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Memo

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a short written message, especially within an organization

Where does the word "memo" come from? It comes from Latin memorandum, passing through English before entering English (1700s).

memorandum→memorandum→memo

Latin · ancient

"to be remembered"

'a thing to be remembered', from 'memorāre', to bring to mind

English · 1400s

"note to remember"

clerks and merchants headed their notes 'memorandum', be it remembered

English · 1700s

clipped from 'memorandum'; the office memo became standard in 1900s business

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Read the full story

Memo’s story begins in Latin: memorandum meant “to be remembered.” 'a thing to be remembered', from 'memorāre', to bring to mind. By 1400s, the word had taken hold in English as memorandum. Clerks and merchants headed their notes 'memorandum', be it remembered. It reached English by 1700s as memo. Clipped from 'memorandum'; the office memo became standard in 1900s business. Today, memo means a short written message, especially within an organization.