Where does “femme” come from?
Femme comes from French femme, from Latin femina, from Proto-Indo-European dʰeh₁-m̥n-eh₂, ultimately derived from the root dʰeh₁(y)- meaning to suckle or nourish.
femme (English): A woman, a wife; a young woman or girl; A...
Definitions
- A woman, a wife; a young woman or girl; A...
Ancestry of “femme”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | femme | woman; wife; Alternative form of fem |
| 2 | Middle French | femme | wife; woman |
| 3 | Old French | fame | wife, female partner; woman |
| 4 | Latin | fēmina | woman |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | fēmanā | woman |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰeh₁-m̥n-eh₂ | who sucks; one who is sucked; one who suckles;... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰeh₁(y)- | to suckle, nurse |