Etymology Map
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House

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means a building for people to live in

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

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

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.