kwashiorkor (English)

Where does "kwashiorkor" come from?

The word 'kwashiorkor' originates from the Ga language of Ghana, specifically from the term 'kwašiɔkɔ'. It carries a poignant cultural meaning, describing the physical sickness a young child develops when they are weaned because a new baby has been born. Adopted into English, the word signifies a specific form of malnutrition caused by a protein-deficient diet.

Full etymology tree

• kwashiorkor (English), 'A form of malnutrition, found in children, caused by dietary insufficiency of protein in combination with a high-carbohydrate diet.'
  • borrowed kwašiɔkɔ (Ga)

Updated June 2026

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