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Where does the word "hyphen" come from? It comes from Greek hyphen, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "hyphen" come from? It comes from Greek hyphen, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).
Hyphen’s story begins in Greek: hyphen meant “together.” Greek 'hyph' hen', under one: a sign joining syllables. It reached English by 1600s as hyphen. 'hyphenated Americans' dates from the 1880s. Today, hyphen means the sign (-) joining words.
- Stage 1 · Greek · ancient hyphen "together", Greek 'hyph' hen', under one: a sign joining syllables.
- Stage 2 · English · 1600s hyphen "joining mark", 'hyphenated Americans' dates from the 1880s.