Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “phenyl” come from?

Phenyl derives from French phényle, from Ancient Greek φαίνω, from Proto-Indo-European roots bʰeh-, bʰeh₂-, and bʰeh₂-s-ri- related to appearing or shining.

phenyl (English): A univalent hydrocarbon radical formally derived...

Definitions

  1. A univalent hydrocarbon radical formally derived...

Ancestry of “phenyl”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchphénylephenyl
2French-yle—
3Ancient GreekὝλη—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanswel-to smolder; burn; scorch; beam, board, frame,...

Words derived from “phenyl”

  • methadone
  • phenylalanine
  • ibuprofen
  • diphenyl
  • alprazolam
  • biphenyl
  • ketoprofen
  • nitrophenyl
  • hydroxyphenyl
  • phenylhydrazine
  • phenylindole
  • acetophenone
  • phenylacetic
  • triphenyl
  • phenylbutyrate
  • methoxyphenyl
  • triphenylmethane
  • aminophenyl
  • trichlorophenol
  • phenylhydroxylamine
  • terphenyl
  • diphenylmethane
  • phenylthiocarbamide
  • butyrophenone
Every word from Proto-Indo-European swel- →