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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Borrowed from Japanese 仙台 (Sendai).

Borrowed from Japanese 埼玉 (Saitama).

Borrowed from Japanese 福(ふく)岡(おか) (Fukuoka).

From the Mandarin pronunciation of the Chinese characters for the city, historically the seat of a prefecture called Hang.

From the German/Danish occupational surname Dreyer, meaning "turner" (a craftsman who works a lathe).

From stable plus the agent suffix -er, naming someone who tends stables.

A phonetic spelling of "tune," popular in British dance and club culture slang.

Borrowed from German Jäger, meaning "hunter."

From burn + -er. Merged with and eclipsed related Middle English brennar, brennere (“an incendiary, incinerator”). Compare German Brenner (“burner”), Swedish brännare (“burner”).

Coined from the phrase "billions and billions," popularly (if inaccurately) associated with astronomer Carl Sagan through Johnny Carson's impressions of him.

From jug (suggesting an empty, hollow container) plus head — implying someone whose head is as empty as a jug.

Invented for the TV series Battlestar Galactica as a family-friendly substitute for a real profanity, later spelled "frak" (originally "frack") specifically so it would keep the same four-letter shape as the word it replaces.

A blend of "bro" and "romance," coined in the 1990s by an American skateboard-magazine editor to describe the close bonds between skaters who spent all their time together.

Origin uncertain; the verb first appears in English around 1815, possibly related to an older Scots word meaning "to shove or push."

A shortened form of Geraldine, similar in pattern to how Jerry is shortened from Gerald.

A shortened form of Ernest; also an old dialect verb related to "run," now essentially obsolete.

A casual, diminutive form of sig, itself short for signature.

From Old English hrōpan ("to shout, cry out"), related to the Dutch roepen and German rufen — all meaning "to call."

Reached English via Gullah from the Kongo word nguba, meaning "peanut."

Short for "Research Department Explosive," reflecting its origin in British military research.

A shortening of "synchronized" or "synchronization."

From Sanskrit विशाल (vishala), meaning "large" or "vast."

Formed from wall plus the agent suffix -er, meaning "one who builds walls."

From Arabic shūrā, "consultation."