Etymology Explorer › Dutch

Where does “thee” come from?

thee (Dutch) comes from Malay teh, from Malay putih, from Classical Malay putih, from Proto-Malayic putih, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (ma-)putiq — white.

thee (Dutch): tea

Definitions

  1. tea

Ancestry of “thee”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Malaytehtea
2Malayputihwhite
3Classical Malayputihwhite
4Proto-Malayicputih—
5Proto-Malayo-Polynesian(ma-)putiqwhite

Words derived from “thee”

  • tea
  • teaspoon
  • teaspoonful
  • teapot
  • teacup
  • theophylline
  • teahouse
  • tay
  • teakettle
  • teatime
  • tearoom
  • teacupful
  • teabag
  • theine
  • teacake
  • teaberry
  • teaware
  • teacloth
  • teacart
  • tealess
  • teamaking
  • teahead
  • tealike
  • teamaker
Every word from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian (ma-)putiq →