Etymology Map
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Garden

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means a piece of ground used for growing flowers, fruit or vegetables

Where does the word "garden" come from? It comes from Frankish gardo, passing through Old North French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
gardo
Frankish · ancient
"enclosure"
a Germanic word for an enclosure, related to English 'yard'
2
Stage 2 of 3
gardin
Old North French · medieval
"enclosed garden"
Norman form; Parisian French said 'jardin'
3
Stage 3 of 3
garden
English · 1300s
"cultivated ground"
so native English 'yard' and French-derived 'garden' share one Germanic root
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Read the full story

Garden’s story begins in Frankish: gardo meant “enclosure.” A Germanic word for an enclosure, related to English 'yard'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old North French as gardin. Norman form; Parisian French said 'jardin'. It reached English by 1300s as garden. So native English 'yard' and French-derived 'garden' share one Germanic root. Today, garden means a piece of ground used for growing flowers, fruit or vegetables.