Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “earphones” come from?

Earphones derives from English phone, from Ancient Greek φωνή meaning "sound" or "voice," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰoh₂neh₂.

earphones (English): API pl; A pair of small loudspeakers worn inside...

Definitions

  1. API pl; A pair of small loudspeakers worn inside...

Ancestry of “earphones”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishearphoneA transducer that converts electric signals into...
2EnglishphoneA device for transmitting conversations and other...
3EnglishtelephoneA telecommunication device used for two-way...
4Frenchtéléphonetelephone; first-person singular present...
5Frenchtélé-tele-
6Ancient Greekτῆλεfar off, afar, far away
7Latincommūnicāre—
8Latincommūnis—
9Old Latincom(m)oinis—
10Proto-Italickommoinis—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱom-moy-ni-held in common
12Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
13Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
14Middle Englishkyt—
15Germankitt—
16Old High Germankuti—
17Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
18Proto-Germanickweduzresin
19Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷet- →