Where does “sperm” come from?
Sperm comes from Middle English sperme, from Latin sperma, from Ancient Greek σπέρμα, from Proto-Indo-European spérmn̥, derived from the root sper-.
sperm (English): The reproductive cell or gamete of the male; a...
Definitions
- The reproductive cell or gamete of the male; a...
Ancestry of “sperm”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | sperme | — |
| 2 | Latin | sperma | seed, semen, sperm |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | σπέρμα | seed; semen, sperm; seed-time, sowing |
| 4 | Proto-Hellenic | *spérmə | — |
Words derived from “sperm”