The Seven Deadly Sins: Where Do These Words of Wickedness Come From?

                               The Seven Deadly Sins and the Four Last Things Hieronymus Bosch

Let’s be real—if you’ve spent any time on social media, you’ve probably seen all seven deadly sins in action. Greedy influencers flashing luxury goods, prideful rants in the comments, gluttonous food challenges, wrath-filled TikTok trends, envy-fueled scrolling, sloth-like binge-watching marathons, and, well... let’s just say the internet has plenty of lust.

But have you ever wondered where these words actually come from? The seven deadly sins have been around for centuries, but their names have fascinating linguistic roots. Let’s break them down!

1. Pride – The Original Ego Trip 😎

Etymology: From Old English prȳde, meaning “excessive self-esteem,” and earlier from Latin superbia, meaning “arrogance” or “haughtiness.”

Originally, “pride” wasn’t all bad—it simply meant having dignity or self-respect. But over time, it became the ultimate sin of arrogance, the downfall of many tragic heroes (looking at you, Macbeth!).

2. Wrath – Rage Mode Activated 😡

Etymology: From Old English wrǣððu, meaning “anger” or “cruelty.”

Wrath is the old-school way of saying “uncontrollable rage.” It comes from a word that once meant “twisted” or “tormented,” which makes sense because unchecked anger tends to warp your judgment. Just ask the Hulk.

3. Sloth – The OG Couch Potato 🦥

Etymology: From Old English slǣwð, meaning “slow” or “lazy.”

Before it was the name of an adorable tree-dwelling animal, “sloth” was just another way of saying “laziness.” Back in medieval times, it was seen as a spiritual laziness, like when you just can’t be bothered to do good. Now it mostly describes our love for Netflix and naps.

4. Gluttony – The Hunger Games 🍔

Etymology: From Latin gluttire, meaning “to gulp down greedily.”

Originally, gluttony wasn’t just about overeating—it referred to any kind of excessive consumption. Whether it’s food, drinks, or even hoarding things you don’t need (hello, online shopping addiction), gluttony is all about never knowing when to stop.

5. Envy – The Green-Eyed Monster 👀

Etymology: From Latin invidia, meaning “ill will” or “resentment.”

Ever heard the phrase “green with envy”? This comes from ancient beliefs that jealousy could literally make you sick. The Latin root invidia is where we get words like “invidious,” which means something likely to cause resentment. Basically, envy has always been about wanting what someone else has (thanks, Instagram comparisons!).

6. Lust – More Than Just Romance 🍆

Etymology: From Old English lust, meaning “desire” or “pleasure.”

Originally, “lust” wasn’t just about romance or physical attraction—it simply meant a strong longing for anything. Over time, the meaning shifted towards excessive desire, particularly of the, uh, passionate kind.

7. Greed – More, More, More! 🤑

Etymology: From Old English grǣdig, meaning “voracious” or “hungry.”

Greed has always been tied to wanting more than you need. Whether it’s money, power, or possessions, this word has stuck around to describe people who just can’t get enough. Ironically, its original root meant “hungry,” which is pretty fitting—greed is never satisfied.

But There’s Hope! 🤞🏻

Okay, so after reading all that, it might seem like humanity is just one big mess of sins. But there’s a silver lining—hope.

Ever heard of Pandora’s Box? In Greek mythology, Pandora opened a jar (not actually a box, fun fact!) that released all the evils into the world. But one thing remained inside: Elpis, the Greek word for “hope.”

And where does the word “hope” come from? It traces back to Old English hopa, which means “confidence in the future.” It reminds us that even in a world full of flaws, we always have the power to change, grow, and do better.

So, whether it’s keeping your envy in check, controlling your wrath, or just getting off the couch once in a while, remember—language tells us where we’ve been, but it also reminds us that we can write a new story.