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Where does the word "happy" come from? It comes from Old Norse happ, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
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Where does the word "happy" come from? It comes from Old Norse happ, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Happy’s story begins in Old Norse: happ meant “chance, good luck.” Chance, luck, or good fortune. It reached English by 1300s as happy. Shifted from meaning lucky to meaning joyful. Today, happy means feeling or showing pleasure, contentment, or joy.
- Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval happ "chance, good luck", chance, luck, or good fortune.
- Stage 2 · English · 1300s happy "feeling or showing pleasure or contentment", shifted from meaning lucky to meaning joyful.