Etymology

membranophone

M3E1M3B3R1A1N1O1P3H4O1N1E1

Today it means: Any musical instrument that produces sound via the vibration of a stretched membrane. Full definition →

Ancient Greek φωνή (phōnḗ) ← Proto-Hellenic *pʰōnā́ ← Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂-
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The story

  1. Englishmembrane
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰōnā́
  4. Ancient Greekφωνή (phōnḗ)
  5. English todaymembranophone

From membrane + -o- + -phone.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.