kilo-

Meaning

1. (morpheme) In the International System of Units and other metric systems of units, multiplying the unit to which it is attached by a thousand (1000).
2. (morpheme, proscribed) Synonym of kibi- (“multiplying the unit to which it is attached by 2¹⁰ = 1024”).

Opposite of

milli-

Synonyms

kilo

kilogram

kilogramme

kilometer

kilometre

K

Translations

kilo-

chilo-

quilo-

Kilo-

kilo-

quilo-

kilo-

Kilo

kilo-

kilo-

kilo-

quilo-

quilo-

χιλιο-

Etymology

From French, kilo- irregularly derived from Ancient Greek χίλιοι (khílioi, “one thousand”). The etymologically "correct" form would be chili- or chilo-, resulting in forms such as chiliasme (“chiliasm”) or chilopode (“centipede”); but the French, when creating the prefix, had to avoid a possible (standard) pronunciation of chi as /ʃi/, too close to the vulgar verb chier.