Etymology Map
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Hammam

3 stages from Arabic to English.

Today it means a Turkish or Middle Eastern steam bath

Where does the word "hammam" come from? It comes from Arabic ḥammām, passing through Ottoman Turkish before entering English (1600s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
ḥammām
Arabic · medieval
"bath house"
from 'ḥamma', to heat; the Islamic world kept up the Roman public bath
2
Stage 2 of 3
hamam
Ottoman Turkish · 1500s
"bath house"
the architect Sinan built great domed baths in Istanbul, such as the Haseki Hürrem hamam of 1556
3
Stage 3 of 3
hammam
English · 1600s
"Turkish bath"
the diplomat David Urquhart promoted 'Turkish baths' in Britain; the first opened near Blarney in Ireland in 1856
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Read the full story

Hammam’s story begins in Arabic: ḥammām meant “bath house.” From 'ḥamma', to heat; the Islamic world kept up the Roman public bath. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish as hamam. The architect Sinan built great domed baths in Istanbul, such as the Haseki Hürrem hamam of 1556. It reached English by 1600s as hammam. The diplomat David Urquhart promoted 'Turkish baths' in Britain; the first opened near Blarney in Ireland in 1856. Today, hammam means a Turkish or Middle Eastern steam bath.