English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

Etymology — The Origins of English Words

Where do words come from? Trace the origin and history of any English word, from its Latin, Greek or Old English roots through to its modern meaning. Every etymology is sourced.

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From lion plus heart, echoing the nickname of Richard I of England, "Richard the Lionheart."

Borrowed from Hindi दिया (diyā).

A blend of "normal" and the informal suffix "-ie," used originally in online communities to describe people outside their niche culture.

The Cantonese romanization of any of three different surnames: 魏 (ngai6), 倪 (ngai4), and 危 (ngai4).

An imitative, playful word related to "beep," used for a light tapping motion or its sound.

From Old French erre ("journey, way"), from Latin iter ("a journey, a road") — related to modern words like "itinerant" and "errant."

Borrowed from German Strauss.

Named after James Curtis Hepburn, a 19th-century missionary who popularised this way of spelling Japanese sounds with Latin letters.

A variant spelling of "Tabitha," ultimately from Aramaic.

A trademarked brand name for the drug thiopental.

Borrowed from Japanese ひろし (Hiroshi).

Formed from "grove" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-y."

From Ancient Greek Iskariotes, of uncertain original meaning, possibly linked to a place name.

Formed from over- + watch, as a back-formation from the phrase "watch over."

From Inca plus the adjective-forming suffix -an.

From the Japanese character 呂 (ryo).

From Japanese 流 (ryū), an affix denoting a school or style, especially of a martial art.

From Cantonese 九龍 (gau² lung⁴), literally "nine dragons," after its surrounding mountains.

Borrowed from Hebrew גּוֹלָן (golán).

From Old English stellan, "to place or set," related to the modern word "stall."

Popularized as a first name by singer Miley Ray Cyrus, whose nickname originated from "smiley."

From Arabic amir, "commander, prince" — the same root as "emir" and "admiral."

Borrowed from French Montmartre.

From Frank + -ie.