Etymology Map
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Kaiser

4 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a German or Austrian emperor

Where does the word "kaiser" come from? It comes from Latin Caesar, passing through Gothic and German before entering English (1850s).

1
Stage 1 of 4
Caesar
Latin · ancient
"Caesar"
the family name of Julius Caesar, which became an imperial title
2
Stage 2 of 4
kaisar
Gothic · ancient
"emperor"
borrowed very early by Germanic peoples in contact with Rome
3
Stage 3 of 4
Kaiser
German · medieval
"emperor"
the title of the Holy Roman Emperors and later of Germany's and Austria's emperors
4
Stage 4 of 4
kaiser
English · 1850s
"German emperor"
used above all for Kaiser Wilhelm II of the First World War
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Read the full story

Kaiser’s story begins in Latin: Caesar meant “Caesar.” The family name of Julius Caesar, which became an imperial title. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Gothic as kaisar. Borrowed very early by Germanic peoples in contact with Rome. From there it passed into German as Kaiser by medieval. The title of the Holy Roman Emperors and later of Germany's and Austria's emperors. It reached English by 1850s as kaiser. Used above all for Kaiser Wilhelm II of the First World War. Today, kaiser means a German or Austrian emperor.