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Where does the word "portable" come from? It comes from Latin portare, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1400s).
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Where does the word "portable" come from? It comes from Latin portare, passing through Late Latin before entering English (1400s).
Portable’s story begins in Latin: portare meant “to carry.” The root of 'import', 'export' and 'transport'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Late Latin as portabilis. Able to be carried, from portare. It reached English by 1400s as portable. Settled as the English word for something able to be easily carried. Today, portable means able to be easily carried or moved from place to place.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient portare "to carry", the root of 'import', 'export' and 'transport'.
- Stage 2 · Late Latin · medieval portabilis "able to be carried", able to be carried, from portare.
- Stage 3 · English · 1400s portable "able to be easily carried or moved", settled as the English word for something able to be easily carried.