Etymology Map
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Dynamo

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a machine that turns mechanical energy into electricity

Where does the word "dynamo" come from? It comes from Greek dynamis, passing through German before entering English (1880s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
dynamis
Greek · ancient
"power"
power, force; also the root of 'dynamic' and 'dynamite'
2
Stage 2 of 3
dynamoelektrische Maschine
German · 1867
"electric generator"
the engineer Werner von Siemens named his generator the 'dynamo-electric machine'
3
Stage 3 of 3
dynamo
English · 1880s
"generator; energetic person"
shortened from 'dynamo-electric machine'; 'a human dynamo' dates from the 1900s
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Read the full story

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.