# wordDNA: Etymology Dictionary — Word Origins & Word Roots

> English etymology app with bilingual explanations, roots, and word structure. (iPhone/iPad app by 峰 潘.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/worddna-etymology-dictionary/id6769062051 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [峰 潘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1823196275)
- Category: Education
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 5 App Store ratings · 5 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.5 · 89 MB
- Languages: American English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese (Simplified, China), Chinese (Traditional, Taiwan)
- Released: 2026-05-19
- Data updated: 2026-10-24
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/worddna-etymology-dictionary/id6769062051/reviews.md

## What is wordDNA?

Every word has a story. Discover its DNA.

Why does "goodbye" come from "God be with ye"? How did "nightmare" get its name? And what do seemingly unrelated English words have in common?

Discover the fascinating history hidden inside everyday language with wordDNA, an etymology dictionary designed for curious minds.

Whether you're a language enthusiast, a writer, a student, or simply someone who loves discovering where words come from, wordDNA makes exploring English etymology intuitive and enjoyable.

EXPLORE WORD ORIGINS

Look up English words and discover their origins, historical meanings, and linguistic connections.

Follow the evolution of words across languages and centuries, from Latin and Greek to modern English.

UNDERSTAND WORD STRUCTURE

Explore how prefixes, roots, and suffixes contribute to word meanings.

Discover the building blocks of English vocabulary and understand how words are formed.

DISCOVER THREE WORDS EVERY DAY

A little curiosity goes a long way.

Explore three carefully selected words each day, accompanied by illustrations and interesting linguistic insights.

Turn a few spare moments into a daily journey through language.

YOUR PERSONAL WORD COLLECTION

Save interesting words, build your own vocabulary collections, and revisit the words that catch your attention.

Keep your favorite discoveries close at hand.

LEARN IN YOUR OWN LANGUAGE

Explore English words with definitions in English, Chinese, or Japanese.

Choose your preferred dictionary language for free, or unlock all available languages with wordDNA Plus.

GO FURTHER WITH WORDDNA PLUS

Unlock additional features designed for deeper exploration:

• Access all dictionary languages
• Switch freely between English, Chinese, and Japanese definitions
• Download complete offline dictionaries
• Enjoy additional premium learning features

A DICTIONARY FOR THE CURIOUS

Language is full of surprises.

Behind every familiar word lies a story of history, culture, and human imagination.

Start exploring with wordDNA.

Discover the stories behind the words.

## Key features

- Bilingual word explanations
- Etymology, roots, prefixes, suffixes
- Pronunciation and usage examples
- Offline dictionary lookup
- Favorites and saved words
- Basic quiz and review tools

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OpenEtymology Plus Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| OpenEtymology Plus Yearly | $6.99 | per year |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| OpenEtymology Plus Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |


## Is wordDNA safe?

Not enough ratings yet to assess wordDNA.

## Is wordDNA legit?

wordDNA: Etymology Dictionary has limited verification signals. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for wordDNA is 58 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data.

## Recent user reviews (5 of 5)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/worddna-etymology-dictionary/id6769062051/reviews.md

### 5/5 — 专业高效友好

*2026-09-23*

界面简洁，更新几个版本了，功能越来越强大。

**Developer response:** 很高兴能帮到您。

### 5/5 — 很棒

*2026-05-29*

一直想找一个这样的词源词根词缀APP，而且简洁，快速。还有历史查询单词练习功能，真的很实用。

**Developer response:** 很高兴能帮到您。有什么升级建议也可以告诉我。

### 5/5 — so fast

*2026-05-20*

words display so fast

**Developer response:** Thank you for your review.

### 5/5 — 还挺强大的

*2026-05-19*

这玩意儿挺实用的，不只是简单解释词义，还能告诉你这个词是怎么来的、以前怎么用、后来怎么变的。查起来方便，内容也比较靠谱。

### 5/5 — 很棒！

*2026-05-19*

一直想要一个这样的词源APP

## Frequently asked questions about wordDNA

### How does OpenEtymology help with learning English?

OpenEtymology helps users understand English vocabulary by showing the etymology, roots, prefixes, and suffixes of words. This approach makes advanced vocabulary easier to remember and reason about, aiding comprehension and retention.

