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Where does the word "fluent" come from? It comes from Latin fluere, and was adopted directly into English (1580s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "fluent" come from? It comes from Latin fluere, and was adopted directly into English (1580s).
Fluent’s story begins in Latin: fluere meant “to flow.” The root of 'fluid', 'influence' and 'flux'. It reached English by 1580s as fluent. Settled as the English word for speaking smoothly and easily. Today, fluent means able to speak, write, or move smoothly and with ease.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient fluere "to flow", the root of 'fluid', 'influence' and 'flux'.
- Stage 2 · English · 1580s fluent "able to speak or write smoothly and easily", settled as the English word for speaking smoothly and easily.