Etymology Explorer › Italian

Where does “semaforo” come from?

semaforo (Italian) comes from French sémaphore, from Ancient Greek -φόρος, from Ancient Greek φέρω, from Proto-Hellenic pʰérō, from Proto-Indo-European bʰéreti, from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- — shiny, light brown.

semaforo (Italian): traffic light, stoplight; semaphore

Definitions

  1. traffic light, stoplight; semaphore

Ancestry of “semaforo”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchsémaphoresemaphore
2Ancient Greek-φόρος-bearing, -carrying; carrying, bearing; bringing
3Ancient GreekφέρωI bring, bear, carry
4Proto-Hellenicpʰérōto bear
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéretito be carrying
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰēr-shiny, light brown

Words derived from “semaforo”

  • semaforista
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- →