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audio

Etymology and origin of the English word audio

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Clipping
First attested
1934
Ultimate origin
Latin (audire)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˈɔː.di.əʊ/, US /ˈɑː.di.oʊ/, /ˈɔː.di.oʊ/[1]

Etymology

It is the combining form audio- used as a word,[2][3][4] influenced by the earlier video (1935).[3] Audio- is a modern coinage (1913) from the stem of Latin audīre “to hear”,[3][2] from Proto-Indo-European *au- (“to perceive”).[2] It is related to audience, audible and audition.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Sound, especially recorded or transmitted sound signals: 1934 in the OED, Etymonline and MWU,[5][2][6] 1940 in Barnhart.[3] MWU has the adjective, relating to audible sound, from 1926.[6]

Semantic evolution

Related formations followed, such as audiovisual (1937), audiology (1947) and audiophile (1951).[3] Audio typing, typing directly from a recording, and the audio secretary who did it, are later.[7]

Timeline

  • 1913 – the combining form audio-.[3]
  • 1926 – adjective, of sound.[6]
  • 1934 – noun, recorded sound.[5][2]
  • 1937 – audiovisual.[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. Sound, especially recorded or broadcast sound.
  2. The part of television or film equipment that deals with sound.

Adjective

  1. Relating to the recording or broadcasting of sound.

Word family

  • audiovisual
  • audiotape
  • audio book
  • audio cassette
  • audio frequency

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  7. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Audio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/audio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·