Etymology Map
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Sing

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means to make musical sounds with the voice

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
singwaną
Proto-Germanic · ancient
"to sing, chant"
Gothic 'siggwan' also meant to read aloud
2
Stage 2 of 3
singan
Old English · 700s-1000s
"to sing"
Bede tells how the cowherd Cædmon, the first named English poet, was told in a dream to 'sing me something'
3
Stage 3 of 3
sing
English · 1500s
"to sing"
'song' comes from the same root
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Read the full story

Sing’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: singwaną meant “to sing, chant.” Gothic 'siggwan' also meant to read aloud. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as singan. Bede tells how the cowherd Cædmon, the first named English poet, was told in a dream to 'sing me something'. It reached English by 1500s as sing. 'song' comes from the same root. Today, sing means to make musical sounds with the voice.