Etymologically
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salve

Etymology and origin of the Latin word salve

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Naevius
Ultimate origin
Latin (salvus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈsaɫ.weː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsal.ve][1]

Forms

salvē [1] The plural imperative is salvēte.[2][3]

Etymology

As a greeting it is the imperative of salveō “to be well”, from salvus “safe, sound”, and the OLD allows that it may instead be the adverb ⟨salvē⟩ “in good health” used as an imperative.[2][1][3] The adverb is from ⟨salvus⟩ with the suffix -ē.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation for the greeting is from Naevius.[2] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

As an interjection it was a greeting, hello, good day, as in Naevius, Plautus and Terence, salvēre iubēre meant to greet someone, and at parting it meant farewell, as in Plautus and Cicero's valē, salvē.[2][3] As an adverb it meant in good order, in good health, as in Plautus' satin salvē? “is all well?”.[2][3]

British Medieval Latin used it as a greeting on meeting and parting, and Salvē Rēgīna “Hail, Queen” is the title of an antiphon to the Virgin.[5] It survives as a greeting in Italian salve.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it as a greeting.[2][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has salvēre iubēre and the adverb.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero has valē, salvē.[3][4]

Meanings

Interjection

  1. Hello, good day, hail.[2]
  2. Farewell.[2]

Adverb

  1. In good health, well.[2]

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Salve.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/salve. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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