pamplemousse (French)
Where does "pamplemousse" come from?
The French noun 'pamplemousse' was borrowed from the Dutch word 'pompelmoes'[1]. The ultimate origin of the Dutch source is uncertain, though it may derive from a combination of terms related to pumpkins or swollen sizes alongside elements meaning citrus or lemons, possibly influenced by Portuguese[2].
Open questions
- The exact origin of the Dutch source word pompelmoes is uncertain, with competing theories suggesting a compound involving pumpkin or swollen size elements combined with lemon terms, or alternatively a corruption of Portuguese citrus phrases. [2]
Full etymology tree
- pamplemousse (French), 'pomelo'
- borrowed pompelmoes (Dutch), 'pomelo (fruit of the tree Citrus maxima)'
- compound pompel (Dutch)
- compound pompoen (Dutch), 'pumpkin (plant of genus Cucurbita, or its edible fruit)'
- compound limoes (Dutch)
- influenced by limões (Portuguese), 'plural of limão'
- derived limão (Portuguese), 'lemon (citrus fruit)'
- borrowed (Andalusian Arabic)
- inherited ليمون (laymūn) (Arabic), 'lemon (fruit)'
- inherited ليمون / لیمو (limun / limu) (Persian)
- inherited निम्बू (nimbū) (Sanskrit), 'the common lime or lemon'
- inherited (Austroasiatic)
- inherited निम्बू (nimbū) (Sanskrit), 'the common lime or lemon'
- inherited ليمون / لیمو (limun / limu) (Persian)
- inherited ليمون (laymūn) (Arabic), 'lemon (fruit)'
- borrowed (Andalusian Arabic)
- derived limão (Portuguese), 'lemon (citrus fruit)'
- influenced by limões (Portuguese), 'plural of limão'
- borrowed pompelmoes (Dutch), 'pomelo (fruit of the tree Citrus maxima)'
Ancestors
- pompelmoes (Dutch)
Descendants and derived words
- cuillère à pamplemousse (French)
- pamplemoussier (French)
- pamplemoussier (French)
Sources
- pamplemousse (French) - Wiktionary
- pompelmoes (Dutch) - Wiktionary
- limão (Portuguese) - Wiktionary
- निम्बू (nimbū) (Sanskrit) - Wiktionary
Updated September 2026
Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris