giraffe (English)
Where does "giraffe" come from?
The English word 'giraffe' originates from the Classical Persian compound 'zurnāpā', which combines 'zurnā' meaning 'flute' or 'zurna' with 'pā' meaning 'leg'[1][3][7]. This term passed into Classical Syriac as 'zārīp̄ā' and then into Arabic as 'zurāfa'[1][3][6]. From Arabic, the word was borrowed into Italian as 'giraffa' and subsequently into Middle French as 'giraffe', before finally entering the English language[1][2][3]. In English, the term ultimately displaced the older word 'camelopard' to become the common name for the animal[1].
Open questions
- The derivation of the initial element of the compound from the Proto Indo European root for horn is considered potential or uncertain. [1] [4] [7]
Full etymology tree
- giraffe (English), 'A ruminant, of the genus Giraffa, of the African savannah with long legs and highly elongated neck, making them the tallest living animal; yellow fur patterned with dark spots, often in the form of a network; and two or more short, skin-covered horns, so-called; strictly speaking the horn-like projections are ossicones.'
- borrowed giraffe (Middle French), 'giraffe (mammal)'
- borrowed giraffa (Italian), 'giraffe (mammal)'
- borrowed زرافة (zurāfa) (Arabic), 'giraffe (mammal)'
- borrowed ܙܪܝܦܐ (zārīp̄ā) (Classical Syriac), 'alternative form of ܙܪܢܦܐ (zarnāp̄ā): giraffe'
- inherited ܙܪנܦܐ (zarnāp̄ā) (Classical Syriac)
- borrowed زُرْنَاپَا (zurnāpā) (Classical Persian)
- compound زُرْنَا (zurnā) (Classical Persian)
- compound پَا (pā) (Classical Persian)
- inherited pāy (Middle Persian)
- inherited 𐎱𐎠𐎭 (pād(a)) (Old Persian), 'foot'
- inherited *pā́dah (Proto-Iranian), 'foot'
- inherited *pā́ts (Proto-Indo-Iranian), 'foot'
- derived *pṓds (Proto-Indo-European), 'foot'
- affix *-s (Proto-Indo-European), 'Derives feminine mobile-accented root nouns from roots.'
- inherited *pā́ts (Proto-Indo-Iranian), 'foot'
- inherited *pā́dah (Proto-Iranian), 'foot'
- inherited 𐎱𐎠𐎭 (pād(a)) (Old Persian), 'foot'
- inherited pāy (Middle Persian)
- borrowed زُرْنَاپَا (zurnāpā) (Classical Persian)
- inherited ܙܪנܦܐ (zarnāp̄ā) (Classical Syriac)
- borrowed ܙܪܝܦܐ (zārīp̄ā) (Classical Syriac), 'alternative form of ܙܪܢܦܐ (zarnāp̄ā): giraffe'
- borrowed زرافة (zurāfa) (Arabic), 'giraffe (mammal)'
- borrowed giraffa (Italian), 'giraffe (mammal)'
- borrowed giraffe (Middle French), 'giraffe (mammal)'
Ancestors
- *ḱerh₂- (Proto-Indo-European)
- giraffe (Middle French)
- giraffa (Italian)
Descendants and derived words
- Baringo giraffe (English)
- Congolese giraffe (English)
- forest giraffe (English)
- giraffe bread (English)
- giraffedom (English)
- giraffe gazelle (English)
- giraffelike (English)
- giraffeling (English)
- giraffe piano (English)
- giraffe seahorse (English)
- giraffe sheep (English)
- giraffess (English)
Sources
- giraffe (English) - Wiktionary
- giraffe (Middle French) - Wiktionary
- giraffa (Italian) - Wiktionary
- ḱerh₂- (Proto-Indo-European) - Wiktionary
- پا (Persian) - Wiktionary
- زرافة (zurāfa) (Arabic) - Wiktionary
- زرناپا (Persian) - Wiktionary
Updated August 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris