Spanish word

etimología

Pronunciation

IPA/etimoloˈxia/

Meaning

  • feminine nounetymology

Example

La etimología de esta palabra es interesante.

The etymology of this word is interesting.

Illustration for etimología (etymology)

More examples

Quiero conocer la etimología de mi apellido.

I want to know the etymology of my surname.

Core concept

Discipline explaining why a word looks and means what it does today.

Common phrases

  • la etimología de la palabra

    the etymology of the word

  • conocer la etimología

    know the etymology

Similar words

origen: Beginning or original source of something.
procedencia: Place or background from which a person or thing comes.
raíz: Basic word element that carries a term's core meaning.

Definition in Spanish

Disciplina que investiga las raíces históricas de las palabras para explicar su forma y su significado actuales.

Word origin

Originates in Greek ἔτυμον 'true sense' and -λογία '-study', transmitted through Latin etymologia and adopted in Spanish as the scientific study of word origins.

Usage tips

  • Pronounced with stress on the accented i (etimología) in Spanish, unlike the English stress pattern for etymology.

Related words

  • etimólogoetymologistnoun
  • etimológicoetymologicaladjective

Word lists with this word