The only free and comprehensive online etymological dictionary of the Spanish language

Word of the Day

base f. (Noun) "base"
Early 18th cent. borrowing from Latin basis 'id.' It replaced the older word basa, now restricted to architecture. Borrowed from Ancient Greek βάσις ‎(básis) "base," but also "step." From Proto-Indo-European *gwh2-ti̯- "gone." From a root *gweh/2- "to go." See also venir.
Indo-European
Italic
Latin venire "to come"
Germanic
Gothic qiman "to come," Old Norse kuma 'id.,' Old Saxon kuman 'id.,' Old High German cuman 'id.,' Old English cuman (English come)
Indo-Iranian
Sanskrit gáti "going," Young Avestan jasaiti "to move"
Tocharian
A kum-, B käm-
Beekes, R. S. P. Etymological Dictionary of Greek. BRILL. 2014.
Corominas, J. & J. Pascual. Diccionario crítico etimológico castellano e híspanico. 6 vols. Madrid: Gredos. 1991-1997.
Real Academia Española. Diccionario de la lengua española. Online. 23rd ed. Madrid: Espasa Calpa. 2014. http://www.rae.es/.
Sihler, A. New Comparative Grammar of Greek and Latin. Oxford University Press. 2008.

12 August 2019 - Update 3.92

Final updates in preparation for a particularly large data update coming at the end of the month.

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The Online Etymological Dictionary of Spanish is a free etymological dictionary of the Spanish language launched on August 6, 2016. An etymology is not a definition but a history of a word over time. This site provides an account of the development of the Spanish language as best as historical linguists are able to ascertain in a way that is accessible both by laymen and academics. If you enjoy using this dictionary, please consider donating to help keep this site alive.