that (English)
Where does "that" come from?
The word "that" descends from the Proto-Indo-European *tód, a demonstrative pronoun that has left descendants across many languages, including the Greek "tó" and Sanskrit "tád." It evolved through Proto-Germanic and Old English as "þæt," originally serving as a neuter definite article and pronoun. Over centuries, it shifted from this specific grammatical role into the versatile demonstrative and adverbial form used in modern English to indicate extent or degree.
Full etymology tree
- that (English), 'To a given extent or degree.'
- inherited that (Middle English), 'that (connecting a noun clause)'
- inherited þæt (Old English), 'nominative/accusative neuter singular of sē: the'
- inherited *þat (Proto-West Germanic)
- inherited *þat (Proto-Germanic), 'nominative/accusative singular neuter of *sa'
- inherited *tód (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited *þat (Proto-Germanic), 'nominative/accusative singular neuter of *sa'
- inherited *þat (Proto-West Germanic)
- inherited þæt (Old English), 'nominative/accusative neuter singular of sē: the'
- inherited that (Middle English), 'that (connecting a noun clause)'
Direct ancestors
- that (Middle English)
- þæt (Old English)
- þat (Proto-Germanic)
- that (Scots)
- dät (Saterland Frisian)
- dat (West Frisian)
- dat (Dutch)
- dass (German)
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris