The origin of the meaning and sound of words (etymology) is a rewarding and fascinating subject. Only the sentence above has words of Latin, Greek, Anglo-Saxon, and Germanic origin! Researching the linguistic root and history of a word can be an enjoyable hobby or a genuine profession that will help you understand why we say what we say and why we say it how we say it. It can also increase your vocabulary, improve your spelling, and give you lots of fun facts to share to impress your friends and co-workers.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Get Familiar with the Basics
Step 1. Get a good etymological dictionary
To start studying etymology informally, purchase or access a reputable dictionary that includes the linguistic origins of the words in the definition. The easiest way to tell if you include them is if you have the word "etymological" in the title. However, it may include etymologies even if it doesn't say so on the cover. Check the definitions to see if there is a section titled "origin" or "etymology."
- The respected printed dictionaries for etymology in Spanish are the Indo-European Etymological Dictionary of the Spanish Language, the Spanish and Hispanic Etymological Dictionary and the Etymological Dictionary of the Castilian Language. These last two are available in GoogleBooks.
- There is also a well documented free dictionary online dedicated to etymology; is available at www.elcastellano.org/palabra.php
Step 2. Find the roots
Etymologies look for the oldest origins of a word by tracing it back to its most basic components, that is, the simple words that were combined to create it in the beginning. When you know the roots of a word, you can better understand how we arrived at the sound and meaning of the word that exists today.
- For example, the word "etymology" itself has Greek roots: "etymos", which means, "true meaning," and "lodge," which means, "study of."
- In addition to helping you understand the origin of a word, knowing its roots can help you understand other words with similar roots. In the case of "etymology," you will notice that the root "logia," which means "study of," appears in many other places in modern Spanish, from "biology" to "astrology."
Step 3. Trace the word's journey to Spanish
Etymology not only traces the origins of the word, but also how its meanings and writings have developed over time. Sometimes that means that a word has traveled through more than one language on its way to modern Spanish.
- Etymological dictionaries usually present this trajectory in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent usage and showing where each iteration came from in its time.
- If we return to the word "etymology", it entered the Old English language as ethimolegia ("facts of the origin and development of a word"), from Old French "etymology", from Latin "etymologia", from Greek "etymologia" ("analysis of a word to find its true origin”). So it appears in the written record of three languages (Greek, Latin and French) before entering English.
Step 4. Understand the dates
Most etymologies include dates in their word origins. These represent the first time that a particular word appears in a document written in Spanish. (Don't forget that a word may well have existed in the spoken language long before that, but this is the date of the first surviving written record of it.)
For example, in English, the word "etymology" entered the 14th century, but did not take its modern writing until the 1640s
Step 5. Review the examples and sources
Rigorous etymological dictionaries will include documentary sources for each iteration of a word and examples of how the word has been used in context over time, usually through a phrase or sentence from a document written in Spanish. This provides concrete historical evidence for the origin of the word and reveals how its meaning has changed.
For example, the word "eye" comes from the Latin "oculus". You may notice that in the word "eye" there were several phonetic changes, while the word "oculist" presents a much more evident resemblance
Method 2 of 4: Practice with Words
Step 1. Look for words that make you curious
Now that you know what to look for, start looking for the etymology of those words that make you wonder "Where did this word come from?" It's an entertaining way to learn the historical meaning behind the things you say, and it will often surprise you where they come from.
It's also enriching to search for those words that seem so normal that you take their origin for granted. For example, if you study the etymology of a familiar word like "telephone", you will find that it comes from the Greek "tele" which means far and "phone" also from the Greek which means "voice" or "sound". It is literally "voice from afar." You will also notice the difference in spelling of the word "phone" which shows how much the language has developed. It also shows that the word "phone" is surprisingly related to the word "dysphonic."
Step 2. Follow up on words with unexpected origins
If what you find when you research the etymology of a particular word doesn't make obvious sense, do your research to find out why its original meaning is like this.
For example, you might be intrigued by where a word like "disaster" comes from. If you look for it, you will find that its Greek roots are the prefix "dis" and "astron" (star). So its oldest meaning was something like "bad star." This might seem surprising to you until you take into account Greek astrology and its firm belief that celestial bodies exert control over our lives on Earth
Step 3. Recognize related words
Now that you know the origin of a particular word, you can use it to identify words with similar stories, and therefore related sounds and meanings.
