Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “chlorophyll” come from?

Chlorophyll comes from French chlorophylle, derived from Ancient Greek χλωρός, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰelh₃-.

chlorophyll (English): Any of a group of green pigments that are found...

Definitions

  1. Any of a group of green pigments that are found...

Ancestry of “chlorophyll”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchchlorophyllechlorophyll
2Ancient Greekφύλλονleaf; foliage; plant
3Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰolh₃-yom—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰleh₃-bloom, flower
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰel-to sound; to speak, roar, bark; shiny, white; to...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰōl-—

Words derived from “chlorophyll”

  • bacteriochlorophyll
  • protochlorophyllide
  • chlorophyllin
  • chlorophyllide
  • achlorophyllous
  • chlorophyllase
  • chlorophyllous
  • chlorophyllic
  • クロロフィル
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰōl- →