The oldest words in the English language

[jw5]

The oldest words in the English language​

Inspired by Dictionary.com's list, here are 16 of the oldest words in the English language.

 

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"I"​

This personal pronoun came around before the year 900, and it's one of the oldest words around!

 

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"I"​

We have always needed a way to refer to ourselves. Dictionary explains "self-identity was and always will be important".

 

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"We"​

The plural of "I" was created at the same time as its singular form.

 

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"We"​

Because if you can refer to yourself, you must refer to others too.

 

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"Black"​

"Black" is also one of the very earliest words to exist in the English language.

 

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"Black"​

The sky has always gone dark at night. Our ancestors needed a word to describe the lack of light.

 

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"Mother"​

The word "mother" appeared way before "family".

 

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"Mother"​

They do bring life to this world, so it makes sense!

 

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"Give"​

"Give" also came around before the year 900.

 

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"Give"​

We have always traded goods and provided for our families, so this makes sense!

 

[Balls2U]

What about "Fuck"?

 

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"Man/Woman"​

The basics also needed names.

 

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"Man/Woman"​

Dictionary explained that "identifiers were obviously the key foundational words of the English language".

 

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"Fire"​

Fire gives warmth and light. It needed a name!

 

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"Fire"​

Fire is necessary for survival, hence it was one of the first words to appear in our language.

 

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"Hand"​

How did our ancestors make fire? Using their hands!

 

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"Hand"​

"When you inevitably burn your hand by holding your dinner over that fire, you need a term to explain what part of your body hurts, too," explains Dictionary.

 

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"Hear"​

It is purported that the word "hear" comes from the need to be quiet while hunting for food.

 

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"Hear"​

The word "hear" is theorized to have emerged much earlier than "speak".