Where does “elephant” come from?
elephant (Middle French) comes from Old French elefant, from Latin elephantus, from Ancient Greek ἐλέφας, from Egyptian ꜣbw — cessation; elephant; elephant tusk.
elephant (Middle French): elephant
Ancestry of “elephant”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old French | elefant | — |
| 2 | Latin | elephantus | An elephant; Ivory |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἐλέφας | ivory; elephant |
| 4 | Egyptian | ꜣbw | cessation; elephant; elephant tusk |
Words derived from “elephant”