Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “thunder” come from?

Thunder comes from Old English þunor, from Proto-Germanic þunraz, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ten-, a root meaning to resound or roar.

thunder (English): The loud rumbling, cracking, or crashing sound...

Definitions

  1. The loud rumbling, cracking, or crashing sound...

Ancestry of “thunder”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishthunderAlternative form of thonder
2Old EnglishÞunor—
3Proto-West Germanicþunrthunder
4Proto-GermanicÞunraz—
5Proto-Indo-European(s)ten-to thunder, rustle, rumble, drone, groan; to...

Words derived from “thunder”

  • thundering
  • thunderstorm
  • thunderbolt
  • thunderous
  • thunderstruck
  • Thunderbird
  • thunderclap
  • Thunderer
  • thundercloud
  • thunderously
  • thunderer
  • thundery
  • thunderhead
  • thunderbird
  • thundershower
  • thunderingly
  • thundereth
  • thunderstone
  • thunderation
  • thundrous
  • thunderstricken
  • thundersquall
  • thunderlike
  • thunderpeal
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ten- →