human

The story

1. Latinhūmānu
2. Old Frenchumain
3. Middle Frenchhumain
4. Middle Englishhumayne
5. English todayhuman

From Late Middle English humaigne, humayne, humain, from Middle French humain, from Old French humain, umain (“of or belonging to man”, adjective), from Latin hūmānus m (“of man, human”, adjective); see there for further details. Spelling human has been predominant since the early 18th century. Compare man, to which it is possibly related.

Words from the same roots