Etymology of 'telephone': Where Does the Word Come From?
The word "telephone" was created when Alexander Graham Bell invented the device. He combined Greek words meaning "far" and "sound" to describe a machine that could carry voices over long distances.
Origin
Greek
Word roots
- tele — far, distant
- phone — sound, voice
Literal meaning
far sound
First used
1876
Related words
- television — far sight
- microphone — small sound
- symphony — together sound
Fun fact
The first words spoken on a telephone were "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you."
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