psalm (English)

Where does "psalm" come from?

The word 'psalm' traces its origins to the Ancient Greek 'ψαλμός' [psalmós], which originally referred to the sound produced by plucking or twanging musical strings[1]. Derived from the verb 'ψάλλω' [psállō], meaning to twitch or pluck[5], the term was borrowed into Latin as 'psalmus'[4] and later passed into Old English as 'psealm'[1]. During the Middle English period, the spelling 'salm' was common, though it was eventually reinforced by the Old French form 'psalme'[1][3]. While the word once carried specific instrumental nuances, its meaning broadened during New Testament times to include various tunes and eventually any song sung in worship, losing all connection to instrumental performance by the Byzantine Period[1].

Open questions

The ultimate origin of the Greek verb 'ψάλλω' remains unknown and is likely Pre-Greek in origin. [6]
The initial p in the Old English 'psealm' was likely silent and only pronounced in learned speech. [2]

Full etymology tree

psalm (English), 'A sacred song; a poetical composition for use in the praise or worship of God.'
- inherited psalme (Middle English), 'alternative form of salm'
  - inherited psealm (Old English), 'psalm'
    - borrowed psalmus (Latin), 'psalm'
      - borrowed ψαλμός (psalmós) (Ancient Greek), 'twitching or twanging with the fingers'
        compound ψάλλω (psállō) (Ancient Greek), 'to touch sharply, pluck, pull, twitch, twang'
        compound -μός (-mós) (Ancient Greek), 'Forms abstract nouns.'

Ancestors

salm (Middle English)
psealm (Old English)
psalmus (Latin)
ψαλμός (Ancient Greek)

Descendants and derived words

psalmbook (English)
psalmic (English)
psalmist (English)
psalmless (English)
psalmodic (English)
psalmody (English)
psalmody (English)
Psalms (English)
psalm-smiter (English)
psalmwriter (English)

Sources

Updated August 2026

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