Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tri-” come from?

tri- (English) comes from Sanskrit त्रि, from Proto-Indo-Aryan tráyas, from Proto-Indo-Iranian tráyas, from Proto-Indo-European *tréyes.

tri- (English): API; three; Used in combination with a known...

Definitions

  1. API; three; Used in combination with a known...

Ancestry of “tri-”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Sanskritत्रिthree
2Proto-Indo-Aryantráyasthree
3Proto-Indo-Iraniantráyasthree
4Proto-Indo-European*tréyes—

Words derived from “tri-”

  • trigeminal
  • tricuspid
  • triphosphate
  • triglyceride
  • tricyclic
  • triune
  • trisomy
  • tricolor
  • trioxide
  • triaxial
  • trimethoprim
  • trivalent
  • trilateral
  • amitriptyline
  • triathlon
  • itraconazole
  • trimer
  • leukotriene
  • trilingual
  • triploid
  • tritone
  • calcitriol
  • triiodothyronine
  • hypertriglyceridemia
Every word from Proto-Indo-European *tréyes →