Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “pheromone” come from?

Pheromone comes from English hormone, from Ancient Greek ὁρμή meaning "impetus" or "setting in motion," from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- meaning "to carry" or "to bear."

pheromone (English): A chemical secreted by an animal, especially an...

Definitions

  1. A chemical secreted by an animal, especially an...

Ancestry of “pheromone”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient GreekφέρωI bring, bear, carry
2Proto-Hellenicpʰérōto bear
3Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéretito be carrying
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰēr-shiny, light brown

Words derived from “pheromone”

  • pheromonal
  • pheromonally
  • pheromonic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- →