Europe
/ˈjʊə.rəp/noun
The second-smallest continent, conventionally defined as the western part of Eurasia.
Did you know?The name is traditionally linked to the Greek myth of Europa, and scholars have long debated whether that story itself may preserve an older Near Eastern place-name or title rather than a pure Greek invention.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Εὐρώπη (Eurṓpē)
“A mythic woman in Greek legend, later the name of a region west of the Aegean”
Classical Greek
Greek
Εὐρώπη
“A geographical name for lands west of Greece”
Latin
Latin
Europa
“The continent or region called Europe”
Old French
Old French
Europe
“Europe”
Middle English
English
Europe
“The continent of Europe”
Modern English
English
Europe
“The continent of Europe”