Etymology Map
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Zurna

4 stages from Persian to English.

Today it means a loud double-reed pipe played with the davul drum at Turkish and Balkan festivals

Where does the word "zurna" come from? It comes from Persian surnā, passing through Ottoman Turkish and Macedonian before entering English (1900s).

1
Stage 1 of 4
surnā
Persian · medieval
"festive pipe"
'festive pipe', from 'sūr', feast
2
Stage 2 of 4
zurna
Ottoman Turkish · 1500s
"shawm"
played with the big 'davul' drum at weddings, wrestling matches and in the Janissary band
3
Stage 3 of 4
zurla
Macedonian · 1600s
"shawm"
spread with Ottoman rule through the Balkans, where Roma musicians still play it
4
Stage 4 of 4
zurna
English · 1900s
"Turkish shawm"
entered English through writing on Turkish and Balkan folk music
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Read the full story

Zurna’s story begins in Persian: surnā meant “festive pipe.” 'festive pipe', from 'sūr', feast. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Ottoman Turkish as zurna. Played with the big 'davul' drum at weddings, wrestling matches and in the Janissary band. From there it passed into Macedonian as zurla by 1600s. Spread with Ottoman rule through the Balkans, where Roma musicians still play it. It reached English by 1900s as zurna. Entered English through writing on Turkish and Balkan folk music. Today, zurna means a loud double-reed pipe played with the davul drum at Turkish and Balkan festivals.