how

The word "how" originates from Old English "hū," which meant "in what way" or "by what means." It is derived from Proto-Germanic *hwō, a variant of *hwaz (the root of "who" and "what"). Over time, "how" retained its core function as an interrogative adverb, expanding to cover questions about manner, degree, condition, and reason. Its simplicity and directness have made it a stable and essential word in English for over a millennium.