Where Did “Entrepreneur” Come From? (And Why Does It Sound So Fancy?)

The Word “Entrepreneur”: Because “Businessperson” Wasn’t Complicated Enough

Let’s face it: “entrepreneur” just sounds fancier than “person who starts stuff and hopes it works out.” But where did this word come from, and why do we use it to describe everyone from lemonade stand owners to tech billionaires?

A French Import—With a Side of Drama

“Entrepreneur” comes from the French verb entreprendre, meaning “to undertake.” Because nothing says “I’m taking a risk” like using a word your friends can’t pronounce.
Before it meant “startup founder,” it referred to people organizing public projects or, hilariously, managing theatrical productions. Yes, the original entrepreneurs were basically drama club presidents with a budget.

Economists: Making It Official (and More Confusing)

In the 18th century, Richard Cantillon (an Irish-French economist, because why have just one nationality?) decided entrepreneurs were the real risk-takers—buying at known prices, selling at “let’s see what happens” prices.
Jean-Baptiste Say, another French economist, took the baton and ran with it, calling entrepreneurs the folks who move resources to more productive uses. Translation: “I moved your cheese, and now I own the cheese.”
Joseph Schumpeter later called them “innovators”—the people who disrupt markets and make everyone else nervous at board meetings.

The Human Side: Not Just for the Rich and Famous

Originally, anyone who took on a risky project—building a bridge, starting a business, or putting on a play—was an entrepreneur. So yes, your neighbor organizing the world’s loudest block party technically counts.
Over time, the word stuck to business founders, especially those who love a good gamble (with other people’s money).

Fun Fact: “Undertaker” Used to Be the Word

Before “entrepreneur,” English speakers called risk-takers “adventurers” or “undertakers.” Not the wrestler, but people who undertook risky ventures. Imagine pitching your startup as an “adventurer” at a VC meeting.

Why Should You Care?

Next time you call yourself an entrepreneur, remember you’re part of a long tradition—one that started with French theater and ended with people pitching apps that deliver coffee to your door.
It’s a word that’s traveled continents, survived economists, and still manages to sound just a little bit pretentious.

So, the next time someone asks what you do, just say you’re an entrepreneur. If they look confused, tell them it’s French—and leave it at that.

where did entrepreneur come from ?