Why Do We Say ‘Gubernatorial’?

Politics has a language all its own, filled with oddball terms such as “gerrymandering,” “astroturfing,” and “mugwump.” Among the most peculiar commonly used words is “gubernatorial,” the adjective to describe anything related to a governor. While the word pops up everywhere during state elections, it’s rarely used otherwise. So why do we say “gubernatorial” instead of a more intuitive form such as “governorial” or “governatorial”?

The answer to that question lies in a centuries-long linguistic journey that began in ancient Greece, passed through Rome, and eventually found its way into modern American politics.

Like so many of the English language’s most fascinating words, “gubernatorial” got its start in Latin, specifically with the word gubernator, meaning “steersman or pilot” — which was borrowed from the Greek kybernētēs, meaning “the person who steers a ship.” The metaphor was no coincidence: In both Greek and Roman societies, governing a state was frequently likened to guiding a ship through unpredictable waters.

English adapted “gubernatorial” through scholarly and legal Latin, preserving its classical roots, but the words “govern” and “governor” came into English from Old French, which had already turned the Latin spelling into the verb governer. The hybrid system stuck: Everyday speech uses “govern,” but formal political language kept the Latinate “gubernatorial.” But not everyone is entirely comfortable with it.

In an episode of NPR’s “All Things Considered” discussing the origin of “gubernatorial,” Virginia-based journalist Mallory Noe-Payne said that she does her best to avoid using the word, especially in broadcast reporting. “I say, ‘The Democrats control Virginia’s governorship.’ Or ‘the race for governor in Virginia.’ Or, ‘So-and-so is running for governor,’” she explained.

Whether reporters like it or not, “gubernatorial” likely isn’t going anywhere. In the same NPR piece, University of Kansas School of Journalism professor Lisa McLendon suggested that instead of asking why we say “gubernatorial,” we should really be asking why we don’t say “gubernator” instead of “governor.” “Because, if you go back to where this word came from, in the original Latin, it’s from the verb gubernare and gubernator, one who governs,” McLendon explained.

The result of the word “gubernatorial” remaining in the lexicon is a word that feels oddly formal and slightly at odds with its simpler cousins. It’s rarely used outside of politics, and even there it tends to appear mostly during election season — “gubernatorial race,” “gubernatorial candidates,” “gubernatorial approval ratings” — because it signals institutional seriousness rather than everyday speech.

In a sense, “gubernatorial” is a linguistic fossil. The role of governor may have changed from helmsman to elected official, but the word still carries the memory of ancient ship captains piloting their vessels across uncertain seas, now repurposed for governors navigating the political landscape.