Where does “фон” come from?
фон (Russian) comes from Greek φωνή, from Ancient Greek φωνή, from Proto-Hellenic pʰōnā́, from Proto-Indo-European bʰoh₂-néh₂, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-s-ri-.
фон (Russian): background, backdrop
Ancestry of “фон”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Greek | φωνή | voice, sound; voice, note; voice |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | φωνή | sound; Usually of the human voice: voice, cry,... |
| 3 | Proto-Hellenic | pʰōnā́ | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰoh₂-néh₂ | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂- | to shine, glow light; to speak, say |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰeh₂-s-ri- | — |