Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “Herculaneum” come from?

Herculaneum (Latin) comes from Ancient Greek Ἡράκλειον, from Ancient Greek Ἡρακλῆς, from Ancient Greek -κλῆς, from Ancient Greek -κλέης, from Ancient Greek κλέος, from Proto-Hellenic kléwos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱléwos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱlew- — to cover; to incline.

Ancestry of “Herculaneum”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient GreekἩράκλειον—
2Ancient GreekἩρακλῆςHeracles
3Ancient Greek-κλῆςAn element found in given names
4Ancient Greek-κλέης—
5Ancient Greekκλέοςrumour, report; good report, fame, glory; bad...
6Proto-Hellenickléwosfame
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱléwosfame
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱlew-to hear
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

Words derived from “Herculaneum”

  • Herculaneum
  • Ercolano
  • Ἡράκλανον
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →