Etymology Map
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Apple

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means the round fruit of the apple tree

Where does the word "apple" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic aplaz, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
aplaz
Proto-Germanic · ancient
"apple"
one of the few fruit names shared by Germanic, Celtic and Slavic languages
2
Stage 2 of 3
æppel
Old English · 700s-1000s
"apple, fruit"
meant any fruit; a date was a 'fingeræppel', finger-apple
3
Stage 3 of 3
apple
English · 1500s
"apple"
'apple of my eye' first meant the pupil of the eye
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Read the full story

Apple’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: aplaz meant “apple.” One of the few fruit names shared by Germanic, Celtic and Slavic languages. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as æppel. Meant any fruit; a date was a 'fingeræppel', finger-apple. It reached English by 1500s as apple. 'apple of my eye' first meant the pupil of the eye. Today, apple means the round fruit of the apple tree.