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Where does the word "nabob" come from? It comes from Arabic nuwwab, passing through Hindi before entering English (1600s-1700s).
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Where does the word "nabob" come from? It comes from Arabic nuwwab, passing through Hindi before entering English (1600s-1700s).
Nabob’s story begins in Arabic: nuwwab meant “viceroys, deputies.” Honorific plural of na'ib, "viceroy, deputy". By medieval, the word had taken hold in Hindi as nabab. A title for a Mughal provincial governor. It reached English by 1600s-1700s as nabob. From 'nawab', a Mughal provincial governor; East India Company officials returning rich were mocked as nabobs. Today, nabob means a person of great wealth or high status, especially one made rich quickly.
- Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval nuwwab "viceroys, deputies", honorific plural of na'ib, "viceroy, deputy".
- Stage 2 · Hindi · medieval nabab "a provincial governor", a title for a Mughal provincial governor.
- Stage 3 · English · 1600s-1700s nabob "a person of great wealth or importance", from 'nawab', a Mughal provincial governor; East India Company officials returning rich were mocked as nabobs.