Where does “Cali” come from?
Cali (English) comes from Spanish Cali, from Spanish Calima, from Latin cālīgō, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.
Ancestry of “Cali”, step by step
Cali traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Spanish Cali
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish | Cali | — |
| 2 | Spanish | Calima | haze |
| 3 | Latin | cālīgō | fog, mist, vapor |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱel- | to cover; to incline |
via English California
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | California | A region on the west coast of North America comprising the US state of California and the Baja California peninsula in Mexico; historically also including other areas in Alta California and Baja California |
| 2 | Spanish | California | — |