Etymology Explorer › Old French

Where does “soul” come from?

soul (Old French) comes from Latin solus, from Latin swolos, from Proto-Italic swelos, from Proto-Indo-European wēlH-, from Proto-Indo-European welH- — to turn, to wind.

soul (Old French): Alternative form of sol; alone

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of sol; alone

Ancestry of “soul”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinsolusalone, sole, only, by oneself with no others...
2Latinswolos—
3Proto-Italicswelos—
4Proto-Indo-EuropeanwēlH-—
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanwelH-to turn, to wind

Words derived from “soul”

  • seul
Every word from Proto-Indo-European welH- →