Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “kilogram” come from?

Kilogram comes from French kilogramme, from French gramme, from Ancient Greek γράμμα meaning a written character or small weight, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to write and gather.

kilogram (English): In the International System of Units, the base...

Definitions

  1. In the International System of Units, the base...

Ancestry of “kilogram”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchkilogrammekilogram
2Frenchgrammegram
3Latingrammagram
4Ancient Greekγράμμαthat which is written, that which is drawn,...
5Ancient Greekγράφωto scratch, cut into; to draw, sketch, paint; to...
6Proto-Hellenicgrəpʰōto scratch, cut or carve into; to draw ,...
7Proto-Indo-Europeangerbʰ-to carve
8Proto-Indo-Europeanger-to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...

Words derived from “kilogram”

  • multikilogram
  • 킬로그램
  • किलो
  • กิโลกรัม
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ger- →