Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “semi-” come from?

semi- (English) comes from Latin sēmi-, from Proto-Indo-European sēmi — half; partially.

semi- (English): half; partial, incomplete; somewhat, rather,...

Definitions

  1. half; partial, incomplete; somewhat, rather,...

Ancestry of “semi-”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinsēmi-—
2Proto-Indo-Europeansēmihalf; partially

Words derived from “semi-”

  • semi
  • semiconductor
  • semicircle
  • semicircular
  • semicolon
  • semiarid
  • semiannual
  • semistructured
  • semitone
  • semiconducting
  • semiseparable
  • semiannually
  • semilunar
  • semipermeable
  • semitransparent
  • semiskilled
  • semisolid
  • semiautonomous
  • semidarkness
  • semipermanent
  • semiconscious
  • semiquantitative
  • semiparametric
  • semisweet
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sēmi →