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Jacaranda

3 stages from Tupi-Guarani to English.

Today it means a tropical tree admired for its clusters of vivid purple, trumpet-shaped flowers

Where does the word "jacaranda" come from? It comes from Tupi-Guarani yakarandá, passing through Portuguese before entering English (1750s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
yakarandá
Tupi-Guarani · pre-1500s
"a flowering tree"
named the flowering tree with fragrant purple blossoms
2
Stage 2 of 3
jacarandá
Portuguese · 1600s
"a flowering tropical tree"
adopted by Portuguese colonists in Brazil for the same tree
3
Stage 3 of 3
jacaranda
English · 1750s
"a tropical tree known for its vivid purple flowers"
borrowed into English botanical literature
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