Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "drink" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic drinkaną, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "drink" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic drinkaną, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).
Drink’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: drinkaną meant “to drink.” German 'trinken' is a cousin. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as drincan. 'drenċan', to make someone drink, gave 'drench'. It reached English by 1500s as drink. 'drunk' is its old past participle. Today, drink means to take a liquid into the mouth and swallow it.
- Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient drinkaną "to drink", German 'trinken' is a cousin.
- Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s drincan "to drink", 'drenċan', to make someone drink, gave 'drench'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1500s drink "to drink", 'drunk' is its old past participle.