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Where does the word "geisha" come from? It comes from Japanese geisha, and was adopted directly into English (1890s).
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Where does the word "geisha" come from? It comes from Japanese geisha, and was adopted directly into English (1890s).
Geisha’s story begins in Japanese: geisha meant “an artist, a performer.” Literally a person of art, a professional entertainer skilled in traditional arts. It reached English by 1890s as geisha. Japanese 'person of the arts'; Puccini's 'Madama Butterfly' (1904) spread Western fascination. Today, geisha means a traditional Japanese female entertainer skilled in music, dance, and conversation.
- Stage 1 · Japanese · 1700s geisha "an artist, a performer", literally a person of art, a professional entertainer skilled in traditional arts.
- Stage 2 · English · 1890s geisha "a traditional Japanese female entertainer", Japanese 'person of the arts'; Puccini's 'Madama Butterfly' (1904) spread Western fascination.