Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “phonology” come from?

Phonology derives from Ancient Greek φωνή (voice, sound) and the suffix -logy (study of), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂- (to speak).

phonology (English): The study of the way sounds function in...

Definitions

  1. The study of the way sounds function in...

Ancestry of “phonology”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishphono-Relating to sound
2Ancient Greekφωνήsound; Usually of the human voice: voice, cry,...
3Proto-Hellenicpʰōnā́—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰoh₂-néh₂—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-to shine, glow light; to speak, say
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-s-ri-—

Words derived from “phonology”

  • phonologist
  • morphophonology
  • sociophonology
  • phonologize
  • phonologer
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-s-ri- →