Etymology Map
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Faith

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means complete trust; strong religious belief

Where does the word "faith" come from? It comes from Latin fides, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
fides
Latin · ancient
"trust, belief"
the root of 'fidelity' and 'confide'
2
Stage 2 of 3
feid
Old French · medieval
"faith, loyalty"
Anglo-Norman kept a final 'th'-like sound that Parisian French dropped (modern 'foi'), giving English its ending
3
Stage 3 of 3
faith
English · 1200s
"belief, loyalty"
replaced Old English 'geleafa'
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Read the full story

Faith’s story begins in Latin: fides meant “trust, belief.” The root of 'fidelity' and 'confide'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as feid. Anglo-Norman kept a final 'th'-like sound that Parisian French dropped (modern 'foi'), giving English its ending. It reached English by 1200s as faith. Replaced Old English 'geleafa'. Today, faith means complete trust; strong religious belief.