'beginner' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'beginnan', where 'be-' functioned as a verbal prefix and 'ginnan' meant 'to begin, to attempt'.

'beginner' changed from Middle English forms such as 'bigynner'/'biginner' and eventually became the modern English word 'beginner' by the addition of the agentive suffix '-er'.

Initially it referred simply to 'one who begins', and over time it developed the more specific sense of 'a person who is new to an activity' (a novice).