Etymology Map
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June

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means the sixth month of the year

Where does the word "june" come from? It comes from Latin Iunius, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
Iunius
Latin · classical
"June"
origin disputed even in antiquity: in Ovid's Fasti, Juno claims the month for herself while Juventas claims it for the iuniores, the young men
2
Stage 2 of 3
juin
Old French · 1100s
"June"
gave Middle English june, replacing Old English Ærra Liþa, 'the earlier mild month'
3
Stage 3 of 3
June
English · 1200s
"sixth month"
reinforced by Latin Iunius in learned writing; Magna Carta was sealed at Runnymede on 15 June 1215
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Read the full story

June’s story begins in Latin: Iunius meant “June.” Origin disputed even in antiquity: in Ovid's Fasti, Juno claims the month for herself while Juventas claims it for the iuniores, the young men. By 1100s, the word had taken hold in Old French as juin. Gave Middle English june, replacing Old English Ærra Liþa, 'the earlier mild month'. It reached English by 1200s as June. Reinforced by Latin Iunius in learned writing; Magna Carta was sealed at Runnymede on 15 June 1215. Today, june means the sixth month of the year.