### What features are included for free in OpenEtymology?

The free version of OpenEtymology includes English and Chinese word explanations, etymology details, pronunciation, usage examples, offline lookup, favorites, basic vocabulary packs, and a history of the last 50 searches. It also offers basic quiz and review tools.

### What are the benefits of OpenEtymology Plus?

OpenEtymology Plus unlocks advanced features such as unlimited search history, specialized vocabulary packs (TEM8, TOEFL, GRE8000), custom wordbooks, seven-star mastery tracking, and PDF export for searched words.

### What are the subscription options for OpenEtymology Plus?

OpenEtymology Plus is available through monthly or yearly auto-renewable subscriptions, with free trial periods offered before purchase. A one-time lifetime unlock option is also available.

### Can I manage my OpenEtymology Plus subscription?

Yes, your subscription to OpenEtymology Plus can be managed or canceled directly within your App Store account settings. This allows for easy control over your subscription status.

### Does OpenEtymology track my data?

No, OpenEtymology prioritizes user privacy. Your favorites, search history, wordbooks, and learning data are stored locally on your device and are not synced to the cloud or tracked by analytics.

### Is OpenEtymology suitable for advanced English learners?

Yes, OpenEtymology is designed to help users understand complex vocabulary. The Plus version offers advanced word packs for exams like TOEFL and GRE, making it beneficial for learners preparing for standardized tests.

### What is the age rating for OpenEtymology?

OpenEtymology has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users, including younger learners and adults interested in vocabulary development.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4.9 — 2026-10-16

A little spark for your weekly check-ins!

• A refreshed seven-day view with rounded lightning icons and English weekday labels.
• Bright lemon yellow and our signature orange make completed check-ins easy to spot.
• A new lightning animation flies into today's circle, with haptics that build up to a satisfying landing.
• Respects your system's Reduce Motion setting.

### 1.4.8 — 2026-10-14

• Added support for English–Chinese, English–English, and English–Japanese dictionaries. Free users can choose one primary dictionary and switch up to twice at no cost.
• Added a new onboarding experience to help you explore etymology, word formation, and related words.
• Improved the Plus page and membership benefits presentation.
• Fixed an issue where text was invisible when typing in custom vocabulary lists in Dark Mode.

### 1.4.7 — 2026-10-10

此版本的新增内容
本次更新，让理解单词跨越语言，也让查词更轻便。
- 新增日文界面与英日词典，提供日文释义、词源解析和例句。
- 支持繁体中文，可选择跟随系统、简体中文、繁体中文、日文或英文界面。
- 优化词典体积，内置三套各一万词的核心词库，更多词条通过在线查询获取。
- Plus 用户可下载完整英中、英日及英英离线词典，下载后无需联网即可查阅对应词典。
- 改善语言切换时的词族加载体验。
- 增加启动加载提示，并优化部分界面细节。

### 1.4.6 — 2026-09-27

1.新增“词族探索”模块，基础版可查看1个词族系列单词，plus版本可查看所有相关词族单词。
2.进一步完善“每日三词”模块。

### 1.4.5 — 2026-09-22

全新升级“每日三词”，加入精美插画与每日轮换内容。
新增自由复习和随机呈现模式，复习数量与顺序更加灵活。
为 wordDNA Plus 新增完整粉色主题及多款专属 App 图标。
优化 EN-EN 英英词典，统一英文内容结构并改进音标排版。
发音按钮自动匹配当前主题色，词条与例句的听读体验更加统一。

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| [S-RootWords – Learn Vocabulary](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/s-rootwords-learn-vocabulary/id6757831810) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Education |
| [英语词根词缀手册-高效单词记忆法](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1125810674) | 4.8 (5) | Free | Education |

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-10-24.*