zero

Where does the word "zero" come from? It comes from Sanskrit śūnya, passing through Arabic and Italian before entering English (c. 1600s).

Zero’s story begins in Sanskrit: śūnya meant “void, empty.” The Indian mathematical concept of "void" or emptiness. By c. 800s, the word had taken hold in Arabic as ṣifr. Translated the Sanskrit concept; also the root of "cipher". From there it passed into Italian as zefiro by c. 1200s. Introduced to Europe through Fibonacci's writings on Arabic numerals. It reached English by c. 1600s as zero. Shortened and adopted directly from Italian. Today, zero means the numerical symbol and value representing nothing.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient śūnya "void, empty", the Indian mathematical concept of "void" or emptiness.
2. Stage 2 · Arabic · c. 800s ṣifr "empty, cipher", translated the Sanskrit concept; also the root of "cipher".
3. Stage 3 · Italian · c. 1200s zefiro "zero", introduced to Europe through Fibonacci's writings on Arabic numerals.
4. Stage 4 · English · c. 1600s zero "the numeral zero", shortened and adopted directly from Italian.