Etymology Map
Back to all words

Hertz

2 stages from German to English.

Today it means the unit of frequency, one cycle per second

Where does the word "hertz" come from? It comes from German Hertz, adopted directly into English (1930).

1
Stage 1 of 2
Hertz
German · 1880s
"Hertz (a surname)"
the surname of the physicist Heinrich Hertz, who proved the existence of electromagnetic waves at Karlsruhe in 1887
2
Stage 2 of 2
hertz
English · 1930
"unit of frequency"
adopted as the unit of frequency by the International Electrotechnical Commission in 1930
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Hertz’s story begins in German: Hertz meant “Hertz (a surname).” The surname of the physicist Heinrich Hertz, who proved the existence of electromagnetic waves at Karlsruhe in 1887. It reached English by 1930 as hertz. Adopted as the unit of frequency by the International Electrotechnical Commission in 1930. Today, hertz means the unit of frequency, one cycle per second.