Where does “Siam” come from?
Siam derives from Portuguese Sciam, from Thai สยาม, from Old Khmer siama, from Pali suvaṇṇa, from Sanskrit भूमि and सु, tracing to Proto-Indo-European bʰuH-.
Siam (English): historical name of Thailand
Definitions
- historical name of Thailand
Ancestry of “Siam”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portuguese | Sciam | Thailand |
| 2 | Thai | สยาม | Siam, historical name |
| 3 | Pali | suvaṇṇabhūmi | land of gold; a name for a country in Southeast... |
| 4 | Pali | suvaṇṇa | gold; beautiful |
| 5 | Sanskrit | सुवर्ण | of a good or beautiful colour, brilliant in hue,... |
| 6 | Sanskrit | वर्ण | outward appearance, exterior, figure, form,... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | wárnas | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | wēr- | true |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |