Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “nephew” come from?

nephew (Middle English) comes from Middle English nevew, from Old French neveu, from Latin nepōs, from Proto-Italic nepōts, from Proto-Indo-European népōts — grandson; descendant; nephew.

nephew (Middle English): Alternative form of nevew

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of nevew

Ancestry of “nephew”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishnevewA nephew; A grandson or granddaughter; Any other...
2Old Frenchneveunephew; grandson
3Latinnepōs—
4Proto-Italicnepōtsgrandson; nephew
5Proto-Indo-Europeannépōtsgrandson; descendant; nephew
Every word from Proto-Indo-European népōts →