Nearly 80 years old, Lego construction toys were invented by carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen, who coined the name by combining the Danish words "Leg" and "Godt," meaning "play well." (In Latin, the words coincidentally translate as "I put together.") He started the Lego Group in 1932, which became Lego in 1934. The small toy company's first Lego blocks were constructed of wood, which evolved into plastic, interlocking bricks in 1940. Today, Lego is the world's fifth-largest toy manufacturer, according to the company.