week

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

Week’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: wikǭ meant “turn, succession.” Meant a turn or succession, from a root meaning to bend or change. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as wicu. The seven-day week came with Christianity and the Roman calendar. It reached English by 1500s as week. 'weekend' is a northern English word from the 1870s. Today, week means a period of seven days.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient wikǭ "turn, succession", meant a turn or succession, from a root meaning to bend or change.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s wicu "week", the seven-day week came with Christianity and the Roman calendar.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s week "week", 'weekend' is a northern English word from the 1870s.