Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “pedophilia” come from?

Pedophilia comes from German Pädophilie, derived from Ancient Greek παῖς meaning "child," from Proto-Hellenic pā́wits, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European péh₂wids.

pedophilia (English): Sexual attraction to children by adults; Sexual...

Definitions

  1. Sexual attraction to children by adults; Sexual...

Ancestry of “pedophilia”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanPädophiliepedophilia
2Ancient Greekπαιδοφιλία—
3Ancient Greekπαιδόφῐλοςloving children
4Ancient Greekπαῖςchild, son, daughter; young person, child, boy,...
5Proto-Hellenicpā́witschild
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpéh₂wids—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanpeh₂w-few, little; smallness

Words derived from “pedophilia”

  • péidifilia
  • péidifileach
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peh₂w- →