kilo-

English

Etymology

From French, kilo- irregularly derived from χίλιοι (chilioi ) "one thousand". The "correct" form would be chili-, resulting in forms such as chiliasm. But the French, when creating the prefix had to avoid a possible (standard) pronunciation of chi as IPA: /ʃi/, too close to the vulgar verb chier.

Prefix

SI prefix
k
	Previous:	hecto-
	Next:	mega-

kilo-

1. In the International System of Units and other metric systems of units, multiplying the unit to which it is attached by 1,000. Symbol: k
2. (computing) Multiplying the unit to which it is attached by 2¹⁰ (1024)

Usage notes

• The usage of kilo as 1024 multiplier in computing is considered obsolete. see kibi.

Synonyms

• chilia-

Antonyms

• milli-

Translations

prefix

• Catalan: quilo- (ca), kilo- (ca)
• Chinese: 千- (qiān)
• Estonian: kilo- (et)
• French: kilo- (fr)
• Hungarian: kilo (hu)

• Italian: chilo- (it), kilo- (it)
• Japanese: キロ (ja) (kiro)
• Malay: kilo- (ms)
• Russian: кило- (ru) (kilo-)
• Spanish: kilo- (es), quilo- (es)

Related terms

• kilo
• kilobase
• kilogram, kilogramme
• kilolitre, kiloliter
• kilometre, kilometer

---

Catalan

Alternative forms

• quilo-

Etymology

From French kilo-, from Ancient Greek χίλιοι (khilioi, “thousand”).

Prefix

kilo-

1. kilo- (SI prefix expressing 10³ of the base unit)

Usage notes

The letter k is not normally used in Catalan. Instead, Catalan orthography calls for using the qu digraph to represent the /k/ sound before an e or an i. Therefor, when the metric system was introduced into Catalan, the prefix kilo- was originally spelled quilo-. With the advent of k as a standard international abbreviation, usage of kilo- has become not only acceptable, but also more common than the traditional spelling. However, traditionalists still insist upon the use of quilo-.

---

Finnish

Prefix

kilo-

1. kilo-

---

French

Prefix

kilo-

1. kilo-

---

Hungarian

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈkilo/
• Hyphenation: ki‧lo

Prefix

kilo-

1. kilo-

   méter (“meter”) → kilométer (“kilometer”)

See also

• Category:Hungarian words prefixed with kilo-

---

Italian

Prefix

kilo-

1. (sciences) kilo-

Synonyms

• chilo- (in more general usage)