schizophrenia

Where does the word "schizophrenia" come from? It comes from Greek schizein, passing through German before entering English (1912).

Schizophrenia’s story begins in Greek: schizein meant “to split.” To split, combined with phren (mind). By 1908, the word had taken hold in German as Schizophrenie. Coined by psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler from Greek schizein (to split) and phren (mind). It reached English by 1912 as schizophrenia. Coined by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1908, 'split mind'. Today, schizophrenia means a serious mental disorder affecting how a person thinks, feels, and perceives reality.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient schizein "to split", to split, combined with phren (mind).
2. Stage 2 · German · 1908 Schizophrenie "split mind", coined by psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler from Greek schizein (to split) and phren (mind).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1912 schizophrenia "a psychiatric disorder affecting thought and perception", coined by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler in 1908, 'split mind'.