*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of sea

Inherited from Middle English see, from Old English sǣ, from Proto-West Germanic *saiwi (“body of water”), from Proto-Germanic *saiwiz, itself either: * Derived from Proto-Indo-European *sh₂ey-wo- (“to be fierce, afflict

1 source sectionExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 1 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Unnumbered source etymology

Original entry ↗
noun

A large body of salt water. · The ocean; the continuous body of salt water covering a majority of the Earth's surface. · A body of salt water smaller than an ocean, generally forming part of, or connecting with, an ocean or a larger sea. · A lake, especially if large or if salty or brackish.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Inherited from Middle English see, from Old English sǣ, from Proto-West Germanic *saiwi (“body of water”), from Proto-Germanic *saiwiz, itself either: * Derived from Proto-Indo-European *sh₂ey-wo- (“to be fierce, afflict”). Related to Latin saevus (“wild, fierce”), Tocharian B saiwe (“itch”), and Latvian sievs, sīvs (“sharp, biting”). More at sore. * Derived from Proto-Germanic *sīhwaną (“to percolate, filter”), from Proto-Indo-European *seykʷ-. Cognates Cognate with Yola zea, zee (“sea”), North Frisian See, sia, siie (“sea; lake”), Saterland Frisian See, Säi (“sea”), West Frisian see (“sea”), Cimbrian and Mòcheno sea (“lake”), Dutch zee (“sea”), German and German Low German See (“sea”), Limburgish Sië, zieë (“sea, ocean; lake”), Luxembourgish Séi (“lake”), West Flemish zji (“sea; seaside”), Danish sø (“sea; lake”), Faroese sjógvur (“sea; big wave”), Icelandic sjár, sjór, sær (“sea”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk sjø (“sea, ocean; lake”), Swedish sjö (“sea; lake; big wave”), Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐌹𐍅𐍃 (saiws, “lake, sea; marshland”).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Inherited-form mentionseeenm
  • Inherited-form mentionsǣang
  • Inherited-form mention*saiwigmw-pro
  • Inherited-form mention*saiwizgem-pro
  • Derivation mention*sh₂ey-ine-pro
  • Cognate mentionsaevusla
  • Cognate mentionsaiwetxb
  • Cognate mentionsievslv
  • Derivation mention*sīhwanągem-pro
  • Derivation mention*seykʷ-ine-pro
  • Cognate mentionzeayol
  • Cognate mentionSeefrr
  • Cognate mentionSeestq
  • Cognate mentionseefy · sea
  • Cognate mentionzeenl · sea
  • Cognate mentionSiëli
  • Cognate mentionSéilb · lake
  • Cognate mentionzjivls · sea; seaside
  • Cognate mentionsøda · sea; lake
  • Cognate mentionsjógvurfo · sea; big wave
  • Cognate mentionsjáris
  • Cognate mentionsjösv · sea; lake; big wave
  • Cognate mention𐍃𐌰𐌹𐍅𐍃got · lake, sea; marshland

