Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “-phone” come from?

-phone (English) comes from Ancient Greek φωνή, from Proto-Hellenic pʰōnā́, from Proto-Indo-European bʰoh₂-néh₂, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-s-ri-.

-phone (English): A type of sound; A device that makes a sound; A...

Definitions

  1. A type of sound; A device that makes a sound; A...

Ancestry of “-phone”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekφωνήsound; Usually of the human voice: voice, cry,...
2Proto-Hellenicpʰōnā́—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰoh₂-néh₂—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-to shine, glow light; to speak, say
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-s-ri-—

Words derived from “-phone”

  • homo
  • microphone
  • homogenous
  • stereo
  • homology
  • Anglophone
  • homophobia
  • Lusitania
  • homozygous
  • megaphone
  • xylophone
  • homophobic
  • homocysteine
  • homoerotic
  • monophonic
  • hydrophone
  • homosocial
  • homoeroticism
  • homophonic
  • stereophonic
  • vibraphone
  • homopolymer
  • homonym
  • allophonic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-s-ri- →