Etymology Map
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Wife

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means a married woman

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

1
Stage 1 of 3
wībą
Proto-Germanic · ancient
"woman"
its origin is unknown; German 'Weib' is a cousin
2
Stage 2 of 3
wīf
Old English · 700s-1000s
"woman"
meant any woman, as it still does in 'midwife' and 'fishwife'
3
Stage 3 of 3
wife
English · 1500s
"married woman"
narrowed to 'married woman' during the Middle Ages
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Read the full story

Wife’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: wībą meant “woman.” Its origin is unknown; German 'Weib' is a cousin. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as wīf. Meant any woman, as it still does in 'midwife' and 'fishwife'. It reached English by 1500s as wife. Narrowed to 'married woman' during the Middle Ages. Today, wife means a married woman.