'Phenomenon' is Greek for 'a thing that shows itself' — from PIE *bheh2- (to shine). Self-revealing.
A fact or event that can be observed and studied; an extraordinary or remarkable occurrence or person.
From Late Latin 'phaenomenon,' from Greek 'phainomenon' (that which appears, that which is seen), the neuter present participle of 'phainein' (to show, to bring to light, to make appear), from Proto-Indo-European '*bʰeh₂-' (to shine, to be bright). A phenomenon is, literally, 'a thing that shows itself' — something that appears to the senses. The philosophical distinction between phenomena (things as they appear to us) and noumena (things as they are in themselves) was central to Kant's philosophy. Key roots: phainein (Greek: "to show, to bring to