english

Where does the word "english" come from? It comes from Old English Engle, passing through Old English before entering English (1200s).

English’s story begins in Old English: Engle meant “the Angles.” The Angles, who came from Angeln in what is now Schleswig, on the Baltic coast. Within Old English, it grew into Englisc by 800s. King Alfred called his language 'Englisc', though he was a Saxon. It reached English by 1200s as English. The 'E' is still pronounced as the 'I' it became in the Middle Ages. Today, english means relating to England or its language.

1. Stage 1 · Old English · 400s-500s Engle "the Angles", the Angles, who came from Angeln in what is now Schleswig, on the Baltic coast.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 800s Englisc "English", King Alfred called his language 'Englisc', though he was a Saxon.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s English "English", the 'E' is still pronounced as the 'I' it became in the Middle Ages.