ghazal

Where does the word "ghazal" come from? It comes from Arabic ghazal, passing through Persian and Urdu/Hindi before entering English (1800s).

Ghazal’s story begins in Arabic: ghazal meant “to flirt, love-talk.” Meant "to sweet-talk, to flirt," related to ghazaal, "young gazelle". By medieval, the word had taken hold in Persian as ghazal. Developed into a lyric poetic form of rhyming couplets on love and loss. From there it passed into Urdu/Hindi as ghazal by 1600s. Flourished further as a major poetic form in Mughal India. It reached English by 1800s as ghazal. Entered English literary criticism and was later adopted by English-language poets. Today, ghazal means a lyric poem made of rhyming couplets, traditionally on themes of love and loss, originating in Arabic and developed in Persian and Urdu literature.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · ancient ghazal "to flirt, love-talk", meant "to sweet-talk, to flirt," related to ghazaal, "young gazelle".
2. Stage 2 · Persian · medieval ghazal "love poem form", developed into a lyric poetic form of rhyming couplets on love and loss.
3. Stage 3 · Urdu/Hindi · 1600s ghazal "lyric poem of couplets", flourished further as a major poetic form in Mughal India.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1800s ghazal "poetic form of rhyming couplets", entered English literary criticism and was later adopted by English-language poets.