Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “père” come from?

père (French) comes from Middle French peré, from Old French peré, from Latin pater, from Proto-Italic patēr, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- — to protect; to shepherd.

père (French): father; Sr

Definitions

  1. father; Sr

Ancestry of “père”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchperé—
2Old Frenchperé—
3Latinpaterfather; head of household; parent
4Proto-Italicpatērfather
5Proto-Indo-Europeanph₂tḗrfather
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂-to protect; to shepherd

Words derived from “père”

  • père
  • beau-père
  • pere
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- →