Etymologically
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heureusement

Etymology and origin of the French word heureusement

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1351, Miracle de l'empereur Julien
Ultimate origin
French (heur,-eux,-ment)
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
French heureux
French heureusement

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /œ.ʁøz.mɑ̃/[1]
  • IPA: /ø.ʁøz.mɑ̃/[1]

Forms

heureusement[1]

Etymology

It is from French heureux + -ment, formed on the feminine form.[2][1][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

A Miracle de Nostre Dame (1351) uses it for “by a favourable fate, by luck”.[2][3]

Semantic evolution

Olivier de Magny (1557) has it for “happily, in happiness”, a sense now dated, and Grévin (1560–1561) for “successfully, well”.[2][5] Amyot speaks of the king's très heureusement nez children, born with good gifts, and of Amyot's own translation Montaigne said that he had rendered Plutarch si heureusement.[4][6]

The GLLF dates the common sense “by good luck” at the head of a sentence to Voltaire (1756), and heureusement que… to Beaumarchais (1784).[6] As an interjection it means “thank goodness!”.[1]

Timeline

  • 1351 – “By luck”.[2]
  • 1557 – “Happily”, in Magny.[2]
  • 1560–1561 – “Successfully”, in Grévin.[2]
  • 1694 – The Académie records the word.[2]
  • 1784 – Heureusement que, in Beaumarchais.[6]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Fortunately, luckily: heureusement, il est indemne, heureusement que…, it's a good thing that….[5][1]
  2. Favourably, successfully: l'affaire s'est terminée heureusement.[5][7]
  3. Felicitously, in a pleasing way: des couleurs qui se marient heureusement.[5][7]
  4. (dated) Happily, in a state of happiness: vivre heureusement.[5][3]
  5. Heureusement né: born with good gifts.[4][6]

Interjection

  1. (informal) Thank goodness!, just as well![1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  5. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  6. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  7. ^ a b Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
Cite this entry

“Heureusement.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/heureusement. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·