Where does “zenana” come from?

Zenana comes from Hindi ज़नाना and Urdu زنانه, derived from Persian زن meaning "woman," ultimately from Proto-Iranian ǰánHh and Proto-Indo-European gʷḗn with the same sense.

zenana (English): A harem on the Indian subcontinent; a part of the...

Definitions

  1. A harem on the Indian subcontinent; a part of the...

Ancestry of “zenana”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Hindiज़नानाwomen's; feminine, womanly, effeminate; harem,...
2Urduزنانه—
3Classical Persianزنانه—
4Persianزنwoman; wife; female
5Middle Persianzan—
6Proto-Indo-IranianǰánHswoman; wife
7Proto-Indo-Europeangʷḗnwoman
8Proto-Indo-Europeangʷen-woman
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷen- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷḗn →Every word from Proto-Indo-Iranian ǰánHs →