Etymology Map
Back to all words

Day

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means a period of 24 hours; the time of daylight

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
dagaz
Proto-Germanic · ancient
"day"
despite the look-alike, not related to Latin 'diēs'
2
Stage 2 of 3
dæg
Old English · 700s-1000s
"day"
'dæges ēage', day's eye, gave 'daisy', the flower that opens at dawn
3
Stage 3 of 3
day
English · 1500s
"day"
most weekday names keep it: Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday from 'Tīwesdæg', the god Tiw's day
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Day’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: dagaz meant “day.” Despite the look-alike, not related to Latin 'diēs'. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as dæg. 'dæges ēage', day's eye, gave 'daisy', the flower that opens at dawn. It reached English by 1500s as day. Most weekday names keep it: Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday from 'Tīwesdæg', the god Tiw's day. Today, day means a period of 24 hours; the time of daylight.