Etymology Map
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Traffic

3 stages from Italian to English.

Today it means vehicles moving on roads; illegal trade

Where does the word "traffic" come from? It comes from Italian traffico, passing through French before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
traffico
Italian · 1300s
"trade"
an Italian merchants' word of uncertain origin
2
Stage 2 of 3
trafique
French · 1500s
"trade"
commerce and trade goods
3
Stage 3 of 3
traffic
English · 1500s
"trade"
road 'traffic' dates from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Traffic’s story begins in Italian: traffico meant “trade.” An Italian merchants' word of uncertain origin. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as trafique. Commerce and trade goods. It reached English by 1500s as traffic. Road 'traffic' dates from the 1800s. Today, traffic means vehicles moving on roads; illegal trade.