this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2026
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Robot (en.wikipedia.org)
submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by toynbee@piefed.social to c/wikipedia@lemmy.world
 

I was just reading a book which said that "robot" came from a Czech word meaning "serf." I was curious whether that was true and so looked it up. Looks like it's not 100% accurate but pretty close.

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[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's funny how we all know a robot when we see one, but it's hard to nail down in words, exactly the difference between the various machines that could fall under "robot".







[–] DarkCloud@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

The whole region uses similar sounding terms for work and worker. So it's probably more that, than serf.

Etymological dictionary:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/robot

[–] rockerface@lemmy.cafe 1 points 1 month ago

Ukrainian "robota" means "work", so yeah, it's a common root.

[–] sudoMakeUser@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 month ago

I remember seeing Asimo as a kid in computer/tech books as a kid and I thought it was the coolest thing. I was pretty young so I don't know the impact it had but I guess it was probably the coolest thing in that world.

[–] Sanctus@anarchist.nexus 3 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Apparently it was also contested in spelling at one point and was sometimes seen spelt as robut. Robut. We coulda been cool.

[–] jqubed@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

Is Zoidberg pronouncing Robut/Robet like a Yiddish person or using actual Czech?

[–] TheTechnician27@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

The English Wiktionary isn't the end-all, but it mentions nothing of the sort. You or who/wherever you heard this from may be confusing the spelling with the pronunciation.

[–] Sanctus@anarchist.nexus 3 points 1 month ago

Maybe I'm confusing it with the pronunciation. Robut. We should have never stopped.

[–] toynbee@piefed.social 2 points 1 month ago

While Lemmy can be as pedantic as any other platform, I do appreciate that it's usually at least as respectful as they are.