Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cute” come from?

Cute derives from English acute, from German akut, from Latin acutus meaning "sharpened," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱ- meaning "to sharpen."

cute (English): Possessing physical features, behaviors,...

Definitions

  1. Possessing physical features, behaviors,...

Ancestry of “cute”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishacūte—
2Frenchaigusharp, pointy; acute, keen, discerning; sharp,...
3Germanakutacute; severe
4Italianacutoacute; sharp; high-pitched, high, shrill
5Russianаку́т—
6Spanishagudosharp, pointed, acute; acute, sharp, witty, keen;...
7Latinacūtus—
8Latinacuō—
9Latinacusa needle, a pin; bodkin; bran, awn, chaff
10Proto-Italicakus—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eḱus—
12Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eḱ-sharp

Words derived from “cute”

  • cuteness
  • cutie
  • cutesy
  • cutely
  • supercute
  • cutey
  • uncute
  • cutesiness
  • cuten
  • overcute
  • uncuteness
  • noncute
  • overcuteness
  • cuteish
  • cuter
  • cute hoorism
  • cutesify
  • cutesily
  • cute hoor
  • cutening
  • cutesome
  • technocutie
  • Q版
  • cute
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eḱ- →