Etymology Map
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Hamlet

3 stages from Frankish to English.

Today it means a small settlement

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
haim
Frankish · ancient
"home, village"
a Frankish word, the same root as English 'home'
2
Stage 2 of 3
hamelet
Old French · medieval
"small village"
a double diminutive of 'ham'
3
Stage 3 of 3
hamlet
English · 1300s
"small village"
Shakespeare's Hamlet is from the Danish name Amleth, not this word
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Read the full story

Hamlet’s story begins in Frankish: haim meant “home, village.” A Frankish word, the same root as English 'home'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as hamelet. A double diminutive of 'ham'. It reached English by 1300s as hamlet. Shakespeare's Hamlet is from the Danish name Amleth, not this word. Today, hamlet means a small settlement.