laugh

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

Laugh’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: hlahjaną meant “to laugh.” Imitative of the sound of laughter. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as hlihhan. Its 'h' was a throat sound, which became 'f' in 'laugh' but vanished in 'bough' and 'though'. It reached English by 1500s as laugh. 'laughing stock' dates from the 1530s. Today, laugh means to make sounds expressing amusement.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient hlahjaną "to laugh", imitative of the sound of laughter.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s hlihhan "to laugh", its 'h' was a throat sound, which became 'f' in 'laugh' but vanished in 'bough' and 'though'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s laugh "to laugh", 'laughing stock' dates from the 1530s.