Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Italian” come from?

Italian derives from Latin Italianus, which comes from Latin Italia, itself from Ancient Greek Ἰταλία, a term of uncertain ultimate origin referring to the southern Italian peninsula.

Italian (English): Pertaining to Italy, its people or its language;...

Definitions

  1. Pertaining to Italy, its people or its language;...

Ancestry of “Italian”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1LatinItalianus—
2LatinItaliaItaly
3Ancient GreekἸταλίαItaly
4Oscan𐌅𐌝𐌕𐌄𐌋𐌉𐌞land of bulls; land of young cattle

Words derived from “Italian”

  • Italianization
  • Italianize
  • Gallo-Italian
  • Judeo-Italian
  • nicciano
  • niccianesimo
Every word from Oscan 𐌅𐌝𐌕𐌄𐌋𐌉𐌞 →