gymnasium

Where does the word "gymnasium" come from? It comes from Greek gymnasion, passing through Latin before entering English (1500s-1600s).

Gymnasium’s story begins in Greek: gymnasion meant “a place for exercise.” A place for athletic training, performed unclothed. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as gymnasium. From Greek 'gymnos', naked, since Greek athletes trained naked. It reached English by 1500s-1600s as gymnasium. Settled as the English word for a place of physical exercise. Today, gymnasium means a room or building equipped for physical exercise and sports.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient gymnasion "a place for exercise", a place for athletic training, performed unclothed.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient gymnasium "a place for physical and intellectual training", from Greek 'gymnos', naked, since Greek athletes trained naked.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s-1600s gymnasium "a room or building for physical exercise", settled as the English word for a place of physical exercise.