Etymology Map
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Father

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means a male parent

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
fađēr
Proto-Germanic · ancient
"father"
Grimm's law turned the ancient 'p' of Latin 'pater' into 'f' in the Germanic languages
2
Stage 2 of 3
fæder
Old English · 700s-1000s
"father"
'Fæder ūre', Our Father, opens the Old English Lord's Prayer
3
Stage 3 of 3
father
English · 1500s
"male parent"
the 'd' shifted to 'th' in the 1500s, the same change seen in 'mother' and 'weather'
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Read the full story

Father’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: fađēr meant “father.” Grimm's law turned the ancient 'p' of Latin 'pater' into 'f' in the Germanic languages. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as fæder. 'Fæder ūre', Our Father, opens the Old English Lord's Prayer. It reached English by 1500s as father. The 'd' shifted to 'th' in the 1500s, the same change seen in 'mother' and 'weather'. Today, father means a male parent.