phospho-

prefix

phosphorus

OriginEnglish phosphorus ← Latin phōsphorus ← Ancient Greek φωσφόρος (phōsphóros) →
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Meanings

prefix

alternative phosph-

  1. chemistryphosphorus

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéh₂os
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáwos
  4. Ancient Greekφᾰ́ος (phắos)
  5. Ancient Greekφῶς (phôs)
  6. Proto-Indo-European*bʰer-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéreti
  8. Proto-Hellenic*pʰérō
  9. Ancient Greekφέρω (phérō)
  10. Ancient Greekφωσφόρος (phōsphóros)
  11. Latinphōsphorus
  12. Englishphosphorus
  13. Englishphospho-

From phosphorus.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

phospho-. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phospho-

MLA

“phospho-.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phospho-. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “phospho-,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phospho-.

Source: phospho- on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.