Where does “telephoto” come from?
Telephoto comes from English tele- combined with English photo, which derives from English photograph, ultimately from Ancient Greek γράφω meaning "to write or draw."
telephoto (English): Of or pertaining to a lens system used to produce...
Definitions
- Of or pertaining to a lens system used to produce...
Ancestry of “telephoto”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | photo | A photograph; A photo finish; To take a... |
| 2 | English | photography | The art and technology of producing images on... |
| 3 | French | photographie | photography; photograph |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | φωτο- | — |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | φῶς | Attic form of φᾰ́ος |
| 6 | Proto-Hellenic | pʰáos | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéh₂os | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂- | to shine, glow light; to speak, say |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂-s-ri- | — |