jinn

Where does the word "jinn" come from? It comes from Arabic jinni, and was adopted directly into English (1700s).

Jinn’s story begins in Arabic: jinni meant “a supernatural spirit.” A supernatural spirit capable of good or evil, appearing in folklore and the Quran. It reached English by 1700s as jinn. The Quran describes jinn as made of smokeless fire. Today, jinn means a supernatural spirit in Arab and Islamic folklore, capable of granting wishes.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval jinni "a supernatural spirit", a supernatural spirit capable of good or evil, appearing in folklore and the Quran.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1700s jinn "a supernatural spirit of Arabic and Islamic folklore", the Quran describes jinn as made of smokeless fire.