The term 'tech-savvy' is a modern compound adjective, a product of late 20th-century digital culture. Its first element, 'tech', is a direct abbreviation of 'technology', a word with deep Greek roots in 'tekhnē', referring to systematic art or craft. The second element, 'savvy', entered English via nautical jargon and creole languages, tracing back to the Latin verb 'sapere', meaning to be wise or to taste. The compound's logic is transparently literal: being 'savvy' (knowledgeable and shrewd) specifically in the realm of 'tech' (modern technology). It reflects a societal need to label proficiency in the rapidly evolving digital world, combining a clipped, informal noun with a colloquial adjective to create an efficient and accessible descriptor.

Structure: tech (technology) + savvy (knowledgeable) - tech: A clipping of the word 'technology', originating from Greek 'tekhnē' (art, craft, skill). It functions as the core noun element specifying the domain. - savvy: Originating from the French-based creole term 'sabi' (to know), itself from Portuguese 'saber' (to know) and ultimately Latin 'sapere' (to be wise). It functions as an adjective-forming element meaning 'knowledgeable' or 'shrewd'.