Etymology Map
Back to all words

Fig

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a soft sweet fruit full of small seeds

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
ficus
Latin · ancient
"fig tree"
probably from a Mediterranean language, like Hebrew 'pag'
2
Stage 2 of 3
figue
Old French · medieval
"fig"
via Provençal 'figa'
3
Stage 3 of 3
fig
English · 1200s
"fig fruit"
'not care a fig' dates from the 1400s
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Fig’s story begins in Latin: ficus meant “fig tree.” Probably from a Mediterranean language, like Hebrew 'pag'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as figue. Via Provençal 'figa'. It reached English by 1200s as fig. 'not care a fig' dates from the 1400s. Today, fig means a soft sweet fruit full of small seeds.