gay (French)

Where does "gay" come from?

The word 'gay' traces its roots back through Old French and Old Occitan, likely deriving from a Germanic term for 'quick' or 'lively' or possibly the Latin word 'vagus,' meaning 'wandering.' Originally synonymous with being joyful or merry in Middle English, the word transitioned through underworld slang in the mid-20th century to designate a homosexual person. Today, the French noun reflects this modern usage, borrowed directly from the English development of the term.

Ancestors

Cognates and doublets

Updated March 2026

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