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Where does the word "petunia" come from? It comes from Tupi-Guarani petun, passing through French before entering English (1825).
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Where does the word "petunia" come from? It comes from Tupi-Guarani petun, passing through French before entering English (1825).
Petunia’s story begins in Tupi-Guarani: petun meant “tobacco.” Tobacco, since the flowering plant is related to the tobacco family. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as petunia. From Tupi 'petun', tobacco, since petunias are related to the tobacco plant. It reached English by 1825 as petunia. Settled as the English name for the popular flowering garden plant. Today, petunia means a popular flowering garden plant with trumpet-shaped blooms.
- Stage 1 · Tupi-Guarani · 1600s petun "tobacco", tobacco, since the flowering plant is related to the tobacco family.
- Stage 2 · French · 1700s petunia "a flowering plant related to tobacco", from Tupi 'petun', tobacco, since petunias are related to the tobacco plant.
- Stage 3 · English · 1825 petunia "a popular flowering garden plant", settled as the English name for the popular flowering garden plant.