Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Amsterdam” come from?

Amsterdam derives from Middle Dutch Aemstelredam, composed of Amstel, a river name, and Middle Dutch dam meaning an embankment or barrier structure.

Ancestry of “Amsterdam”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1DutchAmsterdam—
2Middle DutchAemstelredam—
3Dutchdamdam; king
4Middle Frenchdamedame, double checkers piece
5Spanishdamalady, dame; queen
6FrenchdameA lady; A polite form of address for a woman;...
7Old Frenchdamelady; woman
8Late Latindomnalady, mistress
9Latindominalady or mistress of the house
10LatinDominusthe Lord; Lord; The Lord
11Latindomushouse, home; any building or abode; native place,...
12Proto-Italicdomoshouse, home
13Proto-Indo-Europeandṓmhome; house
14Proto-Indo-Europeandem-to build; to arrange, to put together

Words derived from “Amsterdam”

  • Amsterdamer
  • Amsterdamese
  • Amsterdam Time
  • Amsterdammer
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dem- →