1.
etymology, origin of a word
The historical origin and development of a word, or the study of such origins. Used when discussing where words come from and how their meanings have evolved.
この言葉の語源は何ですか。
What is the etymology of this word?
「サボる」の語源はフランス語だと言われている。
The word 'saboru' is said to have its origin in French.
語源をたどると、意外な歴史が見えてくることがある。
When you trace a word's etymology, you can sometimes discover surprising history.
USAGE:
語源 is used both in academic linguistics and casual conversation about word origins. Japanese people are often interested in the origins of everyday words, so this term appears frequently in quiz shows, books, and online articles.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 語源をたどる: to trace the etymology
- 語源を調べる: to look up the etymology
- 語源辞典: etymological dictionary
- 語源は〜に由来する: the origin derives from ~
- 語源的に: etymologically