Where does “girlfriend” come from?
Girlfriend comes from English friend, from Middle English frēond, from Old English frēond, from Proto-Germanic frijōndz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European preyH-.
girlfriend (English): A female partner in an unmarried romantic...
Definitions
- A female partner in an unmarried romantic...
Ancestry of “girlfriend”, step by step
girlfriend traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Friend
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Friend | A Quaker; a member of the Society of Friends;... |
| 2 | Middle English | frend | A friend or compatriot; a close associate; A... |
| 3 | Old English | frēond | friend, friendly; friend, relative, lover |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | frijōndz | friend, loved one |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | prēy- | to like, love; like, love |