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
- A harem on the Indian subcontinent; a part of the...
Ancestry of “zenana”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Hindi | ज़नाना | women's; feminine, womanly, effeminate; harem,... |
| 2 | Urdu | زنانه | — |
| 3 | Classical Persian | زنانه | — |
| 4 | Persian | زن | woman; wife; female |
| 5 | Middle Persian | zan | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | ǰánHs | woman; wife |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷḗn | woman |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷen- | woman |