Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “multiculturalism” come from?

Multiculturalism derives from English cultural, English culture, Latin cultura meaning tending or care, Latin colo meaning to inhabit or cultivate, and Proto-Indo-European kʷel- meaning to dwell.

multiculturalism (English): The characteristics of a society, city etc. which...

Definitions

  1. The characteristics of a society, city etc. which...

Ancestry of “multiculturalism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmulticulturalRelating or pertaining to several different...
2EnglishcultureThe arts, customs, lifestyles, background, and...
3Middle Frenchculturecultivation; culture
4Latincultūra—
5Latincultustilled, cultivated, having been cultivated;...
6Latincoleresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
7LatincoloI till, cultivate the land; I inhabit; I protect,...
8Latinquelo—
9Proto-Italickʷelō—
10Proto-Indo-Europeankʷéleti—
11Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- →