Etymology Map
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Villa

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a large country house in its own grounds

Where does the word "villa" come from? It comes from Latin villa, passing through Italian before entering English (1600s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
villa
Latin · ancient
"country house"
a Roman estate with farm buildings
2
Stage 2 of 3
villa
Italian · 1600s
"country house"
Renaissance Italians revived the Roman country villa
3
Stage 3 of 3
villa
English · 1600s
"country house"
later a suburban house
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Read the full story

Villa’s story begins in Latin: villa meant “country house.” A Roman estate with farm buildings. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in Italian as villa. Renaissance Italians revived the Roman country villa. It reached English by 1600s as villa. Later a suburban house. Today, villa means a large country house in its own grounds.