Where does the word robot come from?

The word "robot" (from robota, Czech for "work") made its public debut on this date in 1921, when it premiered on stage in Karel Capek's play R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots). The play told of a world in which humans relaxed and enjoyed life while robots - imitation humans - happily did whatever labor needed to be done. Not unexpectedly, the robots eventually rebelled and took over the world. The term "robot" achieved its own world domination in 1923, when the play was translated into English; it quickly overran its competition, precursors "android" and "automaton."
Apparently from Czech robotnik (worker) or robota (work).

The term 'robot' was first used by Czech writer Karel Capek in a 1921 play called "Rossum's Universal Robots", and caught on internationally.

Science fiction writer Isaac Asimov is credited with coining the related term robotics in 1941.


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