Etymology Map
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Food

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means anything eaten to provide nourishment

Where does the word "food" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic fōdô, passing through Old English before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
fōdô
Proto-Germanic · ancient
"nourishment"
from the same root as 'feed' and 'fodder', and ultimately Latin 'pastor', one who feeds the flock
2
Stage 2 of 3
fōda
Old English · 1000s
"food, fodder"
rare in Old English, where 'mete' (meat) was the usual word for food
3
Stage 3 of 3
food
English · 1300s
"food"
became the general word as 'meat' narrowed to mean animal flesh
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Read the full story

Food’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: fōdô meant “nourishment.” From the same root as 'feed' and 'fodder', and ultimately Latin 'pastor', one who feeds the flock. By 1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as fōda. Rare in Old English, where 'mete' (meat) was the usual word for food. It reached English by 1300s as food. Became the general word as 'meat' narrowed to mean animal flesh. Today, food means anything eaten to provide nourishment.