Where does “Banu” come from?
Banu (English) comes from Hindi बान, from Sauraseni Prakrit 𑀯𑀡𑁆𑀡, from Pali vaṇṇa, from Sanskrit वर्ण, from Proto-Indo-Iranian wárnas, from Proto-Indo-European wēr-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.
Ancestry of “Banu”, step by step
Banu traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Hindi बान
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hindi | बान | quality, character, nature; habit; appearance,... |
| 2 | Sauraseni Prakrit | 𑀯𑀡𑁆𑀡 | — |
| 3 | Pali | vaṇṇa | colour; appearance; caste |
| 4 | Sanskrit | वर्ण | outward appearance, exterior, figure, form,... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | wárnas | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wēr- | true |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |