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Index/Topics/Etymology of the word fuck

Etymology of the word fuck

Etymologists converge on a Germanic origin — probably related to Dutch/German/Scandinavian verbs meaning “to strike,” “to move,” or “to copulate” — and explicitly reject popular acronymic stories.

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Feb 1, 2026
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When did the word 'fuck' first appear in written English, and what are the earliest citations?

appears in the written English record at least as early as the early 16th century, with multiple independent citations scholars routinely point to from the 1500s and late 1400s; more recent archival w...