vulve (French)

Where does "vulve" come from?

The French word 'vulve' was borrowed directly from the Latin 'vulva,' which originally referred to the womb or a covering. This Latin term traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to roll' or 'to wind,' referencing a wrapping or folding structure. Over time, the word's anatomical focus narrowed from general internal organs to its specific modern meaning.

Full etymology tree

• vulve (French), 'vulva'
  • borrowed from vulva (Latin), 'the womb'
    • inherited from *welH- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to roll, to undulate'

Ancestors

• vulva (Latin)

Updated March 2026

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