Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "souk" come from? It comes from Arabic suq, passing through French before entering English (1826).
Read the full story
Where does the word "souk" come from? It comes from Arabic suq, passing through French before entering English (1826).
Souk’s story begins in Arabic: suq meant “marketplace.” An open marketplace at the heart of Arab cities. By 1826, the word had taken hold in French as souk. Borrowed during French colonial contact in North Africa. It reached English by 1826 as souk. Marrakesh and Fez have famous souks. Today, souk means an open-air marketplace or bazaar in an Arab city.
- Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval suq "marketplace", an open marketplace at the heart of Arab cities.
- Stage 2 · French · 1826 souk "Arab market", borrowed during French colonial contact in North Africa.
- Stage 3 · English · 1826 souk "open-air market", Marrakesh and Fez have famous souks.