saunter
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saunter
- /ˈsɔntɚ/ US
- /ˈsɔːntə/ UK
- /ˈsɑntɚ/ cot caught merger
Rhymes with -ɔːntə(ɹ)
Where it comes from
Etymology unclear. Attested in the sense “to stroll” from the 1660s; noun sense “a stroll” attested 1828. Likely from earlier term meaning “to muse”, late 15th century, from late Middle English santren, of unknown origin. Competing theories exist:
* From Anglo-Norman sauntrer (mid 14th century), from Middle French s'aventurer (“to take risks”); however, this is considered unlikely by the OED. Compare Middle English aunter (“adventure”).
* Of Germanic origin, with proposed cognates including German schlendern, Dutch slenteren, Danish slentre, Swedish släntra, and Icelandic slentur, all meaning “to stroll”.
* From Old French sentier (“path”). In this case, santren would reflect earlier *sa(u)nteren, *senteren /sa(u̯)nˈteːrən/, /sɛnˈteːrən/, with Late Middle English stress shift and concomitant vowel reduction.
Various fanciful folk etymologies have also been given.
verb saunters · sauntering · sauntered
noun saunters
- A leisurely walk or stroll. Caroline […] begged that the drive might be given up for a saunter about the gardens[…]
- A leisurely, easy pace. walking at a saunter
- A place for sauntering or strolling. That wheel of fops, that saunter of the town.
Translations
Every language
verb stroll or walk at a leisurely pace
| Español | pasear |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 徘徊 haikai |
| Português | passear |
| Français | flâner |
| Deutsch | müßig umherschlendern, bummeln |
| Italiano | passeggiare, vagare, camminare, girovagare, sollazzare |
| Ελληνικά | σουλατσάρω soulatsáro |
| Русский | прогу́ливаться progúlivatʹsja, проха́живаться proxáživatʹsja, флани́ровать flanírovatʹ |
noun a leisurely walk or stroll
| Español | paseo |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 한가로이 걷다 han'garoi geotda |
| 中文 | 閒逛 /闲逛 xiánguàng |
| Português | passeio |
| Français | flânerie |
| Deutsch | Umherschlendern, gemächliche Wanderung, Schlendergang |
| Русский | прогу́лка progúlka |
noun A leisurely pace
| Русский | медленная походка medlennaja poxodka |
|---|
Talk about this word "saunter." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/saunter. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. saunter. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/saunter "saunter." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/saunter.Cite this
@misc{saunter_2026,
title = {saunter},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/saunter},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
