aubergine

Where does the word "aubergine" come from? It comes from Sanskrit vātiṅgaṇa, passing through Persian, Arabic, Catalan and French before entering English (1790s).

Aubergine’s story begins in Sanskrit: vātiṅgaṇa meant “eggplant.” The eggplant, native to South Asia. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Persian as bādingān. Eggplant. From there it passed into Arabic as al-bādhinjān by medieval. Arab farmers spread the plant around the Mediterranean. Catalan picked it up next, as albergínia, around medieval. Borrowed in Moorish Spain. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as aubergine. From Catalan. It reached English by 1790s as aubergine. British English kept the French name; Americans say 'eggplant', from the white egg-shaped variety. Today, aubergine means an eggplant.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient vātiṅgaṇa "eggplant", the eggplant, native to South Asia.
2. Stage 2 · Persian · medieval bādingān "eggplant", eggplant.
3. Stage 3 · Arabic · medieval al-bādhinjān "the eggplant", Arab farmers spread the plant around the Mediterranean.
4. Stage 4 · Catalan · medieval albergínia "eggplant", borrowed in Moorish Spain.
5. Stage 5 · French · 1700s aubergine "eggplant", from Catalan.
6. Stage 6 · English · 1790s aubergine "eggplant", British English kept the French name; Americans say 'eggplant', from the white egg-shaped variety.