Etymology Map
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Graphite

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a soft black form of carbon used in pencils

Where does the word "graphite" come from? It comes from Greek graphein, passing through German before entering English (1790s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
graphein
Greek · ancient
"to write"
to write
2
Stage 2 of 3
Graphit
German · 1789
"graphite"
the mineralogist Abraham Gottlob Werner named it for its use in writing
3
Stage 3 of 3
graphite
English · 1790s
"graphite"
England's Borrowdale mine supplied the graphite for early pencils
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Read the full story

Graphite’s story begins in Greek: graphein meant “to write.” To write. By 1789, the word had taken hold in German as Graphit. The mineralogist Abraham Gottlob Werner named it for its use in writing. It reached English by 1790s as graphite. England's Borrowdale mine supplied the graphite for early pencils. Today, graphite means a soft black form of carbon used in pencils.