orange

Where does the word "orange" come from? It comes from Sanskrit nāraṅga, passing through Persian, Arabic and Old French before entering English (c. 1300s).

Orange’s story begins in Sanskrit: nāraṅga meant “orange tree.” The earliest recorded name for the orange tree and fruit. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Persian as nārang. Spread west with cultivation of citrus orchards. From there it passed into Arabic as nāranj by medieval. Carried across the Mediterranean by Arab traders and farmers. Old French picked it up next, as orenge, around c. 1300s. The initial "n" was lost through misdivision with "une norenge". It reached English by c. 1300s as orange. Later also lent its name to the color. Today, orange means a round citrus fruit with orange skin; also the color between red and yellow.

1. Stage 1 · Sanskrit · ancient nāraṅga "orange tree", the earliest recorded name for the orange tree and fruit.
2. Stage 2 · Persian · medieval nārang "orange", spread west with cultivation of citrus orchards.
3. Stage 3 · Arabic · medieval nāranj "bitter orange", carried across the Mediterranean by Arab traders and farmers.
4. Stage 4 · Old French · c. 1300s orenge "the orange fruit", the initial "n" was lost through misdivision with "une norenge".
5. Stage 5 · English · c. 1300s orange "the citrus fruit; the color orange", later also lent its name to the color.