Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Phobia” come from?

Phobia (English) comes from Ancient Greek Φόβος, from Proto-Indo-European bʰegʷ- — to flee; to run.

Ancestry of “Phobia”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient GreekΦόβοςmythological personification of fear
2Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰegʷ-to flee; to run
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰegʷ- →