Where does “madame” come from?

madame (Old French) comes from Old French dame, from Late Latin domna, from Latin domina, from Latin Dominus, from Latin domus, from Proto-Italic domos, from Proto-Indo-European dṓm, from Proto-Indo-European dem- — to build; to arrange, to put together.

Ancestry of “madame”, step by step

madame traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Old French dame

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchdamelady; woman
2Late Latindomnalady, mistress
3Latindominalady or mistress of the house
4LatinDominusthe Lord; Lord; The Lord
5Latindomushouse, home; any building or abode; native place,...
6Proto-Italicdomoshouse, home
7Proto-Indo-Europeandṓmhome; house
8Proto-Indo-Europeandem-to build; to arrange, to put together

via Old French ma

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchmamy
2Latinmeamaccusative feminine singular of meus

via Latin mea domina

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinmea dominamy lady

Words derived from “madame”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European dem- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European dṓm →Every word from Proto-Italic domos →