Where does “bi-” come from?

bi- (English) comes from Ancient Greek βίος, from Ancient Greek Γένεσις, from Proto-Hellenic génetis, from Proto-Indo-European ǵénh₁tis, from Proto-Indo-European ǵenh₁- — to produce, to beget, to give birth.

bi- (English): API; two, paired, both; half

Definitions

  1. API; two, paired, both; half

Ancestry of “bi-”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekβίοςlife
2Ancient GreekΓένεσιςGenesis. The title of the first book of the Bible and Pentateuch as in the Septuagint translation in Greek
3Proto-Hellenicgénetisorigin, source
4Proto-Indo-Europeanǵénh₁tisbirth, production
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵenh₁-to produce, to beget, to give birth

Words derived from “bi-

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵenh₁-