Etymograph

English

singer

Singer comes from Middle English synger ‘a singer’, and goes back to singen.

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500singen1
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500synger2‘a singer’
  3. Englishtodaysinger2

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor

  1. 1 Wiktionary, Middle English synger
  2. 2 Wiktionary, English singer

Lineage

  1. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500singenWiktionary, Middle English synger
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500syngerWiktionary, English singer‘a singer’
  3. EnglishtodaysingerWiktionary, English singer

Linked words

through Middle English singen

singing, 3 more

Today it means

noun A person who sings, often professionally.

Sources

Sources: Wiktionary, “singer”; the older steps come from the Wiktionary entry for Middle English synger. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.

Etymograph / Middle English singen / singer

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