The Word of the Day: Empowering

Have you ever paused to consider where the word “empowering” comes from? You’ve likely encountered it countless times: in conversations, in books, in speeches. However, beyond its frequent use, are you truly aware of the depth and range of its meanings? And what about its etymological roots? Have you ever wondered how this powerful term first came into being?

The word empowering comes from the verb empower, which combines the prefix em- (meaning “to put into” or “cause to”) with power. So, at its root, it literally means “to give power or authority.” Over time, it’s taken on broader meanings, like helping someone gain confidence or control over their own life. That’s why you hear it so often in personal development, education, and leadership settings. It’s a small word with a big impact.

While the word “empowering” itself is not directly from Latin, its roots can be traced back to Latin through Old French and Middle English.

If we go into more detail:

• The word “empower” is formed in English by combining:
  
  • the prefix em-, which comes from Latin “in-“, meaning “into” or “in”,
  • and the noun power, which comes from Old French “poeir” (modern pouvoir), derived from Latin “posse”, meaning “to be able” or “to have the ability to.”

Empower = em- (into) + power (from Latin posse) → to give someone the ability or authority to do something.

Therefore, while empowering is a modern English formation, it does have indirect Latin roots, especially through the word power, which is ultimately linked to Latin posse.

Well, yes, Latin is hiding in there, but through a few linguistic layers. 🙂

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The word “empowering” itself is not gender-specific: it simply means enabling someone to gain confidence, control, or authority. It applies to anyone: men, women, children, or entire communities.

However, in recent decades, empowering has become particularly associated with women and girls because of historical and ongoing inequalities. In many societies, women have been denied equal rights, access to education, political representation, and economic opportunities. So, when people talk about empowering women, they’re often addressing that imbalance, trying to give back what was historically withheld.

As a result it can be said that empowerment is not limited to one gender. Men, too, need empowerment in different ways. For example, emotional empowerment for men is increasingly discussed today, especially in breaking harmful stereotypes about masculinity. Likewise, boys can be empowered to be respectful, empathetic, and confident without pressure to “be tough” all the time.

In Turkish, the word “empowering” is often translated as “güçlendirmek” or “yetki vermek“, depending on the context.

Here are a few nuances:

• Güçlendirmek → to strengthen or make someone more powerful (emotionally, socially, mentally, etc.)
  • Bu kitap erkekleri duygusal olarak güçlendiriyor.
    (This book emotionally empowers men.)
• Yetki vermek → to give someone authority or the power to act
  • Yönetici, çalışanlara karar alma konusunda yetki verdi.
    (The manager empowered the employees to make decisions.)

So, empowering in Turkish can mean helping someone become more confident and capable (güçlendirmek), or giving someone the formal power or permission to do something (yetki vermek). The exact translation depends on the situation.

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