EtymologyMap
Back to all words

Trace the journey of words

Today it means

salaam

a ceremonial greeting or gesture of respect, or simply peace

Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate

Where does the word "salaam" come from? It comes from Arabic salam, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "salaam" come from? It comes from Arabic salam, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Salaam’s story begins in Arabic: salam meant “peace.” Peace, used as a greeting throughout the Islamic world. It reached English by 1600s as salaam. Arabic 'peace', related to Hebrew 'shalom'. Today, salaam means a ceremonial greeting or gesture of respect, or simply peace.

  1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval salam "peace", peace, used as a greeting throughout the Islamic world.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s salaam "a greeting or gesture of respect", Arabic 'peace', related to Hebrew 'shalom'.

Browse by origin