From Latin 'infans' (unable to speak) — a baby is literally 'one who cannot yet speak,' same root as 'fable' and 'fame.'
A very young child or baby, especially one not yet able to walk or talk.
From Old French 'enfant' (child), from Latin 'infāns' (genitive 'infantis'), meaning 'unable to speak, young child,' from 'in-' (not) + 'fāns,' present participle of 'fārī' (to speak), from PIE *bʰeh₂- (to speak). An infant is literally 'one who does not speak.' The same root produced 'fable' (a thing spoken), 'fame' (what is spoken about someone), 'fate' (what has been spoken by the