Where does “joke” come from?

Joke comes from Latin iocus, which derives from Proto-Indo-European yokos, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European yek-.

joke (English): An amusing story; Something said or done for...

Definitions

  1. An amusing story; Something said or done for...

Ancestry of “joke”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latiniocusa joke, jest; a form of amusement; pastime, sport
2Proto-Italicjokosword, saying
3Proto-Indo-Europeanyokosword, utterance
4Proto-Indo-Europeanyek-to utter

Words derived from “joke

Every word from Proto-Indo-European yek-
joke — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer