About OpenEtymology

OpenEtymology is a free English dictionary built for people learning English as a second language. Each entry explains what a word means today, how it is built from smaller parts where those parts are real, where it came from, and which other English words it is related to.

The same team makes the WordDNA iOS app, which uses the same dictionary for vocabulary study.

Most etymology resources are written for linguists and word enthusiasts. Most learner dictionaries give a definition and an example, and stop there. Learners are left memorising words one at a time.

We think many learners remember and understand vocabulary better when they can see its structure and history. Once you know that port in transport means “carry”, words like import, export and portable stop being strangers.

• Modern meaning first. Every entry starts with what the word means and how it is used today.
• Word parts. Where a word can genuinely be split into a root, prefix or suffix, we show each part and what it contributes.
• History in plain language. We explain how the meaning developed without assuming you know linguistics.
• Word families. Root and family pages group words that share an origin, and say when a connection is only a useful pattern rather than a shared history.
• Exam lists. CET-4, CET-6, TEM-8, TOEFL and GRE lists link each word to its entry.

Entries are drafted with AI assistance from publicly available linguistic references, then organised and checked for learners. We are reviewing entries by hand, starting with the words people look up most. Etymology is not always certain: where scholars disagree or the origin is unknown, we aim to say so rather than offer a neat story.

Read more about our sources and copyright approach and the limits of etymological evidence.

If you find a mistake, a missing word or a connection that looks wrong, please tell us at openetymology@proton.me. Corrections help every learner who uses the site. See the contact page for what to include.