'tragedy' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'tragōidía' (τραγῳδία), where 'tragos' meant 'goat' and 'oide' (from 'aeidein') meant 'song'.

'tragedy' passed into Latin as 'tragoedia', then into Old French as 'tragedie', and into Middle English as 'tragedie' before becoming the modern English word 'tragedy'.

Initially, it meant 'goat-song' (a type of choral song or ritual performance in ancient Greece); over time it came to mean a serious dramatic play, and later also extended metaphorically to any disastrous or sorrowful event.