Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “santería” come from?

santería (English) comes from Spanish santería, from Spanish santero, from Spanish Santo, from Old Spanish santo, from Old Spanish sancto, from Latin sānctus, from Latin Iacobus, from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος — heel of the foot; heel.

santería (English): An Afro-Cuban religion, somewhat similar to...

Definitions

  1. An Afro-Cuban religion, somewhat similar to...

Ancestry of “santería”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishsanteríasantería
2SpanishsanteroExcessively devoted to saints; saint
3SpanishSantoSaint
4Old Spanishsanto—
5Old Spanishsancto—
6Latinsānctus—
7LatinIacobusJacob; James; Saint James
8Ancient GreekἸάκωβος—
9Ancient GreekἸακώβ—
10HebrewיַעֲקֹבJacob
11Hebrewעָקֵבheel of the foot; heel
Every word from Hebrew עָקֵב →