*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of radio

Short for radiotelegraphy.

2 source sectionsBrief source recordWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 2 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Unnumbered source etymology · variant 1/2

Original entry ↗
noun

The technology that allows for the transmission of sound or other signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves. · A device that can capture (receive) the signal sent over radio waves and render the modulated signal as sound. · Any audio playing device, such as the on-board entertainment system in a car, usually including a radio receiver as well as the capability to play audio from recorded media; see also car radio. · A device that can transmit radio signals.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Short for radiotelegraphy.

This page abbreviates 2 auxiliary source items. The etymology narrative is not shortened. Omission counts are available in the audit fields below; consult the original for complete auxiliary material.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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      "lang": "Afrikaans",
      "lang_code": "af",
      "word": "radio",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "Assamese",
      "lang_code": "as",
      "word": "ৰেডিঅ",
      "raw_tags": [
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      "lang": "Azerbaijani",
      "lang_code": "az",
      "word": "radio",
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    },
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      "lang": "Bengali",
      "lang_code": "bn",
      "word": "রেডিও",
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        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "reḍiō"
    },
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      "word": "ရေဒီယို",
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        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "rediyui"
    },
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      "lang": "Dhivehi",
      "lang_code": "dv",
      "word": "ރޭޑިއޯ",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "rēḍiō"
    },
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      "lang": "Dutch",
      "lang_code": "nl",
      "word": "radio",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
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      "lang": "Finnish",
      "lang_code": "fi",
      "word": "radio",
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        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
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      "lang": "German",
      "lang_code": "de",
      "word": "Radio",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
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      "lang_code": "gu",
      "word": "રેડિયો",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
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    },
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      "lang_code": "hi",
      "word": "रेडियो",
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        "borrowed"
      ],
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    },
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      "word": "黎撩",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "lê-liô"
    },
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      "lang": "Irish",
      "lang_code": "ga",
      "word": "raidió",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ]
    },
    {
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "lang_code": "ja",
      "word": "ラジオ",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "rajio",
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          "lang_code": "nan-hbl",
          "word": "la-jí-o͘h",
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      ]
    },
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      "lang": "Korean",
      "lang_code": "ko",
      "word": "라디오",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "roman": "radio"
    },
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      "lang": "Korean",
      "lang_code": "ko",
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        "borrowed"
      ],
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    },
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      "lang_code": "dsb",
      "word": "radijo",
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      "lang_code": "lg",
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      "lang": "Malay",
      "lang_code": "ms",
      "word": "radio",
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        "borrowed"
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    },
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      "lang": "Malayalam",
      "lang_code": "ml",
      "word": "റേഡിയോ",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
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    },
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      "lang": "Maltese",
      "lang_code": "mt",
      "word": "radju",
      "raw_tags": [
        "reshaped by analogy or addition of morphemes"
      ]
    },
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      "lang": "Mongolian",
      "lang_code": "mn",
      "word": "радио",
      "raw_tags": [
        "reshaped by analogy or addition of morphemes"
      ],
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    },
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      "word": "radio",
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        "borrowed"
      ]
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      "lang": "Pannonian Rusyn",
      "lang_code": "rsk",
      "word": "радио",
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      ],
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    },
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      "lang": "Persian",
      "lang_code": "fa",
      "word": "رادیو",
      "raw_tags": [
        "reshaped by analogy or addition of morphemes"
      ],
      "roman": "râdiyo"
    },
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      "lang": "Telugu",
      "lang_code": "te",
      "word": "రేడియో",
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        "borrowed"
      ],
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    },
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      "lang": "Tok Pisin",
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      "word": "redio",
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      ]
    },
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      "lang": "Turkish",
      "lang_code": "tr",
      "word": "radyo",
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      ]
    },
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      "lang": "Swahili",
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    },
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      "lang": "Swedish",
      "lang_code": "sv",
      "word": "radio",
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      ]
    },
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      "lang": "Urdu",
      "lang_code": "ur",
      "word": "ریڈِیو",
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      ],
      "roman": "reḍiyo"
    }
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Unnumbered source etymology · variant 2/2

Original entry ↗
verb

To use two-way radio to transmit (a message) (to another radio or other radio operator). · To order or assist (to a location), using telecommunications.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Short for radiotelegraphy.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for radio →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run
73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID
w-cmFkaW8