Zoo
/zuː/noun
A place where live animals are kept for public viewing and study.
Did you know?“Zoo” comes from Greek *zōion* (“animal”), from *zōḗ* (“life”); the modern word was shortened from *zoological garden*, so the whole thing is basically a monument to living creatures.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷih₃wós / *gʷeyh₃-
“To live; life, living being”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ζῷον (zōion)
“Living being; animal”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ζωολογικός (zōologikos)
“Relating to animals”
19th Century
English
zoological garden
“A public garden for keeping and displaying animals”
19th Century
English
zoo
“Shortened form of zoological garden”