vlogcast (English)

Where does "vlogcast" come from?

The English noun 'vlogcast' is a modern blend formed by combining the words 'vlog' and 'podcast'[1]. The component 'vlog' itself developed as a blend of 'video' and 'blog'[2], which traces back through 'weblog'[2] and the 'Web'[1]. Meanwhile, the component 'podcast' emerged as a blend combining the Apple 'iPod' with 'broadcast'[3]. Together, these elements merge to describe a video that functions both as a vlog and as a podcast[1].

Full etymology tree

vlogcast (English), 'A video that can be experienced either as a vlog or as a podcast.'
- blend vlog (English), 'A weblog using video as its primary presentation format.'
  - blend video (English), 'Television, a television show, or a movie.'
    - borrowed video (Latin), 'to see, perceive; look (at)'
      - inherited *widēō (Proto-Italic), 'to see'
        inherited *weyd- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to see'
  - blend blog (English), 'A website that allows users to reflect, share opinions, and discuss various topics in the form of an online journal, sometimes letting readers comment on their posts. Most blogs are written in a slightly informal tone (personal journals, news, businesses, etc.)'
    - clipping weblog (English), 'A website in the form of an ongoing journal.'
      - compound Web (English), 'The World Wide Web.'
        clipping World Wide Web (English), 'Usually preceded by the: all of the hypertext documents (web pages) on the Internet collectively, which are (1) stored in various inter-hyperlinked computers around the world, and (2) retrieved typically by means of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or (currently more often) its secure version (HTTPS), among others.'
        compound worldwide (English), 'Spanning the world; global.'
        affix world (English), 'The subjective human experience, regarded collectively; human collective existence; existence in general; the reality we live in.'
        inherited world (Middle English), 'The world, the planet (i.e., Earth)'
        inherited weorold (Old English), 'world'
        inherited *weraldi (Proto-West Germanic), 'world'
        inherited *weraldiz (Proto-Germanic), 'lifetime, worldly existence'
        compound *weraz (Proto-Germanic), 'man'
        inherited *wiHrós (Proto-Indo-European), 'man'
        derived *weyh₁- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to chase, pursue'
        compound *aldiz (Proto-Germanic), 'age, generation'
        affix *-þiz (Proto-Germanic), 'Forms abstract nouns from verb roots, usually from strong verbs.'
        inherited *-tis (Proto-Indo-European), 'Derives abstract/action nouns from verb roots.'
        derived *alaną (Proto-Germanic), 'to grow'
        inherited *h₂életi (Proto-Indo-European), 'to be nourishing'
        derived *h₂el- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to grow, nourish'
        suffix -wide (English), 'Throughout the specified area or thing.'
        derived wide (English), 'Far from truth, propriety, necessity, etc.'
        inherited wid (Old English), 'wide, far'
        inherited *wīdaz (Proto-Germanic), 'wide'
        inherited *h₁weydʰh₁- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to separate, divide'
        derived *dʰeh₁- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to do'
        derived *dwi- (Proto-Indo-European), 'two'
        derived *dwóh₁ (Proto-Indo-European), 'two'
        compound web (English), 'The silken structure which a spider builds using silk secreted from the spinnerets at the caudal tip of its abdomen; a spiderweb.'
        inherited web (Middle English), 'Woven fabric; fabric manufactured by weaving.'
        inherited webb (Old English), 'web'
        inherited *wabją (Proto-Germanic), 'something woven'
        derived *webaną (Proto-Germanic), 'to weave'
        inherited *webʰ- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to weave, braid'
      - compound log (English), 'The trunk of a dead tree, cleared of branches.'
        clipping logbook (English), 'A book in which measurements from the ship's log are recorded, along with other salient details of the voyage.'
        compound log (English), 'A logbook, or journal of a vessel's (or aircraft's) progress.'
        inherited logge (Middle English), 'large long stick, staff, pole, log'
        derived liggja (Old Norse), 'to lie (on a bed etc.)'
        inherited *ligjaną (Proto-Germanic), 'to lie, to rest (on a surface)'
        inherited *légʰyeti (Proto-Indo-European), 'to be lying down'
        suffix *-yeti (Proto-Indo-European), 'Creates transitive imperfective verbs from roots.'
        derived *legʰ- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to lie (to be in resting position)'
        compound book (English), 'A collection of sheets of paper bound together to hinge at one edge, containing printed or written material, pictures, etc.'
        inherited bok (Middle English), 'A document, especially if extensive and composed of bound pages'
        inherited boc (Old English), 'book'
        inherited *bōk (Proto-West Germanic), 'inscribed billet, letter'
        inherited *bōks (Proto-Germanic), 'letter, written message, inscriptions carved into a flat object pressed together, “book”'
- blend podcast (English), 'A program, especially an audio program, produced on a regular basis, delivered over the Internet in a compressed digital format and designed for playback on computers or portable devices such as mobile phones.'
  - blend iPod (English), 'A portable music player made by Apple.'
    - affix i- (English), 'Used to form past participles of verbs. Alternative spelling of y-.'
      - clipping Internet (English), 'The global, decentralized network of computers which communicate with one another using the Internet protocol suite, which now forms a vital part of global communication, content sharing, and information exchange systems.'
        clipping internetwork (English), 'A network of networks.'
        compound inter- (English), 'A position which is in between two (or more) of the kind indicated by the root.'
        borrowed inter- (Latin), 'inter-, between, in between, among, together'
        derived inter (Latin), 'between, among'
        inherited *ənter (Proto-Italic), 'between'
        inherited *h₁entér (Proto-Indo-European), 'between'
        derived *h₁én (Proto-Indo-European), 'in'
        compound network (English), 'Any interconnected group or system.'
        compound net (English), 'A mesh of string, cord or rope.'
        inherited net (Middle English), 'net (a mesh of string, cord or rope)'
        inherited nett (Old English), 'net'
        inherited *nati (Proto-West Germanic), 'net'
        inherited *natją (Proto-Germanic), 'net'
        suffix *-yós (Proto-Indo-European), 'Creates adjectives from noun stems.'
        derived *neHd- (Proto-Indo-European)
        compound work (English), 'Employment.'
        inherited werk (Middle English), 'Work.'
        inherited weorc (Old English), 'work, in various senses, including:'
        inherited *werk (Proto-West Germanic), 'work'
        inherited *werką (Proto-Germanic), 'work'
        inherited *wérǵom (Proto-Indo-European), 'work'
        suffix *-om (Proto-Indo-European)
        derived *werǵ- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to make'
    - affix pod (English), 'A seed case for legumes (e.g. peas, beans, peppers); a seedpod.'
  - blend broadcast (English), 'Cast or scattered widely in all directions; cast abroad.'
    - compound broad (English), 'Wide in extent or scope.'
      - inherited brod (Middle English), 'broad'
        inherited brad (Old English), 'wide, broad'
        inherited *braid (Proto-West Germanic), 'broad, wide'
        inherited *braidaz (Proto-Germanic), 'broad, wide'
        derived *bʰer- (Proto-Indo-European), 'to bear, carry'
    - compound cast (English), 'To predict, to decide, to plan.'
      - inherited casten (Middle English), 'cast'
        borrowed kasta (Old Norse), 'to cast, to throw'
        inherited *kastōną (Proto-Germanic), 'to throw'
        derived *kas- (Proto-Germanic), 'to throw; bring up; toss'

Sources

Updated October 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris