Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “phallus” come from?

Phallus comes from Latin phallus, from Ancient Greek φαλλός, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European bʰel- and bʰleh₃-.

phallus (English): A penis, especially when erect; A representation...

Definitions

  1. A penis, especially when erect; A representation...

Ancestry of “phallus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinphallusan iconic phallic figure of the male member borne...
2Latin-oides-like, -form
3Greek-οending for "accusative singular" forms ; and some...
4Ancient GreekεἶδοςThat which is seen: form, image, shape;...
5Spanish-scopio-scope
6Latin-scopium—
7Ancient GreekσκοπέωI look, look at, behold; I examine, inspect; 413...
8Ancient Greekσκοπόςwatcher, lookout; protector, guardian; spy, scout
9Ancient GreekσκέπτομαιI look at, examine; I examine, consider, think
10Proto-Hellenicsképťomaito look at
11Proto-Indo-Europeanspéḱyetito be looking at, to keep looking at
12Proto-Indo-Europeanspeḱ-to see, to look, to observe

Words derived from “phallus”

  • phallic
  • phallicism
  • microphallus
  • phallically
  • neophallus
  • nonphallic
  • phalluslike
  • antiphallic
  • phallused
  • macrophallus
  • phallicize
  • phallectomy
  • phallicity
  • diphallus
  • epiphallus
  • macrophallic
  • dolichophallic
  • megalophallus
  • phallicness
  • bephallused
  • macrophallically
  • phallicist
  • megalophallic
  • megaphallus
Every word from Proto-Indo-European speḱ- →