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Where does the word "sister" come from? It comes from Old Norse systir, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).
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Where does the word "sister" come from? It comes from Old Norse systir, and was adopted directly into English (1200s).
Sister’s story begins in Old Norse: systir meant “a sister.” The Norse form that gradually replaced the native English word sweostor. It reached English by 1200s as sister. Settled as the standard English word for a female sibling. Today, sister means a female sibling, or a woman regarded as a close companion.
- Stage 1 · Old Norse · medieval systir "a sister", the Norse form that gradually replaced the native English word sweostor.
- Stage 2 · English · 1200s sister "a female sibling", settled as the standard English word for a female sibling.