marijuana (English)

Where does "marijuana" come from?

The word marijuana entered English in the late 19th century as a loanword from Mexican Spanish. While researchers have explored potential roots in languages like Nahuatl or Chinese, these connections remain speculative and are often considered accidental phonetic matches. Over time, the spelling shifted due to a popular folk etymology that linked the term to the common Spanish naming combination María Juana.

Full etymology tree

• marijuana (English), 'The inflorescence of the Cannabis sativa plant, smoked or ingested for euphoric effect.'
  • borrowed marihuana (Mexican Spanish)
    • contraction mariguana (Mexican Spanish)
  • influence María Juana (Spanish), 'a female given name, equivalent to English Mary Jane'

Direct ancestors

• marihuana (Spanish)

Updated July 2026

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