Frankfurt
/ˈfræŋk.fərt/noun
A major city in western Germany; the name is also used for several places and things named after the city.
Did you know?Frankfurt literally began as a place-name meaning the Franks’ ford, from the Germanic tribe name *Frank* and Old High German *furt* “ford,” the same ancient word-family behind English *ford* and *ferry*.
Etymological Timeline
Early Medieval period
OHG
Frankonfurt
“the ford belonging to or used by the Franks”
8th–9th Century
Latin
Francofurdum
“Latinized form of the Frankish river crossing settlement”
Middle High German
MHG
Frankenvurt
“Frankish ford, a crossing place associated with the Franks”
Modern German
German
Frankfurt
“the city name, preserved from the older place-name”
Modern English
English
Frankfurt
“the German city name used in English”