Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “alto” come from?

Alto derives from Italian alto, from Latin altus, from Proto-Indo-European h₂el-, a root meaning to grow or nourish.

alto (English): A musical part or section higher than tenor and...

Definitions

  1. A musical part or section higher than tenor and...

Ancestry of “alto”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishaltotall; high; loud
2Italianaltohigh, tall; deep; loud
3Latinaltushigh, tall; deep; profound
4Proto-Italicaltos—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eltós—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂él-—

Words derived from “alto”

  • altoist
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- →