Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Portugal” come from?

Portugal derives from Portuguese Portugal, from Latin Portus Cale, from Latin portus meaning "port" or "harbor," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pértus and the root per-.

Portugal (English): A Portuguese person

Definitions

  1. A Portuguese person

Ancestry of “Portugal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1PortuguesePortugal—
2Middle EnglishPortyngale—
3Middle FrenchPortingal—
4LatinPortucalePortugal
5LatinPortus CaleOporto
6LatinPortus—
7Proto-Italicportusharbour
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpértuscrossing
9Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
10Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “Portugal”

  • পৰ্টুগাল
  • iPhothugali
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →