Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “phones” come from?

Phones derives from English phone, from Ancient Greek φωνή, from Proto-Indo-European bʰoh₂neh₂, ultimately from the root bʰeh₂- meaning to speak or sound.

phones (English): plural of phone; API pl; headphones

Definitions

  1. plural of phone; API pl; headphones

Ancestry of “phones”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishphoneA device for transmitting conversations and other...
2EnglishtelephoneA telecommunication device used for two-way...
3Frenchtéléphonetelephone; first-person singular present...
4Frenchtélé-tele-
5Ancient Greekτῆλεfar off, afar, far away
6Latincommūnicāre—
7Latincommūnis—
8Old Latincom(m)oinis—
9Proto-Italickommoinis—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱom-moy-ni-held in common
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
12Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
13Middle Englishkyt—
14Germankitt—
15Old High Germankuti—
16Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
17Proto-Germanickweduzresin
18Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
19Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “phones”

  • headphones
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →