rotten (English)
Where does "rotten" come from?
The word 'rotten' traces its roots back to the Proto-Germanic root *rutāną, which meant 'to rot,' a term rooted in the deeper Proto-Indo-European concept of tearing or rending something apart. The modern English form evolved through Middle English 'roten' and was heavily influenced by the Old Norse 'rotinn.' While it originally described the physical state of decay, the word's meaning expanded over time to encompass moral failings and poor quality.
Full etymology tree
- rotten (English), 'Of perishable items, overridden with bacteria and other infectious agents.'
- inherited roten (Middle English), 'To decompose; to make or become rotten or spoiled:'
- inherited rotian (Old English), 'to rot, get corrupt, ulcerate, putrify'
- inherited *rotēn (Proto-West Germanic), 'to rot'
- derived *rutāną (Proto-Germanic), 'to rot'
- inherited *Hrewd- (Proto-Indo-European)
- derived *rutāną (Proto-Germanic), 'to rot'
- inherited *rotēn (Proto-West Germanic), 'to rot'
- inherited rotian (Old English), 'to rot, get corrupt, ulcerate, putrify'
- influence rotinn (Old Norse), 'rotten, decayed'
- inherited *rutāną (Proto-Germanic), 'to rot'
- inherited *Hrewd- (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited *rutāną (Proto-Germanic), 'to rot'
- inherited roten (Middle English), 'To decompose; to make or become rotten or spoiled:'
Direct ancestors
Updated July 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris