It's a common misconception that the word "woman" is derived from the word "man," and that the word "man" (referring to all humans, as in "mankind") is just the same as the masculine "man." In Old English, "mann" was a gender-neutral term, used like the gender-neutral "man" in Modern English. The word for "man" (as in an adult male human) was "wermann" ("wer-" being the same prefix as in Modern English "werewolf," literally "man wolf"). The word for "woman" was "wīfmann." Over time, the "wer-" in "wermann" was dropped, becoming simply "man," and "wīfmann" became "woman." "Mann" was retained as a gender-neutral term, "man."
The word "human" isn't derived from the word "man" either; it comes from Latin "homo."
"Male" and "female" are a similar situation. "Female" is not derived from "male" like a lot of people seem to think. The word "male" comes from Old French "masle." The word "female," on the other hand, comes from Latin "femina."
As for, "person" having "son" it. It's the same as the last ones; "person" and "son" have completely different origins. "Person" came from Latin "persona." "Son" is from Old English "sunu."
It's a common misconception that the word "woman" is derived from the word "man," and that the word "man" (referring to all humans, as in "mankind") is just the same as the masculine "man." In Old English, "mann" was a gender-neutral term, used like the gender-neutral "man" in Modern English. The word for "man" (as in an adult male human) was "wermann" ("wer-" being the same prefix as in Modern English "werewolf," literally "man wolf"). The word for "woman" was "wīfmann." Over time, the "wer-" in "wermann" was dropped, becoming simply "man," and "wīfmann" became "woman." "Mann" was retained as a gender-neutral term, "man."
The word "human" isn't derived from the word "man" either; it comes from Latin "homo."
"Male" and "female" are a similar situation. "Female" is not derived from "male" like a lot of people seem to think. The word "male" comes from Old French "masle." The word "female," on the other hand, comes from Latin "femina."
As for, "person" having "son" it. It's the same as the last ones; "person" and "son" have completely different origins. "Person" came from Latin "persona." "Son" is from Old English "sunu."
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