Where does “photo-” come from?
photo- (English) comes from Ancient Greek φωτο-, from Ancient Greek φῶς, from Proto-Hellenic pʰáos, from Proto-Indo-European bʰéh₂os, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-s-ri-.
photo- (English): light, electromagnetic radiation; photography
Definitions
- light, electromagnetic radiation; photography
Ancestry of “photo-”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | φωτο- | — |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | φῶς | Attic form of φᾰ́ος |
| 3 | Proto-Hellenic | pʰáos | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéh₂os | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂- | to shine, glow light; to speak, say |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂-s-ri- | — |
Words derived from “photo-”