Etymology

Philadelphia

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Today it means: The largest city in Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of coterminous Philadelphia County; the former capital of the United States. Full definition →

Latin Philadelphia ← Ancient Greek Φιλαδέλφεια (Philadélpheia)
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The story

  1. Ancient GreekΦιλάδελφος (Philádelphos)
  2. Ancient GreekΦιλαδέλφεια (Philadélpheia)
  3. LatinPhiladelphia
  4. English todayPhiladelphia

From Latin Philadelphia, from Ancient Greek Φιλαδέλφεια (Philadélpheia), from φιλάδελφος (philádelphos, “brother/sibling-loving”) + -εια (-eia, “-ia: forming placenames”), from the combining form of φῐλέειν (phĭléein, “to love”) + ἀδελφός (adelphós, “brother, sibling”). In reference to the city in Turkey, named for the loyal Attalus II Philadelphus of Pergamon. In reference to the city in Jordan, named for the incestuous Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt. In reference to the American city, named for the ancient towns as well as the Quaker William Penn's aim of fostering religious tolerance. Doublet of Filadelfia.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.