The origin of the word sister?

The word "sister" has roots in Proto-Indo-European (PIE), the ancestor of many modern languages, including English. The PIE word is "swésor," meaning "female sibling."

Here's a breakdown of its journey:

* Proto-Indo-European (PIE): *swésor*

* Proto-Germanic: *swistar*

* Old English: *sweostor*

* Middle English: *sister*

* Modern English: *sister*

This word has evolved through various languages and centuries, with the meaning remaining remarkably consistent. Interestingly, many languages still retain a similar word structure and root:

* German: Schwester

* Dutch: zuster

* Swedish: syster

* French: sœur

* Spanish: hermana

* Italian: sorella

So, the next time you say "sister," you're actually using a word that traces back thousands of years to a common ancestor language!