Where does “Mandarin” come from?
Mandarin (German) comes from Portuguese mandarim, from Malay menteri, from Hindi मन्त्रि, from Sanskrit मन्त्रिन्, from Sanskrit मन्त्र, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *mántras, from Proto-Indo-European men- — to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,...
Mandarin (German): mandarin
Ancestry of “Mandarin”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Portuguese | mandarim | mandarin; Mandarin |
| 2 | Malay | menteri | minister, vizier; minister, a politician who... |
| 3 | Hindi | मन्त्रि | — |
| 4 | Sanskrit | मन्त्रिन् | Minister, councilor, counselor, scholar |
| 5 | Sanskrit | मन्त्र | sacred text or speech; a prayer or song of praise... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-Iranian | *mántras | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |