zinzin (French)
Where does "zinzin" come from?
The French word 'zinzin', meaning bonkers or like crazy, has an uncertain origin[1]. It is most likely onomatopoeic in nature, though some sources suggest a possible connection to the German word 'Wahnsinn' or the Dutch word 'waanzin'[1].
Open questions
- The exact origin of the word is uncertain, with competing theories suggesting an onomatopoeic creation or borrowing from Germanic languages. [1]
Full etymology tree
- zinzin (French), 'bonkers, cracked'
- borrowed (onomatopoeic)
- borrowed Wahnsinn (German), 'insanity, madness'
- borrowed waanzin (Dutch), 'delusion'
Sources
Updated September 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris