Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "bride" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic brūdiz, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "bride" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic brūdiz, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).
Bride’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: brūdiz meant “bride.” German 'Braut' and Dutch 'bruid' are cousins. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as brȳd. 'brȳdealu', bride-ale, the wedding feast, gave the word 'bridal'. It reached English by 1500s as bride. 'bridegroom' comes from Old English 'brȳdguma', bride-man, reshaped by 'groom', servant. Today, bride means a woman on her wedding day or just married.
- Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient brūdiz "bride", German 'Braut' and Dutch 'bruid' are cousins.
- Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s brȳd "bride", 'brȳdealu', bride-ale, the wedding feast, gave the word 'bridal'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1500s bride "bride", 'bridegroom' comes from Old English 'brȳdguma', bride-man, reshaped by 'groom', servant.