light

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

Light’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: leuhtą meant “light.” Cognate with Latin 'lūx' and Greek 'leukos', white. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as lēoht. Its 'h' was a throat sound, still heard in German 'Licht'. It reached English by 1500s as light. Unrelated to 'light', not heavy, which comes from a different root. Today, light means the natural agent that makes things visible.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient leuhtą "light", cognate with Latin 'lūx' and Greek 'leukos', white.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s lēoht "light", its 'h' was a throat sound, still heard in German 'Licht'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s light "light", unrelated to 'light', not heavy, which comes from a different root.