Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “water” come from?

Water comes from Old English wæter, from Proto-West Germanic watar, from Proto-Germanic watōr, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wódr̥ derived from the root wed- meaning to flow or wet.

water (English): A substance found at room temperature and...

Definitions

  1. A substance found at room temperature and...

Ancestry of “water”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishwaterwater; water vapour, condensation; lake, pond,...
2Old Englishwæterwater
3Proto-West Germanicwatarwater
4Proto-Germanicwatōrwater
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwódr̥water
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwed-water
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwey-to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...

Words derived from “water”

  • waters
  • groundwater
  • watering
  • watered
  • watershed
  • freshwater
  • wastewater
  • underwater
  • waterfront
  • waterproof
  • watermark
  • watercolor
  • watermelon
  • headwaters
  • backwater
  • breakwater
  • watercourse
  • watertight
  • stormwater
  • waterworks
  • waterside
  • waterline
  • watercolour
  • waterborne
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wey- →