hygiene

Where does the word "hygiene" come from? It comes from Greek hygieine, passing through French before entering English (1600s).

Hygiene’s story begins in Greek: hygieine meant “relating to health.” Relating to Hygieia, the goddess of health. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as hygiene. Carried into French medical vocabulary. It reached English by 1600s as hygiene. Settled as the English word for cleanliness practices that preserve health. Today, hygiene means practices that preserve health, especially cleanliness.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient hygieine "relating to health", relating to Hygieia, the goddess of health.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1500s hygiene "the science of health and cleanliness", carried into French medical vocabulary.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s hygiene "practices that preserve health and cleanliness", settled as the English word for cleanliness practices that preserve health.