EtymologyMap
Back to all words

Trace the journey of words

Today it means

swiss

relating to Switzerland

Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate

Where does the word "swiss" come from? It comes from Middle High German Schwyz, passing through French before entering English (1510s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "swiss" come from? It comes from Middle High German Schwyz, passing through French before entering English (1510s).

Swiss’s story begins in Middle High German: Schwyz meant “Schwyz.” One of the three cantons that founded the Swiss Confederation in 1291; its name spread to the whole country. By 1400s, the word had taken hold in French as Suisse. Swiss mercenaries served the French kings. It reached English by 1510s as Swiss. The Vatican's Swiss Guard dates from 1506. Today, swiss means relating to Switzerland.

  1. Stage 1 · Middle High German · 1291 Schwyz "Schwyz", one of the three cantons that founded the Swiss Confederation in 1291; its name spread to the whole country.
  2. Stage 2 · French · 1400s Suisse "Swiss", Swiss mercenaries served the French kings.
  3. Stage 3 · English · 1510s Swiss "Swiss", the Vatican's Swiss Guard dates from 1506.

Browse by origin