Africa (English)

Where does "Africa" come from?

The English word Africa comes from Middle English 'Affrike' and Old French 'Affrique', which derive from the Latin name 'Āfrica'[1]. The Latin term originated from 'Āfrī', referring to the inhabitants near Carthage[1], combined with the adjective suffix '-icus'[2]. This root itself traces back through Latin to Punic or Berber terms[4], with proposed origins including the Punic word for 'dust', the Berber word 'ifri' meaning 'cave', or Ancient Greek elements meaning 'without cold'[1]. During the Roman era, the name replaced older terms to designate the continent south of the Mediterranean[7].

Open questions

The derivation of the ancient tribal name from Punic or Berber terms, including potential connections to dust or cave dwellers, remains uncertain. [1] [4]
The alternative folk etymology connecting the term to Ancient Greek elements meaning without cold is speculative. [1]

Full etymology tree

Africa (English), 'The continent that is south of Europe, east of the Atlantic Ocean, west of the Indian Ocean and north of Antarctica.'
- inherited Affrike (Middle English)
  - inherited Affrique (Old French), 'Africa (the continent south of Europe and between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans)'
    - inherited Africa (Latin), 'Northwestern Africa, the territory of Carthage, the African coast west of the Nile'
      - derived Afri (Latin), 'inflection of Āfer:'
        derived Afer (Latin), 'from Africa (the region of modern-day Tunisia)'

Ancestors

Affrique (Old French)
Africa (Latin)
ἀ- (Ancient Greek)

Cognates and doublets

aprica (Latin)

Descendants and derived words

阿非利加 (Chinese)
Afrabia (English)
Afrasia (English)
Africa-Eurasia (English)
African (English)
African (English)
Africa time (English)
Africa-wide (English)
Africa-wide (English)
Africology (English)
Africoonia (English)
Afrihili (English)

Sources

Updated September 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris