Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Shan” come from?

Shan derives from Burmese ရှမ်း, Thai สยาม, Old Khmer siama, Pali suvaṇṇa meaning gold, Sanskrit भूमि and सु, and Proto-Indo-European bʰuH-.

Shan (English): A member of a people living primarily in the Shan...

Definitions

  1. A member of a people living primarily in the Shan...

Ancestry of “Shan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Burmeseရှမ်း—
2ThaiสยามSiam, historical name
3Palisuvaṇṇabhūmiland of gold; a name for a country in Southeast...
4Palisuvaṇṇagold; beautiful
5Sanskritसुवर्णof a good or beautiful colour, brilliant in hue,...
6Sanskritवर्णoutward appearance, exterior, figure, form,...
7Proto-Indo-Iranianwárnas—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanwēr-true
9Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →