* "Tele-" comes from the Greek word "τηλε" (tele), meaning "far" or "distant". This prefix appears in many words related to distance, like telescope, telegraph, telepathy, and television.
* "-phone" comes from the Greek word "φωνή" (phone), meaning "voice" or "sound". This suffix is also found in words like microphone, symphony, and phonics.
Therefore, the word "telephone" literally means "distant voice", accurately reflecting its primary function of transmitting sound over a distance.
The term was coined by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876, the year he successfully demonstrated his invention. He chose this word because it clearly and concisely described the device's purpose.