Etymograph

English

chanson

Chanson comes from French chanson ‘song’, from Latin canō ‘to sing, recite, play’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂n-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*keh₂n-‘to sing’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kh₂nétireconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kanō‘to sing’reconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcanō‘to sing, recite, play’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcantio‘song, singing, playing’
  6. Frenchc. 1600–presentchanson‘song’
  7. Englishtodaysame form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*keh₂n-‘to sing’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kh₂nétireconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kanō‘to sing’reconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcanō‘to sing, recite, play’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcantio‘song, singing, playing’
  6. Frenchc. 1600–presentchanson‘song’
  7. Englishtodaysame form

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *kh₂néti

enchanter, 23 more

through Proto-Italic *kanō ‘to sing’

chanting, cantor, enchantment, incantation, recant, enchant, canticle, chantry, chanter, 42 more

through Latin canō ‘to sing, recite, play’

accent, cant, incentive, chant, bazooka, shanty, 51 more

Today it means

noun Any song with French words, but more specifically a classic, lyric-driven French song.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *keh₂n- / chanson

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