pupille (French)

Where does "pupille" come from?

The French word 'pupille' originates from the Latin 'pupillus,' which was a diminutive form of 'pūpus,' meaning a boy or child. This term eventually evolved into the modern sense of the pupil of the eye, reflecting the tiny, doll-like reflection seen when looking into someone's eyes.

Full etymology tree

• pupille (French), 'pupil (of the eye)'
  • inherited pupille (Middle French)
    • learned borrowing pupillus (Latin), 'orphan, ward'
    • learned borrowing pupilla (Latin), 'diminutive of pūpula:'

Ancestors

• pupillus (Latin)

Updated June 2026

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