jungle (English)
Where does "jungle" come from?
Surprisingly, the word 'jungle' began its linguistic journey with the Sanskrit word 'jaṅgala,' which actually described arid, sterile desert lands. Borrowed into English from Hindustani in the late 18th century, the term gradually shifted in meaning from dry, trackless wilderness to the lush, tangled tropical forests we associate with the word today.
Full etymology tree
- jungle (English), 'resembling the fast-paced drumming of traditional peoples of the jungle.'
- borrowed jaṅgal (jangal) (Hindustani)
- inherited jaṅgala (jangala) (Sanskrit)
- borrowed jaṅgal (jangal) (Hindustani)
Direct ancestors
Updated June 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris