sideros

Sideros is the Greek word for iron, written as σίδηρος in the classical alphabet. In ancient Greek usage it referred to the metal itself as well as objects made from iron, such as weapons and tools. The term has since become a source for various scientific and technical words in many languages.

In modern vocabulary, sideros serves as a root form for the combining prefix sider- or sidero-, which appears in several technical terms. This usage signals a relationship to iron and is common in fields such as geology, mineralogy, and metallurgy. The root helps form names of minerals, processes, and concepts related to iron.

Notable examples include siderite, a common iron carbonate mineral with the chemical formula FeCO3, and siderophile elements, which are elements that preferentially partition into metallic iron during planetary differentiation. The word siderurgy refers to the science and technology of extracting and processing iron and steel, encompassing the iron and steel industries.

Usage notes: in English, sideros itself is not typically used as a standalone noun outside specialized vocabulary. Instead, the root appears in compounds and technical terms to denote a connection to iron. In Greek, however, sideros remains the everyday word for iron, continuing to underpin modern scientific and cultural terms that draw on the language’s ancient lineage.