Antarctica
/ænˈtɑːrk.tɪ.kə/noun
The Earth's southern polar continent.
Did you know?The name ultimately comes from Greek astronomy: it was formed as the opposite of Arktikos, the “bear-region,” referring to the northern constellation Ursa Major.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
arktikós (ἀρκτικός)
“of the bear; northern, pertaining to the constellation of the Bear”
Late Greek
Greek
antarktikós (ἀνταρκτικός)
“opposite the bear; southern”
Medieval Latin
Latin
antarcticus
“southern; opposite the Arctic”
16th Century
English
antarctic
“southern, opposite the Arctic”
19th Century
English
Antarctica
“the southern polar continent”
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