In the case of the word etymology, there are not many related words, but you can see that "etymological", "etymologically" and "etymologist" are closely related. In the case of the word “autopsy” with the Greek root “autos” (which means “oneself”), there are a whole series of related words, from “autonomy” (self-government) to “automobile” (moving by itself) to "automatic" (acting by itself)
Method 3 of 4: Learn More About Etymology
Step 1. Get an etymology app
You can make a daily routine of studying etymology by downloading a related app on at least one of your devices. So you can take your hobby with you wherever you go.
- The Etymological Dictionary of Latin Locutions offers Latin prefixes and suffixes and a compendium of phrases.
- RAE and ASALE Dictionary (DLE) is a comprehensive dictionary application with a notable etymological component that provides the etymological origins of words.
Step 2. Take a related MOOC / COMA
Sometimes, there are massive open online courses available in etymology. These are taught by qualified professors from top universities and colleges, so you get a dose of word history higher education at no cost!
Openuniversity.edu has free online courses available on the history of the language that you can take at your own pace. Explore etymology and lexicography at the same time
Step 3. Go to the library
Search the online catalog of your local library you can search for textbooks, dictionaries, studies, and other resources related to etymology. This way, you can expand your knowledge of this complex subject without paying loads of money to build your own collection of etymology books since academic books tend to be expensive.
- University libraries will likely have more resources available than public libraries.
- There is also the opportunity to delve into specific types of etymology that may interest you. For example, you can get an etymology book associated with a specific language or dialect or with a particular field, such as geography or medicine.
Step 4. Follow a related blog or podcast
There are many popular blogs and podcasts where you can read and listen to stories about etymology. Both offer a fun and informative way to keep up with your hobby of studying etymology.
- If it is about blogging, try You are the clever one who knows everything.
- When it comes to podcasts, try WilsonSucari who explores the etymology of different terms in Spanish.
Method 4 of 4: Study Etymology Formally
Step 1. Take a course to earn credit
Many colleges and universities offer traditional and etymology related online courses. The list of courses available will not be extensive, but there are likely to be one or two at the best institutions of higher learning. The best places to look for classes related to etymology are the Classics, Spanish, and Linguistics departments.
Remember that you will have to enroll in a college or university in order to take a course with them. Most courses taken for credit require that you be accepted as a student through a formal application process and you will have to make payments
Step 2. Apply for admission to a degree in a linguistics program
Currently, there are no universities that offer degrees in etymology specifically. However, many institutions of higher education do have a linguistics department that offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Obtaining a degree in linguistics is the best preparation you can get to become a professional word historian.
The QS university ranking publishes an annual list of the best international programs in linguistics according to their research strengths and reputation; They also consider the radius of students, teachers and their diversity
Step 3. Get a job or related internship
Study etymology in a practical way. There is not much demand for professional etymologists today. However, if you want to pursue a career in word history, the best way to do so is by seeking an editor position with a quality dictionary, such as the Oxford English Dictionary.
Dictionaries need their definitions and etymologies to be constantly updated, which means that they always need editorial staff. Look for work in the dictionaries that interest you. It could be from the Larousse dictionary to Diccionary.com
Advice
- Read! The more you read, the more words you will see. When you see the words in use, you will recognize other words that are similar or used in a similar way. This can be a great starting point for another quick etymological study.
- Try searching for all kinds of words, from anatomy (wrist, biceps, knee, finger, etc.) to crazier words; slang for example (but take into account that some, if they are very new, may not have reached the dictionary).
Warnings
- Since our language record is incomplete and many languages do not have a written record, etymology is not a perfect science. You can only attempt to recreate the history of the words based on the limited evidence we have available.
- Since etymology is not an exact science, not all etymologies of a particular word will be the same. Some of its roots and stories may even be a matter of debate. Review more than one etymological definition to see how different etymologists have interpreted the history of a word.
- The Internet contains many false etymologies and origins, be sure to do your research using a reputable dictionary. An example of this is CANOE, "Committee to assign naval origin to everything", it is not a real committee! It gives totally false explanations.