Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “joking” come from?

Joking comes from English joke, derived from Latin iocus meaning "jest or sport," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European yek- meaning "to joke."

joking (English): present participle of joke; Kidding, trying to...

Definitions

  1. present participle of joke; Kidding, trying to...

Ancestry of “joking”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishjokeAn amusing story; Something said or done for...
2Latiniocusa joke, jest; a form of amusement; pastime, sport
3Proto-Italicjokosword, saying
4Proto-Indo-Europeanyokosword, utterance
5Proto-Indo-Europeanyek-to utter

Words derived from “joking”

  • jokingly
  • unjokingly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European yek- →