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Where does the word "saffron" come from? It comes from Arabic za'faran, passing through Old French before entering English (medieval).
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Where does the word "saffron" come from? It comes from Arabic za'faran, passing through Old French before entering English (medieval).
Saffron’s story begins in Arabic: za'faran meant “saffron.” The Arabic name for the crocus spice. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as safran. Spread through Mediterranean spice trade. It reached English by medieval as saffron. Settled as the English name for the spice. Today, saffron means a deep orange spice made from crocus flower stigmas.
- Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval za'faran "saffron", the Arabic name for the crocus spice.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval safran "saffron", spread through Mediterranean spice trade.
- Stage 3 · English · medieval saffron "the saffron spice", settled as the English name for the spice.