From ‘Robota’ to Robot: The Etymology of Mechanical Servitude

Short Introduction:
The word "robot" carries a hidden history of labor and rebellion, rooted not in slavery but in the Czech term "robota"—meaning "forced work." Popularized by Karel Čapek’s 1920 play R.U.R., the concept of robots began as artificial serfs destined for revolt. Unlike "slave," which traces back to the enslavement of Slavic peoples, "robot" evokes mechanized servitude, a theme that still echoes in debates over automation today. This linguistic journey reveals how deeply stories of labor and resistance are wired into the very language of technology.