honey

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

Honey’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: hunangą meant “honey.” Perhaps named for its golden colour, related to Sanskrit 'kanaka', gold. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as hunig. Fermented with water, it made mead. It reached English by 1500s as honey. Used as a term of endearment since the 1300s. Today, honey means the sweet sticky food made by bees.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient hunangą "honey", perhaps named for its golden colour, related to Sanskrit 'kanaka', gold.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s hunig "honey", fermented with water, it made mead.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s honey "honey", used as a term of endearment since the 1300s.