Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “photo” come from?

photo (French) comes from French photographie, 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 (French): photo

Definitions

  1. photo

Ancestry of “photo”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchphotographiephotography; photograph
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 “photo”

  • autophoto
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-s-ri- →