gorilla (English)
Where does "gorilla" come from?
The word 'gorilla' originates from the Ancient Greek term 'Górillai', which described a tribe of 'hairy women' encountered by the Carthaginian explorer Hanno the Navigator. Most likely transmitted through Punic and originally derived from an African language, the term was eventually applied to the great ape we recognize today due to its physical appearance. Over time, the word expanded to metaphorically describe large, powerful individuals or even large sums of money.
Full etymology tree
- gorilla (English), 'An ape of the genus Gorilla; endemic to the forests of Central Africa and typified by superlative physical size and strength in relation to other primates.'
- borrowed Γόριλλαι (Górillai) (Ancient Greek), 'Gorillai (a tribe of hairy women described by Hanno the Navigator)'
- borrowed Punic language term (Punic)
- borrowed African language term (Unclassified African language)
- borrowed Punic language term (Punic)
- borrowed Γόριλλαι (Górillai) (Ancient Greek), 'Gorillai (a tribe of hairy women described by Hanno the Navigator)'
Direct ancestors
Updated July 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris