that (English)

Where does "that" come from?

The English adverb 'that' descends from the Old English neuter form 'þæt', which functioned as a definite article and relative pronoun[1][2]. This word traces its lineage back to the Proto-Germanic form '*þat', eventually reaching the Proto-Indo-European root '*tód'[1]. This ancient root is shared across many Indo-European languages, appearing in cognates such as Ancient Greek 'τό', Sanskrit 'तद्', and Polish 'to'[1]. Over time, the usage expanded from a simple demonstrative to include the adverbial senses of indicating degree or extent[1].

Open questions

• The reconstructed Proto-Indo-European form *tód is an inferred ancestor rather than an attested historical word. [1]

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)

Ancestors

• that (Middle English)
• þæt (Old English)
• *þat (Proto-Germanic)
• *só (Proto-Indo-European)

Cognates and doublets

• τό (Ancient Greek)
• det (Danish)
• dat (Dutch)
• dass (German)
• 𐌸𐌰𐍄𐌰 (Gothic)
• það (Icelandic)
• tai (Lithuanian)
• to (Polish)
• तद् (Sanskrit)
• dät (Saterland Frisian)
• that (Scots)
• det (Swedish)

Sources

1. that (English) - Wiktionary
2. that (Middle English) - Wiktionary

Updated August 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris