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Written by Yoïn van Spijk on 2025-01-27 at 18:29

A popular meme says the word 'queue' is just a Q with a bunch of silent letters waiting in line.

Well, 'queue' comes from Old French, and in that language, its spelling actually made a lot of sense:

• (1) QU denoted a /k/ sound before an E;

• (2) EU was a diphthong;

• (3) E, a feminine ending, was still pronounced.

'Queue' came from Latin 'cōda' ("tail").

Click the video to hear how 'cōda' became 'queue' in French and English, step by step.

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