Where does “archipelago” come from?

Archipelago comes from Italian arcipelago, from Ancient Greek ἀρχιπέλαγος, combining ἀρχι- "chief" and ἀρχός "ruler," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂ergʰ-.

archipelago (English): A group of islands; Something scattered around...

Definitions

  1. A group of islands; Something scattered around...

Ancestry of “archipelago”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Italianarcipelagoarchipelago
2Italianarchi-arch-
3Latinarchi-arch-, archi-
4Ancient Greekἀρχι-denotes primary importance or authority
5Ancient GreekἄρχωTo begin; To lead, rule, govern, command; To be...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ergʰ-to begin; to command, rule; to begin, rule,...

Words derived from “archipelago”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ergʰ- →