Etymology Map
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Funeral

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a ceremony for burying the dead

Where does the word "funeral" come from? It comes from Latin funus, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
funus
Latin · ancient
"burial rites"
perhaps related to 'fumus', smoke, from funeral pyres
2
Stage 2 of 3
funerailles
Old French · medieval
"funeral rites"
came via Medieval Latin 'funeralia'
3
Stage 3 of 3
funeral
English · 1400s
"burial rite"
'funeral parlour' dates from the 1880s
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Read the full story

Funeral’s story begins in Latin: funus meant “burial rites.” Perhaps related to 'fumus', smoke, from funeral pyres. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as funerailles. Came via Medieval Latin 'funeralia'. It reached English by 1400s as funeral. 'funeral parlour' dates from the 1880s. Today, funeral means a ceremony for burying the dead.