Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “week” come from?

Week derives from Middle English weke, Old English wice, Proto-Germanic waikwaz, and Proto-Indo-European roots weg-, weyk-, and wey-, ultimately relating to the concept of turning or rotation.

week (English): Any period of seven consecutive days; A period of...

Definitions

  1. Any period of seven consecutive days; A period of...

Ancestry of “week”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishwykeAlternative form of wikke; Alternative form of...
2Old Englishwīcdwelling place, abode; abode, dwelling-place;...
3Germanwitz—
4Middle High Germanwitz—
5Old High Germanwizzi—
6Proto-West Germanicwītīpunishment
7Proto-Germanicwitjąknowledge; reason; sense; understanding; wit
8Proto-Germanic*witaną—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanwóydeto have seen, to know
10Proto-Indo-Europeanweyd-to see

Words derived from “week”

  • weeks
  • weekend
  • workweek
  • biweekly
  • weeklong
  • midweek
  • weeknight
  • weekender
  • multiweek
  • weeker
  • yesterweek
  • weekslong
  • nonweekend
  • weekendy
  • schoolies week
  • weekend warrior
  • midweeker
  • rag week
  • weekend
  • уик-энд
  • weekend
  • weekend
  • weekend
  • weekendowy
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyd- →