Etymology Map
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Bridegroom

2 stages from Old English to English.

Today it means a man on his wedding day or just before or after it

Where does the word "bridegroom" come from? It comes from Old English brȳdguma, adopted directly into English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
brȳdguma
Old English · medieval
"bride's man"
brȳd 'bride' + guma 'man', a word related to Latin homo; German Bräutigam kept the same compound
2
Stage 2 of 2
bridegroom
English · 1500s
"man about to marry"
when guma died out, speakers substituted the familiar 'groom', then meaning a manservant or stable lad
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Read the full story

Bridegroom’s story begins in Old English: brȳdguma meant “bride's man.” Brȳd 'bride' + guma 'man', a word related to Latin homo; German Bräutigam kept the same compound. It reached English by 1500s as bridegroom. When guma died out, speakers substituted the familiar 'groom', then meaning a manservant or stable lad. Today, bridegroom means a man on his wedding day or just before or after it.