Where does “kaharabu” come from?
kaharabu (Swahili) comes from Omani Arabic كهراب, from Persian کهربا, from Persian کاه, from Persian کاستن, from Proto-Iranian kas-, from Proto-Indo-European kʷeḱ- — to see; to look.
kaharabu (Swahili): amber
Ancestry of “kaharabu”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Omani Arabic | كهراب | — |
| 2 | Persian | کهربا | amber |
| 3 | Persian | کاه | chaff; straw; hay |
| 4 | Persian | کاستن | — |
| 5 | Proto-Iranian | kas- | to be small, diminish, lessen |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷeḱ- | to see; to look |