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Where does the word "siren" come from? It comes from Greek seiren, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "siren" come from? It comes from Greek seiren, and was adopted directly into English (1300s).
Siren’s story begins in Greek: seiren meant “a mythical enchanting sea creature.” A mythical sea creature whose enchanting song lured sailors to shipwreck. It reached English by 1300s as siren. Broadened over time to mean any alluring danger, and later a loud warning device. Today, siren means a loud warning device, or a mythical sea creature that lures sailors with song.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient seiren "a mythical enchanting sea creature", a mythical sea creature whose enchanting song lured sailors to shipwreck.
- Stage 2 · English · 1300s siren "a dangerously alluring person, or a loud warning device", broadened over time to mean any alluring danger, and later a loud warning device.