We take a look at the etymology behind the word ‘podium’

Podium

Like the Olympic Games in which it features so prominently, the word ‘podium’ has its origins in ancient Greece. Greek architects thought that a low structure that supported a colonnade or wall looked like a small foot, and so they called it a podion (‘a little foot’). In Latin the spelling was changed to podium, and that was the form in which the word was borrowed by English in the eighteenth century to refer to the sort of low platform that is used by public speakers and orchestral conductors – and, of course, by athletes receiving medals.

In Old French, meanwhile, podium was transformed into puye, and this form of the word ended up in English as pew.

In recent years it has been increasingly common to hear ‘podium’ used as a verb, so that athletes will say ‘I am hoping to podium this year’ when they mean that they aspire to finish in the first three places and so win a place on the podium at the medal ceremony. This usage may have prompted some head-scratching from linguistic purists, but it seems to be here to stay.

Other Articles

Learning French: dining out

Whether you're grabbing a coffee to go, or planning a meal at a fancy restaurant, you'll find the French phrases you need when dining out in our latest Learning French blog. Bon appétit ! Read More

The Gentle Art of Persuasion: Soft Power in Language and Culture

In a period of global political and financial upheaval, as well as many armed conflicts, there has been much recent discussion about the place of ‘soft power’ in the world today. What is soft power? ‘Soft power’ denotes the ability to influence through attraction and persuasion rather than coercion or… Read More

Seven of the Most Beautiful Words in the Dictionary

It’s not every day that a world leader – in this case, US president Donald Trump – declares a somewhat functional word such as tariff the most beautiful word in the dictionary and, by implication, the English language. Admittedly, Trump later changed his mind by declaring God, religion and… Read More