Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “yarpie” come from?

yarpie (English) comes from Afrikaans japie, from Dutch jaap, from Proto-Aslian *ɟaam, from Proto-Mon-Khmer jaam, from Russian ям — mail staging post; genitive plural of я́ма.

yarpie (English): A white South African man

Definitions

  1. A white South African man

Ancestry of “yarpie”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Afrikaansjapiebumpkin, clodhopper, hick
2Dutchjaapgash, a deep cut
3Proto-Aslian*ɟaam—
4Proto-Mon-Khmerjaamto weep, to cry; Compare Korku "jaːm"
5Russianямmail staging post; genitive plural of я́ма
Every word from Russian ям →