Phone
/foʊn/noun
A device used to transmit and receive sound over distances, typically as speech.
Did you know?The term 'telephone' was coined from Greek roots meaning 'distant voice', revealing how our words can transcend time and space.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
φωνή (phōnē)
“Meaning 'voice' or 'sound', used to describe spoken communication.”
Late Latin
Latin
phonema
“Adopted from Greek, referring to a sound or voice.”
19th Century
English
telephone
“Coined from Greek roots meaning 'distant voice', popularized with the invention of the device.”
20th Century
English
phone
“Abbreviated form of 'telephone', widely adopted in modern vernacular.”