Human, Humble and Humus All Mean Earth
A human is a person. The Latin root behind the word is the same one that gives soil, humble and even to inhume.
A human is a member of our species. Latin *homo*, a person, is thought to derive from *humus*, the earth — so a human is an earthly being, made of soil. The same root gives *humble*, meaning close to the ground, *humus*, the organic layer of soil, and *inhume*, to bury. The distinction between *human* and *humane* is recent: both spellings once meant the same thing, and they specialised only in the eighteenth century.
- A person. *A human being.*
- Of people. *Human error.*
- Humane — compassionate. *Humane treatment.*
- Humble — from the same root. *A humble home.*
- Humus — soil, the likely source. *Rich humus.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | human | One human. |
| Plural | humans | All humans. |
| Adjective | human | Human nature. |
| Adjective | humane | Humane treatment. |
| Latin | humus | Earth, soil. |
- To err is human.Proverb.
- The shelter promotes humane treatment.Compassion.
- Humus means earth in Latin.Etymology.
The humus family
- Human — the earthly being
- Humble — low to the ground
- Humility — the quality of being so
- Humus — the organic layer of soil
- Exhume and inhume — out of and into the earth
Latin *humanus*, of a person, from *homo*, a human being, probably from *humus*, earth or ground.
What is the difference between human and humane?
Human describes the species; humane means compassionate. The two spellings once meant the same and separated in the 1700s.
Are human and humble related?
Yes. Both are thought to come from Latin humus, the earth, one meaning earthly and one meaning low to the ground.