Etymology I — Word Origins
📋 What it is
Etymology is the study of where words come from and how their meanings change.
🗣️ Coach says
Every word has a history. Etymology traces it — "salary" comes from the Latin for salt (Roman soldiers were paid in it!). Knowing a word's origin makes its meaning stick and often reveals a surprising story.
🧠 Memory hook
Etymology = a word's backstory. Origins make meanings memorable ("salary" ← salt).
😂 Giggle
Why was the silent letter so mysterious?
Because it's there in the spelling but never says a word!
😲 Whoa!
The word "muscle" comes from the Latin for "little mouse" — because a flexing muscle looked like a mouse moving under the skin.
✅ Quick check: What does studying etymology tell you about a word?
Say your answer out loud first — then reveal.
Where it came from and how its meaning developed over time.
Etymology is the study of word origins and history.
🧪 Try it! (2 minutes)
Look up the origin of a word you like and share the surprising story behind it.