Etymology Map
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Pedagogue

4 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a teacher, especially a strict or pedantic one

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

1
Stage 1 of 4
paidagōgos
Greek · ancient
"child-leader"
the slave who walked a boy to school and supervised him, from 'pais', boy, and 'agein', to lead
2
Stage 2 of 4
paedagogus
Latin · ancient
"tutor"
a tutor, often a Greek slave in Roman households
3
Stage 3 of 4
pedagogue
Old French · medieval
"schoolmaster"
a schoolmaster
4
Stage 4 of 4
pedagogue
English · 1300s
"teacher"
came to suggest a pedantic, strict teacher
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Read the full story

Pedagogue’s story begins in Greek: paidagōgos meant “child-leader.” The slave who walked a boy to school and supervised him, from 'pais', boy, and 'agein', to lead. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as paedagogus. A tutor, often a Greek slave in Roman households. From there it passed into Old French as pedagogue by medieval. A schoolmaster. It reached English by 1300s as pedagogue. Came to suggest a pedantic, strict teacher. Today, pedagogue means a teacher, especially a strict or pedantic one.