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Where does the word "prince" come from? It comes from Latin princeps, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
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Where does the word "prince" come from? It comes from Latin princeps, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).
Prince’s story begins in Latin: princeps meant “first citizen, leader.” From 'primus', first, and 'capere', to take; Augustus used it as a modest-sounding title. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as prince. Applied to any sovereign ruler, not just a king's son. It reached English by 1200s as prince. Gradually narrowed to the son of a monarch. Today, prince means the son of a king or queen; a ruler of a principality.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient princeps "first citizen, leader", from 'primus', first, and 'capere', to take; Augustus used it as a modest-sounding title.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval prince "ruler, sovereign", applied to any sovereign ruler, not just a king's son.
- Stage 3 · English · 1200s prince "a monarch's son", gradually narrowed to the son of a monarch.