Etymology Map
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Friend

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means a person one knows and likes

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
frijōndz
Proto-Germanic · ancient
"loving one"
literally 'loving one', from the root of 'free' and of Frigg, the goddess in 'Friday'
2
Stage 2 of 3
frēond
Old English · 700s-1000s
"friend"
'fēond', fiend, was formed the same way from a verb meaning to hate
3
Stage 3 of 3
friend
English · 1500s
"friend"
the verb 'to friend' existed in the 1200s and was revived much later by social media, in the 2000s
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Read the full story

Friend’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: frijōndz meant “loving one.” Literally 'loving one', from the root of 'free' and of Frigg, the goddess in 'Friday'. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as frēond. 'fēond', fiend, was formed the same way from a verb meaning to hate. It reached English by 1500s as friend. The verb 'to friend' existed in the 1200s and was revived much later by social media, in the 2000s. Today, friend means a person one knows and likes.