Etymology Map
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Earth

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means the planet we live on; soil

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
erþō
Proto-Germanic · ancient
"ground"
German 'Erde' and Dutch 'aarde' are cousins; it has no clear relatives outside Germanic
2
Stage 2 of 3
eorþe
Old English · 700s-1000s
"ground, land"
meant soil and dry land, as opposed to sky and sea
3
Stage 3 of 3
earth
English · 1500s
"the planet; soil"
used as the name of the planet from about 1400
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Earth’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: erþō meant “ground.” German 'Erde' and Dutch 'aarde' are cousins; it has no clear relatives outside Germanic. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as eorþe. Meant soil and dry land, as opposed to sky and sea. It reached English by 1500s as earth. Used as the name of the planet from about 1400. Today, earth means the planet we live on; soil.