This page abbreviates 7 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":inh",
        "3": "enm:see<id:sea>"
      },
      "expansion": "[Appendix:Glossary#derived_terms|Derived]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*seykʷ-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*sīhwaną\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"keyword\" : \"from\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*saiwiz\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gem-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-West Germanic\", \"term\" : \"*saiwi\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"gmw-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Old English\", \"term\" : \"sǣ\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ang\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Middle English\", \"term\" : \"see\", \"lang\" : \"enm\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"sea\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"sea\">"
    },
    {
      "name": "yesno",
      "args": {
        "1": "",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "I"
    },
    {
      "name": "glossary",
      "args": {
        "1": "Inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "see",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "lit": "",
        "pos": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": "",
        "id": "sea",
        "sc": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English see"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh+",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "see",
        "id": "sea"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited from Middle English see"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "sǣ"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English sǣ"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*saiwi",
        "4": "",
        "5": "body of water"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *saiwi (“body of water”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*saiwiz"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *saiwiz"
    },
    {
      "name": "yesno",
      "args": {
        "1": "",
        "2": "d",
        "3": "D"
      },
      "expansion": "D"
    },
    {
      "name": "glossary",
      "args": {
        "1": "derived terms",
        "2": "Derived"
      },
      "expansion": "Derived"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*sh₂ey-",
        "4": "*sh₂ey-wo-",
        "5": "to be fierce, afflict",
        "lit": "",
        "pos": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": "",
        "id": "",
        "sc": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *sh₂ey-wo- (“to be fierce, afflict”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der+",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*sh₂ey-",
        "4": "*sh₂ey-wo-",
        "5": "to be fierce, afflict"
      },
      "expansion": "Derived from Proto-Indo-European *sh₂ey-wo- (“to be fierce, afflict”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "saevus",
        "3": "",
        "4": "wild, fierce"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin saevus (“wild, fierce”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "txb",
        "2": "saiwe",
        "3": "",
        "4": "itch"
      },
      "expansion": "Tocharian B saiwe (“itch”)"
    },
    {
      "name": ",",
      "args": {},
      "expansion": ","
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "lv",
        "2": "sievs"
      },
      "expansion": "Latvian sievs"
    },
    {
      "name": "yesno",
      "args": {
        "1": "",
        "2": "d",
        "3": "D"
      },
      "expansion": "D"
    },
    {
      "name": "glossary",
      "args": {
        "1": "derived terms",
        "2": "Derived"
      },
      "expansion": "Derived"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*sīhwaną",
        "4": "",
        "5": "to percolate, filter",
        "lit": "",
        "pos": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": "",
        "id": "",
        "sc": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "sort": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *sīhwaną (“to percolate, filter”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der+",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*sīhwaną",
        "4": "",
        "5": "to percolate, filter"
      },
      "expansion": "Derived from Proto-Germanic *sīhwaną (“to percolate, filter”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*seykʷ-"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *seykʷ-"
    },
    {
      "name": "col-top",
      "args": {
        "1": "2",
        "2": "cog"
      },
      "expansion": "Cognates"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "yol",
        "2": "zea"
      },
      "expansion": "Yola zea"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "frr",
        "2": "See"
      },
      "expansion": "North Frisian See"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "stq",
        "2": "See"
      },
      "expansion": "Saterland Frisian See"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "fy",
        "2": "see",
        "t": "sea"
      },
      "expansion": "West Frisian see (“sea”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "cim,mhn",
        "2": "sea",
        "t": "lake"
      },
      "expansion": "Cimbrian and Mòcheno sea (“lake”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "nl",
        "2": "zee",
        "t": "sea"
      },
      "expansion": "Dutch zee (“sea”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "de,nds-de",
        "2": "See",
        "t": "sea"
      },
      "expansion": "German and German Low German See (“sea”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "li",
        "2": "Sië"
      },
      "expansion": "Limburgish Sië"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "lb",
        "2": "Séi",
        "t": "lake"
      },
      "expansion": "Luxembourgish Séi (“lake”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "vls",
        "2": "zji",
        "t": "sea; seaside"
      },
      "expansion": "West Flemish zji (“sea; seaside”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "da",
        "2": "sø",
        "t": "sea; lake"
      },
      "expansion": "Danish sø (“sea; lake”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "fo",
        "2": "sjógvur",
        "t": "sea; big wave"
      },
      "expansion": "Faroese sjógvur (“sea; big wave”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "is",
        "2": "sjár"
      },
      "expansion": "Icelandic sjár"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "nb,nn",
        "2": "sjø",
        "t": "sea, ocean; lake"
      },
      "expansion": "Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk sjø (“sea, ocean; lake”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "sv",
        "2": "sjö",
        "t": "sea; lake; big wave"
      },
      "expansion": "Swedish sjö (“sea; lake; big wave”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "got",
        "2": "𐍃𐌰𐌹𐍅𐍃",
        "t": "lake, sea; marshland"
      },
      "expansion": "Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐌹𐍅𐍃 (saiws, “lake, sea; marshland”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "ety",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":inh",
        "3": "enm:see<id:sea>"
      },
      "expansion": ""
    }
  ],
  "links": [
    [
      "see",
      "see#Middle_English:_sea"
    ],
    [
      "sǣ",
      "sæ#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "*saiwi",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/saiwi"
    ],
    [
      "*saiwiz",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/saiwiz"
    ],
    [
      "*sh₂ey-wo-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/sh₂ey-"
    ],
    [
      "saevus",
      "saevus#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "saiwe",
      "saiwe#Tocharian_B"
    ],
    [
      "sievs",
      "sievs#Latvian"
    ],
    [
      "sīvs",
      "sīvs#Latvian"
    ],
    [
      "sore",
      "sore#English"
    ],
    [
      "*sīhwaną",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/sīhwaną"
    ],
    [
      "*seykʷ-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/seykʷ-"
    ],
    [
      "zea",
      "zea#Yola"
    ],
    [
      "zee",
      "zee#Yola"
    ],
    [
      "See",
      "See#North_Frisian"
    ],
    [
      "sia",
      "sia#North_Frisian"
    ],
    [
      "siie",
      "siie#North_Frisian"
    ],
    [
      "See",
      "See#Saterland_Frisian"
    ],
    [
      "Säi",
      "Säi#Saterland_Frisian"
    ],
    [
      "see",
      "see#West_Frisian"
    ],
    [
      "Cimbrian",
      "sea#Cimbrian"
    ],
    [
      "sea",
      "sea#Mòcheno"
    ],
    [
      "zee",
      "zee#Dutch"
    ],
    [
      "German",
      "See#German"
    ],
    [
      "See",
      "See#Low_German"
    ],
    [
      "Sië",
      "Sië#Limburgish"
    ],
    [
      "zieë",
      "zieë#Limburgish"
    ],
    [
      "Séi",
      "Séi#Luxembourgish"
    ],
    [
      "zji",
      "zji#West_Flemish"
    ],
    [
      "sø",
      "sø#Danish"
    ],
    [
      "sjógvur",
      "sjógvur#Faroese"
    ],
    [
      "sjár",
      "sjár#Icelandic"
    ],
    [
      "sjór",
      "sjór#Icelandic"
    ],
    [
      "sær",
      "sær#Icelandic"
    ],
    [
      "Norwegian Bokmål",
      "sjø#Norwegian_Bokmål"
    ],
    [
      "sjø",
      "sjø#Norwegian_Nynorsk"
    ],
    [
      "sjö",
      "sjö#Swedish"
    ],
    [
      "𐍃𐌰𐌹𐍅𐍃",
      "𐍃𐌰𐌹𐍅𐍃#Gothic"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "noun",
      "glosses": [
        "A large body of salt water.",
        "The ocean; the continuous body of salt water covering a majority of the Earth's surface.",
        "A body of salt water smaller than an ocean, generally forming part of, or connecting with, an ocean or a larger sea.",
        "A lake, especially if large or if salty or brackish."
      ],
      "tags": [],
      "recordId": "56642936bf4399087cf817df752d72cbacec290b085f75759492461607128864",
      "rawRecordSha256": "c500c40c45f1902c6cbb1657bd31550b1c09ab97fc5ab1189d1b5af7afd27ef9",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 108118
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
    "links": 0,
    "references": 0,
    "descendants": 0,
    "lexicalRecords": 0,
    "lexicalSenses": 7,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for sea →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run
73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID
w-c2Vh