fae (English)

Where does "fae" come from?

The English noun 'fae', often serving as an alternative spelling for 'fey' or 'fairy folk', traces its roots back to the Medieval Latin form 'fāda'[1]. From this source, the word traveled into the language through Old French 'fae'[1]. While historically used to describe mythical creatures, the term has also seen more contemporary developments, such as its usage as a pronoun attested as recently as 2013[1].

Full etymology tree

• fae (English), 'Alternative spelling of fey (“fairy folk”).'
  • inherited fae (Old French)
    • inherited fada (Latin), 'fāta'

Ancestors

• fada (Latin)

Sources

1. fae (English) - Wiktionary

Updated August 2026

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