Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cyber-” come from?

cyber- (English) comes from English cybernetic, from Ancient Greek κυβερνητικός, from Ancient Greek κυβερνάω, from Proto-Indo-European kʷerb- — to rotate, turn, turn around; to turn.

cyber- (English): Relating to the Internet or cyberspace, or to...

Definitions

  1. Relating to the Internet or cyberspace, or to...

Ancestry of “cyber-”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcyberneticOf or relating to cybernetics—the mathematical...
2Ancient Greekκυβερνητικόςgood at steering
3Ancient Greekκυβερνάωto steer, drive, am a steersman, pilot; to guide,...
4Proto-Indo-Europeankʷerb-to rotate, turn, turn around; to turn

Words derived from “cyber-”

  • cybercrime
  • cybersecurity
  • cyberbullying
  • cyberpunk
  • cyberterrorism
  • cyberculture
  • cybersex
  • cybercafé
  • cybersquatting
  • cyberwar
  • cyberfeminism
  • cyberinfrastructure
  • cyberworld
  • cyberwarfare
  • cyberattack
  • cyberterrorist
  • cyberporn
  • cyberlaw
  • cyberterror
  • cybercultural
  • Cyberia
  • cyberfeminist
  • cyberactivism
  • cyberbully
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷerb- →