Where does “photograph” come from?

Photograph derives from English -graph, Ancient Greek -γραφω, Ancient Greek γράφω meaning to write or draw, tracing back through Proto-Indo-European roots related to carrying and bearing.

photograph (English): A picture created by projecting an image onto a...

Definitions

  1. A picture created by projecting an image onto a...

Ancestry of “photograph”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishphoto-light, electromagnetic radiation; photography
2Ancient Greekφωτο-—
3Ancient GreekφῶςAttic form of φᾰ́ος
4Proto-Hellenicpʰáos—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéh₂os—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-to shine, glow light; to speak, say
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-s-ri-—

Words derived from “photograph”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-s-ri- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂- →Every word from Ancient Greek φωτο- →