Etymology Map
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Ballad

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means a song or poem telling a story

Where does the word "ballad" come from? It comes from Late Latin ballare, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
ballare
Late Latin · ancient
"to dance"
from Greek 'ballizein', to dance
2
Stage 2 of 3
balade
Old French · medieval
"dancing song"
via Provençal 'balada', a song to dance to
3
Stage 3 of 3
ballad
English · 1400s
"dancing song"
'power ballads' date from the 1980s
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Read the full story

Ballad’s story begins in Late Latin: ballare meant “to dance.” From Greek 'ballizein', to dance. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as balade. Via Provençal 'balada', a song to dance to. It reached English by 1400s as ballad. 'power ballads' date from the 1980s. Today, ballad means a song or poem telling a story.