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Where does the word "dynamo" come from? It comes from Greek dynamis, passing through German before entering English (1880s).
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Where does the word "dynamo" come from? It comes from Greek dynamis, passing through German before entering English (1880s).
Dynamo’s story begins in Greek: dynamis meant “power.” Power, force; also the root of 'dynamic' and 'dynamite'. By 1867, the word had taken hold in German as dynamoelektrische Maschine. The engineer Werner von Siemens named his generator the 'dynamo-electric machine'. It reached English by 1880s as dynamo. Shortened from 'dynamo-electric machine'; 'a human dynamo' dates from the 1900s. Today, dynamo means a machine that turns mechanical energy into electricity.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient dynamis "power", power, force; also the root of 'dynamic' and 'dynamite'.
- Stage 2 · German · 1867 dynamoelektrische Maschine "electric generator", the engineer Werner von Siemens named his generator the 'dynamo-electric machine'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1880s dynamo "generator; energetic person", shortened from 'dynamo-electric machine'; 'a human dynamo' dates from the 1900s.