Etymology, English, Human

Etymology

From Late Middle English humayne, humain, from Middle French humain, from Old French humain, umain, from Latin hūmānus m (“of or belonging to a man, human, humane”, adjective), from humus, with unclear ū, from Proto-Italic *homos, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰǵʰomós, from *dʰéǵʰōm (“earth”). Spelling human has been predominant since the early 18th century.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈ(h)juː.mən/, [ˈ(ç)ju̟ːmən], [ˈ(ç)ju̟ːmn̩]
• (US) enPR: (h)yo͞oʹmən, (h)yo͞omʹn, IPA^(key): /ˈ(h)ju.mən/, [ˈ(ç)ju̟mən], [ˈ(ç)ju̟mn̩]
  • (NYC, some other US dialects) IPA^(key): /ˈju.mən/
• (Indian English) IPA^(key): /ˈhjuː.mən/

Adjective

human (comparative more human, superlative most human)

1. (not comparable) Of or belonging to the species Homo sapiens or its closest relatives.
2. (comparable) Having the nature or attributes of a human being.

   To err is human; to forgive, divine.

Noun

human (plural humans)

1. (strictly) The most abundant, and most intelligent of primates; Homo sapiens.

   Humans share common ancestors with other apes.

   Synonyms: human being, man; 

2. (broadly) Any hominid of the genus Homo.

Verb

human (third-person singular simple present humans, present participle humaning, simple past and past participle humaned)

1. (rare) To behave as or become, or to cause to behave as or become, a human.