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apostrophe

Etymology and origin of the French word apostrophe

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French has two words spelled apostrophe: the figure of speech, from Latin apostropha, and the punctuation mark, from Latin apostrophus.[1][2][3]

apostrophe1 figure of speech

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1514
Borrowed from
Latin apostropha
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek (ἀποστρέφω)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /a.pɔs.tʁɔf/[3]

Forms

apostrophe f (plural apostrophes)[3]

Etymology

The rhetorical term is borrowed from Latin apostropha, from Ancient Greek ἀποστροφή (apostrophḗ, “a turning away”),[2][4][3][5] from ἀποστρέφω (apostréphō, “to turn away”), from ἀπό (apó, “away”) and στρέφω (stréphō, “to turn”).[3][6] The figure is so called because the speaker turns away from his subject to address someone directly.[2][4] Rey counts it among the Greek terms of rhetoric introduced at the Renaissance.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The GLLF records it in 1514 as a figure of rhetoric;[7] other dictionaries date it to 1516 or 1520.[2][4][1]

Semantic evolution

In general use it came to mean a sudden, rude remark addressed to someone (1738).[2][7] In classical French it was also a jocular word for a blow or slap (1661),[8][2] with the verb apostropher “to slap” (1740), a use that disappeared in the late 18th century.[2] In grammar a word en apostrophe is one that addresses someone, as toi in Toi, viens ici !.[9][10] The verb apostropher “to address sharply” dates from 1672 (Molière).[4][2]

Timeline

  • 1514 – A figure of rhetoric.[7]
  • 1661 – Jocular “blow”.[8]
  • 1672 – Apostropher in Molière.[4]
  • 1738 – “Rude remark”.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (rhetoric) An apostrophe: a figure in which the speaker suddenly addresses a person or personified thing.[9][11]
  2. A sharp, rude remark addressed to someone.[9][10]
  3. (grammar) Mot en apostrophe: a word used in direct address, a vocative.[9][10]
  4. (obsolete, jocular) A blow.[8][6]

Word family

  • apostropher

apostrophe2 punctuation mark

Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1514
Borrowed from
Latin apostrophus
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek (ἀποστρέφω)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /a.pɔs.tʁɔf/[3]

Forms

apostrophe f (plural apostrophes)[3]

Etymology

The mark is borrowed from Late Latin apostrophus, a term of the Latin grammarians,[2][4][3][5] from Ancient Greek ἀπόστροφος (apóstrophos, “(accent) of elision”), from ἀποστρέφω (apostréphō, “to turn away”).[3][4] Littré explains that it was so named because it turns away and replaces the elided letter.[6] It probably became feminine under the influence of the rhetorical word, and Littré defends the feminine since the Greek word was feminine.[2][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1514 for the sign that marks the elision of a vowel.[2][4][1]

Semantic evolution

Littré notes that the sign is not old in French: the medieval manuscripts do not have it, and Jacques Peletier wrote in the 16th century that it was invented in his time.[6] A verb apostropher “to drop the final vowel of (a word)” (1611) has disappeared.[2] English took apostrophe “mark showing an omitted letter” from French in the 1580s.[12]

Timeline

  • 1514 – The sign of elision.[2]
  • 1580s – English borrows apostrophe.[12]
  • 1611 – Apostropher “to elide”.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An apostrophe ('), the sign marking the elision of a vowel, as in l'amie, s'il.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  5. ^ a b Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 25, 20b
  6. ^ a b c d e Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  7. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  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 c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  10. ^ a b c d Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
  11. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  12. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Apostrophe.” Etymologically, 17 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/apostrophe. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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