Where does “negro” come from?
negro (Spanish) comes from Latin nigrum, from Latin niger, from Proto-Indo-European nókʷts, from Proto-Indo-European negʷ- — bare, naked.
negro (Spanish): black; a black person; ghost writer
Definitions
- black; a black person; ghost writer
Ancestry of “negro”, step by step
negro traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Latin nigrum
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | nigrum | masculine accusative singular of niger; neuter... |
| 2 | Latin | niger | wan, shining black; bad; evil; ill-omened |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | nókʷts | night |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | negʷ- | bare, naked |
via Latin Niger
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | Niger | A Roman agnomen, or "nickname" |