proto-

== English == === Alternative forms === prot- (prevocalically) Proto- (proper names of protolanguages and their associated people) === Etymology === Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek πρωτο- (prōto-), combination form of πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”), superlative of πρό (pró, “before”). === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /ˈpɹəʊ.təʊ/ (US) IPA(key): /pɹoʊ.toʊ/, [pɹoʊ.ɾoʊ] === Prefix === proto- An early, primitive stage of development. Original, older. (ordinal number) First in order; which stage is first. Primary. (linguistics, genetics) Most recent common ancestor (often hypothetical) of. (inorganic chemistry) A minimal proportion of a particular substance when in a combination. See protosalt. (chemistry) Relating to protons and/or positive charge. (chemistry, obsolete) A proto-metal. (anatomy) Anterior. ==== Synonyms ==== (primitive): atelo- (original): ur- (first stage): eka- (primary): arch-, archi-, archo- (common ancestor): cen- (minimal): meio- (anterior): antero- ==== Coordinate terms ==== deutero-, deuter- trito-, trit- tetarto-, tetart- eteo- (linguistics) ==== Derived terms ==== protocarbonate protosymbol protosymbolic protosymbolism ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === Troop, poort, porto-, porto, Topor, tropo, tropo-, troop, proot, Porto == Danish == === Etymology === From Ancient Greek πρωτο- (prōto-), from πρῶτος (prôtos). === Prefix === proto- proto- (initial, first, original) Synonym: ur- ==== Usage notes ==== Also prot- before a vowel ==== Derived terms ==== == Dutch == === Etymology === From Ancient Greek πρῶτος (prôtos). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈproː.toː/ === Prefix === proto- proto- ==== Derived terms ==== == French == === Etymology === From Ancient Greek πρῶτος (prôtos). === Prefix === proto- proto- == Italian == === Etymology === From Ancient Greek πρωτο- (prōto-), combining form of πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”), superlative of πρό (pró, “before”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /pro.to/ Hyphenation: pro‧to- === Prefix === proto- proto- ==== Usage notes ==== Also prot- before a vowel. ==== Derived terms ==== === Anagrams === -tropo, porto, portò, potrò, tropo == Latvian == === Etymology === From Ancient Greek πρωτο- (prōto-), combining form of πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”), superlative of πρό (pró, “before”). === Prefix === proto- proto- (initial, first, original) ==== Usage notes ==== Also prot- before a vowel ==== Derived terms ==== == Polish == === Etymology === Derived from Ancient Greek πρωτο- (prōto-). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /prɔ.tɔ/ Rhymes: -ɔtɔ Syllabification: pro‧to- === Prefix === proto- (chemistry) proto- ‎proto- + ‎-liza → ‎protoliza ==== Derived terms ==== === See also === pra- === Further reading === “proto-”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎[3] (in Polish) == Portuguese == === Etymology === Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek πρωτο- (prōto-), combining form of πρῶτος (prôtos) "first", superlative of πρό (pró) "before". === Pronunciation === === Prefix === proto- proto- ==== Derived terms ==== === Further reading === “proto-”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026 “proto-”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026 == Romanian == === Etymology === From Ancient Greek πρωτο- (prōto-), combining form of πρῶτος (prôtos) "first", superlative of πρό (pró) "before". === Prefix === proto- proto- ==== Derived terms ==== == Spanish == === Etymology === Borrowed from Ancient Greek πρωτο- (prōto-), combining form of πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”), superlative of πρό (pró, “before”). === Prefix === proto- proto- ==== Derived terms ==== === Further reading === “proto-”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025