Etymology Map
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Water

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means the clear liquid that forms seas, lakes and rain

Where does the word "water" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic watōr, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
watōr
Proto-Germanic · ancient
"water"
shares an ancient root with Greek 'hydōr' and Russian 'voda'
2
Stage 2 of 3
wæter
Old English · 700s-1000s
"water"
'wet' and 'otter', the water animal, come from the same root
3
Stage 3 of 3
water
English · 1500s
"water"
'whisky', Gaelic 'water of life', and 'vodka', Russian 'little water', come from related roots
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Read the full story

Water’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: watōr meant “water.” Shares an ancient root with Greek 'hydōr' and Russian 'voda'. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as wæter. 'wet' and 'otter', the water animal, come from the same root. It reached English by 1500s as water. 'whisky', Gaelic 'water of life', and 'vodka', Russian 'little water', come from related roots. Today, water means the clear liquid that forms seas, lakes and rain.