Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “thank” come from?

Thank comes from Middle English thank, Old English þanc, Proto-Germanic þankōną, and Proto-Indo-European teng-, ultimately from a root meaning to think or perceive.

thank (English): An expression of appreciation; a thought; To...

Definitions

  1. An expression of appreciation; a thought; To...

Ancestry of “thank”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishthank—
2Old Englishþancthanks; thought
3Proto-Germanicþankazthought; mind; consideration; remembrance;...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanteng-to think

Words derived from “thank”

  • thanker
  • thank-you
  • sankyu
  • rethank
  • thank you
  • bethank
  • thanksome
  • thankly
  • thank you card
  • 三Q
  • サンキュー
  • tenkyu tru
  • tenkyu
Every word from Proto-Indo-European teng- →