Etymologically
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amoureux

Etymology and origin of the French word amoureux

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Inherited
First attested
c. 1150, Roman de Thèbes (amoros)
Inherited from
Latin amorosus
Ultimate origin
Latin (amor)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /a.mu.ʁø/[1]

Forms

amoureux (feminine amoureuse, masculine plural amoureux, feminine plural amoureuses)[1] Old French amoros, amorous, amereus.[2][1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Late Latin amōrōsus (“loving”), derived from amor (“love”), with the influence of amour.[3][4][5][1][6] English amorous was borrowed from Middle French, and amoroso is a doublet taken from Italian.[1]

Compare Old Occitan amoros, Spanish amoroso and Italian amoroso.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Roman de Thèbes (about 1150) amoros has a passive sense, “lovable, attractive”: Ueuz vairs rianz et amoros.[2]

Semantic evolution

The active sense “in love with someone” appears at the end of the 12th century in the Châtelain de Coucy: Que pour autre ne puis estre amorous.[2][7] In the 13th century it described a person or a domestic animal inclined to love, whence the proverbial amoureux des onze mille vierges (Académie, 1694), and things showing or inspiring love (amerous desir).[2][5] Amoureux de “passionately fond of (something)” is found in 1569.[2] As a noun, l'amoureux was a stage part (1633), and in the Cid (1636) Don Sanche is amoureux de Chimène, loving without being loved, amoureux transi dates from 1681.[8][2] In painting a pinceau amoureux is soft and delicate (1771).[2]

Timeline

  • c. 1150 – Amoros “lovable”, Roman de Thèbes.[2]
  • Late 12th century – “In love”, the Châtelain de Coucy.[2]
  • 13th century – “Inclined to love”, Ysopet de Lyon.[2]
  • 1569 – Amoureux de something.[2]
  • 1633 – The stage lover.[8]
  • 1681 – Amoureux transi.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. In love: être amoureux de quelqu'un, tomber amoureux, fou amoureux.[5][1]
  2. Of love, loving: un regard amoureux, la vie amoureuse.[9][1]
  3. Inclined to love; amorous: une nature amoureuse.[9][7]
  4. Amoureux de: passionately fond of: amoureux de la musique.[2][7]

Noun

  1. A lover, sweetheart: un amoureux transi, les amoureux, a courting couple.[5][1]
  2. (theatre) The role of the young lover.[8][5]

Word family

  • amoureusement

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 24, 474b
  7. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  9. ^ a b Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Amoureux.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/amoureux. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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