Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Wednesday” come from?

Wednesday derives from Middle English Wodnesdei, from Old English wōdnesdæġ, from Proto-Germanic Wōdanas dagaz, literally "day of Wōdanaz," the chief Germanic god.

Wednesday (English): The fourth day of the week in many religious...

Definitions

  1. The fourth day of the week in many religious...

Ancestry of “Wednesday”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishWednesdayWednesday
2Old EnglishwōdnesdæġWednesday
3Proto-Germanic*Wōdanas dag—
4Latindiēs Mercuriī—
5Sanskritसौम्यवार—
6SanskritवारAlternative form of वाल; keeping back,...
7Sanskritवर"environing", "enclosing", circumference, space,...
8Sanskritवीरman, especially a brave or eminent man, hero,...
9Proto-Indo-Iranianwīrás—
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanwiHrósman; husband; warrior, hero
11Proto-Indo-Europeanweyh₁-to chase, pursue; to suppress, persecute

Words derived from “Wednesday”

  • Wednesdayite
  • Wōnje
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyh₁- →