Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “shetani” come from?

shetani (English) comes from Swahili shetani, from Arabic شَيْطَان, from Arabic شَيَّطَ — to singe; to scorch.

shetani (English): An evil spirit from East African mythology, often...

Definitions

  1. An evil spirit from East African mythology, often...

Ancestry of “shetani”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swahilishetanishaitan, shetani, evil spirit, demon
2ArabicشَيْطَانShaitan, Satan; Satan, devil; satan, devil
3Arabicشَيَّطَto singe; to scorch
Every word from Arabic شَيَّطَ →