2006-08-29 10:19:49 · 12 answers · asked by mememe 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Well, here's a pair of terms that are sure to be confusing to a lot of people, namely the "homo" of "homosexual" and the "homo" of "homo sapiens". The word "homosexual" of course means 'someone who shows feelings for someone of the same sex'. It is first attested with this meaning in English around the turn of the century. It is coined from two classical roots: the Greek form "homo-", which is an adjective meaning 'same', found also in forms such as homogeneous and homonym, and the Latin root "sexus", which means 'male or female sex, gender'. So, homo-sexual literally means 'of the same sex or gender'. In principle, the term "homosexual" is indifferent to gender (that is, you can have male and female homosexuals), though current usage seems to favor members of the masculine gender. The "homo-" part of "homosexual" can be used alone as "homo", a derogatory shortening of the full form "homosexual" which has been in use since the 1920's.
So here's where it gets interesting...the "homo" of "homo sapiens" is a Latin word meaning 'human being, man' (in the general sense), recoverable in English "homicide" and "hominid". "Sapiens" is a Latin word meaning 'wise' or 'knowing'. The "homo" of "homo sapiens" has absolutely no connection historically with the "homo-" of homosexual (in fact, the Latin form "homo" is ultimately related to the word "humus" earth, so that a "homo" to the Romans was a kind of 'earthling'). A "homo sapiens" is a "wise human", that is, modern man, while a homosexual is someone who has feelings for members of the same sex. But the two words seem to be linked for many people, who don't distinguish between the two distinct (Greek and Latin) classical traditions. This may explain why the derogatory word "homo" is generally applied to males and not to females, since "male" seems to be the normal interpretation attached to "man", and why the term "homophobe" seems to mean 'fear of homosexuals' for some people, but 'fear of humans' for others. But in historical, etymological reality, the two "homos" have no connection whatsoever.
2006-08-29 10:23:06 · answer #1 · answered by h2odog 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The prefix Homo means same
Sapien means intelligence, therefore, Homo Sapien means beings of the same intelligence. Homo sexual means beings who are sexual with the same being.
2006-08-29 10:28:19 · answer #2 · answered by C'thulhu 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You are getting the etymologies mixed up because the roots of the words come from two different languages:
Homo in Latin means Man, Homo Sapiens: Knowing Man
Homo in Greek means Same, Homosexual: Same Sex.
2006-08-29 10:24:26 · answer #3 · answered by Lumas 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The prefix Homo means same or one Sapien means intelligence, so, Homo Sapien means beings of the same intelligence.
So Same Sexual is the same
2006-08-29 10:51:19 · answer #4 · answered by Holly T 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Homo does not mean same. It means belongs to. Homo Sapien means belongs to the group of wise men. Homo Sexual means belongs to the same sex. OUR SOCIETY has decided it means two people of the same sex who are in love.
2006-08-29 10:25:19 · answer #5 · answered by nmtgirl 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
h2odog has it right
homo sapiens = "man the knowing" or "man the wise" from the latin
homosexual= (attracted to the) same sex from the Greek
No etymological connection really. Interesting that contributors dont seem to be able to take this in...
2006-08-29 10:37:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Homo means one, but I don't know about you, I am a Hetrosapien.
2006-08-29 10:23:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
homo means same
homo... sexual
so yeah
2006-08-29 10:21:35 · answer #8 · answered by spoof ♫♪ 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
becasue the homo sapein means same. as in all hummans are the same. so homo sexual means you like the same sex
2006-08-29 10:23:11 · answer #9 · answered by corie j 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
from homo sapiens./
2006-08-29 10:22:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