Etymology Map
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Spahi

4 stages from Persian to English.

Today it means an Ottoman cavalryman; later a North African cavalryman in the French army

Where does the word "spahi" come from? It comes from Persian sipāhī, passing through Ottoman Turkish and French before entering English (1560s).

1
Stage 1 of 4
sipāhī
Persian · medieval
"soldier"
from 'sipāh', army; the same word reached English as 'sepoy' through India
2
Stage 2 of 4
sipahi
Ottoman Turkish · 1300s-1600s
"cavalryman"
cavalrymen paid with 'timar' land grants instead of wages, the backbone of early Ottoman armies
3
Stage 3 of 4
spahi
French · 1830s
"Algerian cavalryman"
France raised Algerian spahi cavalry regiments from 1834, known for their red cloaks
4
Stage 4 of 4
spahi
English · 1560s
"an Ottoman or Algerian cavalryman"
first used for Ottoman horsemen, later for France's North African cavalry
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Read the full story

Spahi’s story begins in Persian: sipāhī meant “soldier.” From 'sipāh', army; the same word reached English as 'sepoy' through India. By 1300s-1600s, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish as sipahi. Cavalrymen paid with 'timar' land grants instead of wages, the backbone of early Ottoman armies. From there it passed into French as spahi by 1830s. France raised Algerian spahi cavalry regiments from 1834, known for their red cloaks. It reached English by 1560s as spahi. First used for Ottoman horsemen, later for France's North African cavalry. Today, spahi means an Ottoman cavalryman; later a North African cavalryman in the French army.