Where does “gay” come from?

Gay comes from Middle English gay, from Old French gai, from Old Occitan gai, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰengʰ-.

gay (English): Happy, joyful, and lively; Quick, fast; Festive,...

Definitions

  1. Happy, joyful, and lively; Quick, fast; Festive,...

Ancestry of “gay”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgayjoyous, merry
2Old Frenchgaihappy; cheerful; gay
3Old Occitangaihappy; joyous
4Proto-Germanicganhuzfast, quick
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰengʰ-to walk; to step

Words derived from “gay”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰengʰ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic ganhuz →Every word from Old Occitan gai →