Etymology Map
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Ego

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a person's sense of self-importance

Where does the word "ego" come from? It comes from Latin ego, adopted directly into English (1920s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
ego
Latin · ancient
"I"
the Latin pronoun, cognate with English 'I'
2
Stage 2 of 2
ego
English · 1920s
"the self"
Freud's translators used it for German 'Ich' in 1923
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Read the full story

Ego’s story begins in Latin: ego meant “I.” The Latin pronoun, cognate with English 'I'. It reached English by 1920s as ego. Freud's translators used it for German 'Ich' in 1923. Today, ego means a person's sense of self-importance.