Etymology Map
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Tuna

5 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means a large fast-swimming fish

Where does the word "tuna" come from? It comes from Greek thynnos, passing through Latin, Arabic and Spanish before entering English (1880s).

1
Stage 1 of 5
thynnos
Greek · ancient
"tunny"
the tunny fish
2
Stage 2 of 5
thunnus
Latin · ancient
"tunny"
the tunny
3
Stage 3 of 5
tūn
Arabic · medieval
"tunny"
taken from Latin in the Mediterranean
4
Stage 4 of 5
atún
Spanish · medieval
"tuna"
from Arabic, with the article 'al-' fused on
5
Stage 5 of 5
tuna
American English · 1880s
"tuna"
Californian fishermen took the name from Spanish; canned tuna boomed from San Diego from the 1900s
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Read the full story

Tuna’s story begins in Greek: thynnos meant “tunny.” The tunny fish. By ancient, the word had taken hold in Latin as thunnus. The tunny. From there it passed into Arabic as tūn by medieval. Taken from Latin in the Mediterranean. Spanish picked it up next, as atún, around medieval. From Arabic, with the article 'al-' fused on. It reached English by 1880s as tuna. Californian fishermen took the name from Spanish; canned tuna boomed from San Diego from the 1900s. Today, tuna means a large fast-swimming fish.