Word origins

English

Definition

Word origins, also called etymology, trace where English words come from historically. English borrows heavily from Latin, Greek, French, German, and many other languages. Knowing a word's origin often reveals its deeper meaning and connects it to other words in the same family.

Examples

  • 'Democracy' comes from Greek 'demos' (people) + 'kratos' (rule) — literally 'rule by the people'
  • 'Salary' comes from Latin 'salarium,' related to 'sal' (salt), because Roman soldiers were partly paid in salt
  • 'Kindergarten' comes from German 'Kinder' (children) + 'Garten' (garden) — a garden for children

Related Terms

Common latin roots Common greek roots Root word families Word building

Study This Concept

Practice word origins with free review games in these units:

English 10 Unit 6: Academic Vocabulary