Etymology Map
Back to all words

Pneumonia

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means an infection that inflames the lungs

Where does the word "pneumonia" come from? It comes from Greek pneumōn, passing through New Latin before entering English (1600s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
pneumōn
Greek · ancient
"lung"
from 'pnein', to breathe; related to 'pneuma', breath
2
Stage 2 of 3
pneumonia
New Latin · 1600s
"lung inflammation"
medical coinage for lung disease
3
Stage 3 of 3
pneumonia
English · 1600s
"lung infection"
the p is silent in English but pronounced in Greek
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Read the full story

Pneumonia’s story begins in Greek: pneumōn meant “lung.” From 'pnein', to breathe; related to 'pneuma', breath. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in New Latin as pneumonia. Medical coinage for lung disease. It reached English by 1600s as pneumonia. The p is silent in English but pronounced in Greek. Today, pneumonia means an infection that inflames the lungs.