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phosphate

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Etymology and origin of the French word phosphate

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1782 Guyton de Morveau, Mémoire sur les dénominations chymiques More words from the 18th century
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek φωσφόρος
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Ancient Greek φῶς (phôs)
Ancient Greek φωσφόρος (phōsphóros)
French phosphore
French phosphate
English phosphate
Latin phōsphorus
English phosphorus

Pronunciation

Forms

phosphate m (plural phosphates)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French phosphore + -ate, from the stem of phosphorique with the suffix of salts.[2][3][4][1] The GLLF describes it as the noun with the scientific suffix -ate put in place of the ending ⟨-ore⟩, and Bloch and Wartburg as a derivative on a shortened stem.[5][6] The chemist Guyton de Morveau formed it in 1782, together with acide phosphorique, in his memoir on chemical names.[2][6] Phosphore (1677) is from Ancient Greek φωσφόρος (phōsphóros, “light-bearing”), from φῶς (phôs, “light”) and φέρω (phérō, “to carry”).[6][7]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in May 1782, in Guyton de Morveau's Mémoire sur les dénominations chymiques, for a salt of phosphoric acid.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

The word named the salts of phosphoric acid and later also its esters.[2][8] In everyday use it means above all calcium phosphate, used as a fertilizer.[3][8] From it came superphosphate (1858), an enriched fertilizer, and polyphosphate (1958), known because some are food additives;[3] pyrophosphate is older (1834).[3] The verbal noun phosphatage is recorded in 1903, both for spreading phosphate on land and for adding it to wine.[2]

English took phosphate from French;[9] Etymonline dates it to 1795.[9]

Timeline

  • 1782 – Guyton de Morveau forms phosphate and acide phosphorique.[2][6]
  • 1795 – English phosphate is first recorded.[9]
  • 1834 – Pyrophosphate is recorded.[3]
  • 1858 – Superphosphate is recorded.[3]
  • 1903 – Phosphatage is recorded.[2]
  • 1958 – Polyphosphate is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (chemistry) A salt or ester of phosphoric acid.[2][5][8]
  2. (common) Calcium phosphate, used as a fertilizer.[8][3][5]
  3. (geology) Phosphates naturels: natural phosphate minerals such as apatite.[8]

Word family

  • phosphatage
  • phosphatase
  • superphosphate

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ a b c d Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
  6. ^ a b c d Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  7. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 8, 399a
  8. ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  9. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Phosphate.” Etymologically, 14 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/phosphate. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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