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Gymnast

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a person trained in gymnastics

Where does the word "gymnast" come from? It comes from Greek gymnastēs, passing through French before entering English (1590s).

gymnastēs→gymnaste→gymnast

Greek · ancient

"trainer of athletes"

Greek, from 'gymnazein', to train naked, from 'gymnos', naked

French · 1500s

Greek 'gymnastes' was a trainer of professional athletes, from 'gymnos', naked, since athletes trained unclothed

English · 1590s

"athletic trainer"

modern gymnastics developed in Germany in the 1800s

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Gymnast’s story begins in Greek: gymnastēs meant “trainer of athletes.” Greek, from 'gymnazein', to train naked, from 'gymnos', naked. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as gymnaste. Greek 'gymnastes' was a trainer of professional athletes, from 'gymnos', naked, since athletes trained unclothed. It reached English by 1590s as gymnast. Modern gymnastics developed in Germany in the 1800s. Today, gymnast means a person trained in gymnastics.