Where does “toubab” come from?
toubab (French) comes from Wolof tuubab, from French toubib, from Arabic طَبِيب, from Arabic ب, from Arabic طَابَق, from Middle Persian tʾp̄k', from Proto-Iranian tāpaka-, from Proto-Iranian tap- — to be warm, be hot.
toubab (French): white person
Definitions
- white person
Ancestry of “toubab”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolof | tuubab | — |
| 2 | French | toubib | medic, doc |
| 3 | Arabic | طَبِيب | doctor |
| 4 | Arabic | ب | Abbreviation of باب; with, by; with |
| 5 | Arabic | طَابَق | — |
| 6 | Middle Persian | tʾp̄k' | frying pan |
| 7 | Proto-Iranian | tāpaka- | heater {{non-gloss definition|or}} baking place... |
| 8 | Proto-Iranian | tap- | to warm up, heat; flat |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | tep- | to be warm, be hot |