Where does “dude” come from?

Dude is of unknown origin, with no established etymological chain traced back through earlier languages.

dude (English): A man, generally a younger man; 2011, C. J....

Definitions

  1. A man, generally a younger man; 2011, C. J....

Ancestry of “dude”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdoodleA fool, a simpleton, a mindless person; A small...
2Germandudela bagpipe

Words derived from “dude

Every word from German dudel
dude — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer