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Sir

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a polite form of address to a man

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

senior→sire→sir

Latin · ancient

comparative of 'senex', old, the root of 'senior' and 'senate'

Old French · medieval

'sire' addressed kings; the shortened 'sir' went to knights

English · 1300s

"title of respect"

now a general polite form of address

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Read the full story

Sir’s story begins in Latin: senior meant “older.” Comparative of 'senex', old, the root of 'senior' and 'senate'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as sire. 'sire' addressed kings; the shortened 'sir' went to knights. It reached English by 1300s as sir. Now a general polite form of address. Today, sir means a polite form of address to a man.