right
Morally correct; just; the opposite of left; a legal entitlement.
Etymology
From Old English riht "just, correct, straight," from Proto-Germanic *rehtaz, from PIE *h₃reǵ- "to move in a straight line, to direct, to rule." The connection between "straight" and "correct" is deeply embedded in PIE thought. The same root gives Latin rēx "king" (one who rules/directs) and regula "rule."
The Journey: *h₃reǵ- → right
*h₃reǵ-
*rehtaz
riht
right
Cognates Across Languages
These words in other languages descend from the same PIE root *h₃reǵ-. They are not borrowings but independent inheritances from a common ancestor.
| Language | Word |
|---|---|
| Greek | orégō (I stretch) |
| Latin | rēx (king), regere (to rule) |
| Persian | rāst (straight, right) |
| Sanskrit | rā́jan (king) |
| Old Irish | rí (king) |
Did You Know?
PIE *h₃reǵ- "to straighten" gives English "right" (Germanic) and through Latin: "regal," "reign," "regime," "region," "regulate," "rector," "rectangle," and "royal." Straightness, correctness, and rulership were one concept.
This word descends from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₃reǵ-. See the full root page for descendant trees, sound law references, and scholarly discussion.