Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Corfu” come from?

Corfu is the English name for an island in the Ionian Sea, derived from Italian Corfù, which comes from Ancient Greek Κορυφώ, itself from Ancient Greek κορυφή meaning peak or summit.

Ancestry of “Corfu”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1ItalianCorfù—
2Ancient GreekΚορυφώ—
3Ancient Greekκορυφήtop of the head, crown; mountain peak; top, apex

Words derived from “Corfu”

  • Corfiot
Every word from Ancient Greek κορυφή →