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.

Browse etymology by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Recently added

A respelling of "nice," where the letter "y" stands in for a long "i" sound, as in older English spelling conventions.

Either from French marron or Italian marrone, both from Latin Marrones.

From Greek stavros, meaning "cross."

Built from the old verb "ken" ("to know") plus the agent suffix "-er" — literally "one who knows."

A variant of "goo-goo," a slur used by American soldiers in the Philippines in the early 20th century.

From "shuttle" plus "-craft," as in "aircraft."

Derived from Wilhelmina and recoined in the 19th century in America based on the male given names Will and William.

From scar + face.

From Hebrew שִׁמְעוֹן (shimon).

German, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, and Jewish surname, variant of Bernhard. Compare Barnard, Barnhardt, Barnhart.

From Hebrew chayyim, meaning "life."

Named after Charles Ponzi (1882–1949), the con artist who made this type of fraud infamous.

Borrowed from German Mitzi in the twentieth century.

Medieval English form of Old French Ameline, diminutive form of Amélie, cognate to English Amelia.

Variant of Cloney.

Anglicised from Irish Ó Ruanaidh, meaning "descendant of the champion".

An imitative word — it simply mimics the sound itself, like "moo" or "beep."

From Hebrew משה (moshé).

From German Gold ("gold") and Stein ("stone"), one of the ornamental surnames chosen by German Jews.

From "port" plus "man" — originally an occupational name for an official of a port town.

From brim plus the agent suffix -er.

A clipped nickname form of Jeremy.

From Italian Giancarlo.

From Italian Gianluca (literally “John-Luke”).