voice

Where does the word "voice" come from? It comes from Latin vox, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Voice’s story begins in Latin: vox meant “voice.” The root of 'vocal' and 'vowel'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as vois. Old French 'vois' still pronounced the s. It reached English by 1200s as voice. Grammar's active and passive 'voice' dates from the 1300s. Today, voice means the sound produced in speaking.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient vox "voice", the root of 'vocal' and 'vowel'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval vois "voice", Old French 'vois' still pronounced the s.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s voice "sound of speech", grammar's active and passive 'voice' dates from the 1300s.