harem

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

Harem’s story begins in Arabic: harim meant “forbidden place, sanctuary.” Meaning "forbidden" or "sacred place". By medieval, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish as harem. The private, secluded family quarters of a household. It reached English by 1600s as harem. From Arabic 'forbidden, sacred'; Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's letters (1717) described the Ottoman harem. Today, harem means historically, the private quarters of women in a Muslim household; loosely, a group of women associated with one man.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval harim "forbidden place, sanctuary", meaning "forbidden" or "sacred place".
2. Stage 2 · Ottoman Turkish · medieval harem "the private family quarters", the private, secluded family quarters of a household.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s harem "the private living quarters of women in a Muslim household", from Arabic 'forbidden, sacred'; Lady Mary Wortley Montagu's letters (1717) described the Ottoman harem.