Etymology Map
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Acai

3 stages from Tupi to English.

Today it means a small, dark purple Amazonian palm fruit marketed worldwide for its antioxidant content

Where does the word "acai" come from? It comes from Tupi ïwasa'i, passing through Portuguese before entering English (1990s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
ïwasa'i
Tupi · pre-1500s
"a small purple palm fruit"
named the dark purple palm fruit
2
Stage 2 of 3
açaí
Portuguese · 1600s
"the fruit of the acai palm"
adopted by Portuguese colonists in the Amazon region
3
Stage 3 of 3
acai
English · 1990s
"a small, antioxidant-rich Amazonian palm fruit"
entered English amid the global health-food boom
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