Etymology Map
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Home

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means the place where one lives

Where does the word "home" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic haimaz, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
haimaz
Proto-Germanic · ancient
"village, dwelling"
a village or dwelling; German 'Heim' is a cousin
2
Stage 2 of 3
hām
Old English · 700s-1000s
"home, estate"
place names ending in '-ham', like Birmingham and Fulham, come from it
3
Stage 3 of 3
home
English · 1500s
"dwelling"
'homesick' was modelled in the 1700s on German 'Heimweh'
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Read the full story

Home’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: haimaz meant “village, dwelling.” A village or dwelling; German 'Heim' is a cousin. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as hām. Place names ending in '-ham', like Birmingham and Fulham, come from it. It reached English by 1500s as home. 'homesick' was modelled in the 1700s on German 'Heimweh'. Today, home means the place where one lives.