Etymology Map
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Village

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a small community in a rural area

Where does the word "village" come from? It comes from Latin villa, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
villa
Latin · ancient
"country house"
a Roman country estate with its farm buildings
2
Stage 2 of 3
village
Old French · medieval
"group of houses"
the cluster of dwellings that grew around an estate
3
Stage 3 of 3
village
English · 1300s
"a small rural settlement"
'villain' shares the root, originally a peasant from such a settlement
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Read the full story

Village’s story begins in Latin: villa meant “country house.” A Roman country estate with its farm buildings. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as village. The cluster of dwellings that grew around an estate. It reached English by 1300s as village. 'villain' shares the root, originally a peasant from such a settlement. Today, village means a small community in a rural area.