thema (English)
Where does "thema" come from?
The English noun 'thema' is a learned borrowing from Ancient Greek 'θέμᾰ'[1]. The Greek source 'θέμᾰ' derives from 'τῐ́θημῐ' meaning 'to set, put, place' combined with the nominal suffix '-μᾰ'[2]. This Greek verb traces back to Proto-Hellenic '*t(e/i)tʰēmi', which descends from the Proto-Indo-European root '*dʰeh₁-' meaning 'to put or place'[3][4]. It shares a doublet relationship in English with the word 'theme'[1].
Open questions
- The Proto-Hellenic form is reconstructed. [3]
- The Proto-Indo-European present form is reconstructed. [3] [4]
Full etymology tree
- thema (English), 'A subject or theme.'
- borrowed θέμα (théma) (Ancient Greek), 'That which is placed or laid down.'
- derived τίθημι (títhemi) (Ancient Greek), 'to put, place, set'
- inherited *t(e/i)tʰēmi (Proto-Hellenic)
- inherited *dʰé-dʰeh₁-ti (Proto-Indo-European)
- derived *dʰeh₁- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to do'
- inherited *dʰé-dʰeh₁-ti (Proto-Indo-European)
- inherited *t(e/i)tʰēmi (Proto-Hellenic)
- suffix -μα (-ma) (Ancient Greek), 'Added to verbal stems to form neuter nouns denoting the effect or result of an action, a particular instance of an action, or the object of an action'
- derived τίθημι (títhemi) (Ancient Greek), 'to put, place, set'
- borrowed θέμα (théma) (Ancient Greek), 'That which is placed or laid down.'
Ancestors
- θέμα (Ancient Greek)
Cognates and doublets
Sources
- thema (English) - Wiktionary
- θέμα (théma) (Ancient Greek) - Wiktionary
- τίθημι (títhemi) (Ancient Greek) - Wiktionary
- dʰédʰeh₁ti (Proto-Indo-European) - Wiktionary
Updated August 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris