Etymology Explorer › Portuguese

Where does “São” come from?

São (Portuguese) comes from Old Portuguese são, from Latin sānus, from Proto-Indo-European swā-n- — healthy; whole; active; vigorous.

São (Portuguese): forms the titles of male saints whose names begin...

Definitions

  1. forms the titles of male saints whose names begin...

Ancestry of “São”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Portuguesesão—
2Latinsānus—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanswā-n-healthy; whole; active; vigorous
Every word from Proto-Indo-European swā-n- →