When you hear 'museum' are you hearing English or Greek?

'Museum' is a word borrowed from Greek 'mouseion'. The word entered the English language some time around 1672.

museum [noun] [1672]

• an institution devoted to the procurement, care, study, and display of objects of lasting interest or value
• a place where objects are exhibited

See 'museum' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Greek.

note: Denoting a university building (specifically one erected at Alexandria by Ptolemy Soter): via Latin from Greek mouseion ‘seat of the Muses’ - based on mousa ‘muse’.
Etymology: Latin 'Museum' place for learned occupation, from Greek 'Mouseion' from neuter of 'Mouseios' of the Muses, from 'Mousa'

See more loan words from 1600s.