Etymologically
Log in

super

Etymology and origin of the French word super

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1951, Queneau
Ultimate origin
Latin (super)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /sy.pɛʁ/[1]

Forms

super (invariable)[1]

Etymology

The adjective is the prefix super- used as an independent word.[2][3] The prefix is from Latin super (“above, over”), the doublet of the inherited sur.[1] The noun “super” (1956) is a clipping of supercarburant (1931), a compound of “super-” and carburant.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Queneau has it as an adjective in Le Dimanche de la vie (1951): c'était super et chérot.[2]

Semantic evolution

The noun super, short for supercarburant (high-octane petrol), is recorded in L'Aurore in 1956.[4][2] As an interjection marking delight, super!, it is found in 1978, and as an intensifying adverb (super sympa, super content) in the 1980s press.[2] Super has also been used, from 1973, for a supermarket.[4] Though the adjective is usually invariable, des soirées supers is also found.[5][6]

Timeline

  • 1931 – Super-Carburant.[2]
  • 1951 – The adjective, Queneau.[2]
  • 1956 – Le super “high-octane petrol”.[4]
  • 1973 – “Supermarket”.[4]
  • 1978 – The interjection super![2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (familiar) great, terrific: un film super, un type super.[3][6]

Adverb

  1. (familiar) Very, really: super sympa, super content.[2][1]

Interjection

  1. (familiar) Great! fantastic![2][1]

Noun

  1. High-octane petrol: rouler au super.[3][6]
  • super-
  • sur
  • supercarburant
  • supermarché

Usage notes

A separate verb super “to suck up, to gulp” survives in Normandy and in nautical use (a leak supe when it is stopped up); it goes back to Anglo-Norman supeir (about 1130), from Old Norse súpa (“to drink, sip”), related to English sup.[2][7][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k 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-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ a b c d e Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
  5. ^ Dictionnaire Le Robert en ligne, dictionnaire.lerobert.com (accessed 2024)
  6. ^ a b c Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)
  7. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  8. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
Cite this entry

“Super.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/super. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·