Where does “mwembe” come from?
mwembe (Swahili) comes from Swahili embe, from Omani Arabic امبا, from Persian انبه, from Middle Persian anbag, from Sanskrit आम्र, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃mós, from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃- — to be hot; to burn.
mwembe (Swahili): mango tree
Ancestry of “mwembe”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Swahili | embe | mango |
| 2 | Omani Arabic | امبا | — |
| 3 | Persian | انبه | mango |
| 4 | Middle Persian | anbag | — |
| 5 | Sanskrit | आम्र | mango |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₃mós | raw; uncooked; bitter |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eh₃- | to be hot; to burn |