house

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

House’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: hūsą meant “house.” Its origin is unknown; Gothic has 'gudhūs', god-house, for a temple. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as hūs. 'hūsbonda', house-dweller, gave 'husband'. It reached English by 1500s as house. The Great Vowel Shift of the 1400s–1600s changed its 'oo' sound to 'ow', as in 'mouse' and 'out'. Today, house means a building for people to live in.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient hūsą "house", its origin is unknown; Gothic has 'gudhūs', god-house, for a temple.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s hūs "house", 'hūsbonda', house-dweller, gave 'husband'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s house "dwelling", the Great Vowel Shift of the 1400s–1600s changed its 'oo' sound to 'ow', as in 'mouse' and 'out'.