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

Definitions

  1. background, backdrop

Ancestry of “фон”, step by step

фон traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Greek φωνή

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Greekφωνήvoice, sound; voice, note; voice
2Ancient Greekφωνήsound; Usually of the human voice: voice, cry,...
3Proto-Hellenicpʰōnā́
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰoh₂-néh₂
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-to shine, glow light; to speak, say
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-s-ri-

via German von

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanvonfrom; of, belonging to; by
2Middle High Germanvonfrom
3Old High Germanfonfrom
4Proto-Germanicfanēfrom
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂póoff, away
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂epofrom, off, back; off, away; off, from

via German Fond

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanFondback (of a vehicle)
2Frenchfondback; bottom; fund; funding
3Latinfundusbottom; farm; piece of land; estate; ground
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰudʰmḗnbottom
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewbʰ-deep
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze

Words derived from “фон

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-s-ri-Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰoh₂-néh₂