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Rain

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means water falling from the clouds in drops

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

regną→regn→rain

Proto-Germanic · ancient

German 'Regen' is a cousin

Old English · 700s-1000s

'regnboga', rain-bow, was already the Old English word for a rainbow

English · 1500s

'raining cats and dogs' is recorded from the 1600s

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Rain’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: regną meant “rain.” German 'Regen' is a cousin. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as regn. 'regnboga', rain-bow, was already the Old English word for a rainbow. It reached English by 1500s as rain. 'raining cats and dogs' is recorded from the 1600s. Today, rain means water falling from the clouds in drops.