Etymology Map
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Mint

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means an aromatic plant used for flavouring

Where does the word "mint" come from? It comes from Latin menta, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
menta
Latin · ancient
"mint plant"
from Greek 'minthē', named for a nymph turned into the plant
2
Stage 2 of 3
mente
Old French · medieval
"mint"
reinforced an Old English borrowing, 'minte'
3
Stage 3 of 3
mint
English · 1300s
"the herb"
'mint' for coinage is a different word, from Latin 'moneta'
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Read the full story

Mint’s story begins in Latin: menta meant “mint plant.” From Greek 'minthē', named for a nymph turned into the plant. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as mente. Reinforced an Old English borrowing, 'minte'. It reached English by 1300s as mint. 'mint' for coinage is a different word, from Latin 'moneta'. Today, mint means an aromatic plant used for flavouring.