sun

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

Sun’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: sunnǭ meant “sun.” Related to Latin 'sōl', as in 'solar'. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as sunne. Feminine in Old English, as 'Sonne' still is in German; 'sunnandæg', sun's day, gave 'Sunday'. It reached English by 1500s as sun. 'sunny' as 'cheerful' dates from the 1500s. Today, sun means the star that the Earth orbits.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient sunnǭ "sun", related to Latin 'sōl', as in 'solar'.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s sunne "sun", feminine in Old English, as 'Sonne' still is in German; 'sunnandæg', sun's day, gave 'Sunday'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s sun "sun", 'sunny' as 'cheerful' dates from the 1500s.