makes use of the spelling doute.)

Galaxy

At the moment, we affiliate the phrase “galaxy” with the celebs and planets within the evening sky, however that’s not what its etymology reveals. The English phrase “galaxy” comes from the Greek galaxias kyklos (milky circle), which described the milk-like (gala) look of the photo voltaic system that was seen to historic Greek scientists. That’s why our luminous galaxy is known as “the Milky Method!”

Muscle

“Muscle” is one other English phrase with a mysterious silent letter that turns into much less mysterious while you look at its etymology. The phrase dates again to the Latin musculus, that means “little mouse,” to replicate how some muscular tissues appeared to seem like mice shifting beneath the pores and skin. The identical that means seems in Greek, the place mys means each “mouse” and “muscle.” The “c” is pronounced in musculus (MUHS-kuh-loos), however not within the English “muscle” (MUH-sull.)

Etymology of English phrases with different roots

English doesn’t simply encompass phrases tracing again to Previous English, Latin, Greek, or French. Like all languages, English is a residing language, that means that it’s nonetheless including new phrases and phrases to its lexicon at this time. Take a look at these etymology examples for phrases you utilize on a regular basis and are available from surprising sources.

Barbecue

“Barbecue” feels just like the quintessential American thought, however the phrase is comparatively new to the English language. It dates again to the 1690s, when it was barbakoa (cooking meat on a picket construction of sticks) in Arawakan, a local language spoken in Haiti. As Spanish settlers started studying extra concerning the customs of native tribes, the phrase turned barbacoa in Spanish, after which the English “barbecue” to explain each the method of cooking and the cooked meat itself.

Okay

It’s easy sufficient to hint the favored English reply “okay” to the letters OK—however the place did the letters come from? The etymology for “okay” (and “OK”) traces its origin to a publishing pattern within the 1830s that misspelled and abbreviated sure phrases in a humorous manner. “OK” was brief for oll korrect (all appropriate), together with comparable phrases “NY” (no yuse) and “OW” (oll wright). “OK,” and its phonetic pronunciation of “okay,” was the one one which persevered within the English lexicon.

Pajamas

Chances are you’ll put on pajamas each evening, however have you ever ever thought-about the place the phrase “pajamas” comes from? The phrase’s etymology locations its origin with the Hindi pajama (nightwear), which can coincide with the same Persian paejamah (leg clothes). As Europeans turned extra accustomed to Indian and Center Japanese tradition, the phrase pajamas started to explain the loose-fitting clothes one wears at evening. The plural “-s” possible follows the identical plural sample as English phrases like “pants” and “trousers.”

Poodle

If you happen to’ve ever seen that “poodle” and “puddle” look and sound comparable, there’s an etymological motive. “Puddle” comes from the German phrase pudeln (to splash in water), and grew to explain small swimming pools of soiled water in English. Pudeln makes one other look within the German Pudelhund, that means “water canine,” and later “poodle” in English as a reputation for fancy canines with curly hair who had been sometimes used to hunt waterfowl.

Turkey

Why do a North American hen and a rustic the world over share the identical title? Like many mysterious English phrases, the etymology tells the story. The massive hen we now name a “turkey” (Meleagris gallopavo) was domesticated by the Aztecs of Mexico, who referred to as them guajolotes. Spanish settlers introduced these birds again to Spain on a commerce route that got here by means of the Ottoman Empire (often known as Turkey), together with smaller guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) from the Turkish area. Europeans and People alike referred to as each birds “turkeys” for that reason, which is now spelled in another way from the nation (Türkiye).

Tycoon

The English phrase “tycoon” refers to a rich individual with energy, however its etymology reveals a extra particular origin in Japanese languages. Traced again to the Japanese taikun and Chinese language taikiun, the phrase “tycoon” was a title given to the shogun of Japan when chatting with foreigners within the mid nineteenth century. 

It meant “lord” and had the connotation of rating larger than the emperor of Japan. Shortly after its introduction in Japanese, “tycoon” appeared in English to explain a really profitable or necessary businessperson.

Key takeaways about etymology

Nonetheless have questions on what etymology can reveal a few phrase and the way we use it? Comply with these key takeaways for a fast evaluation of our phrase information.

• The that means of “etymology” refers back to the examine of a phrase’s true that means and origin.
• Many high-frequency English phrases have etymologies that hint again to Previous English, Latin, and Greek.
• Learning etymology examples is an effective option to be taught extra a few phrase and the historic methods it was used.
• Trendy English phrases have etymologies that embrace French, German, Hindi, Japanese, and native language origins.