Where does “Santa” come from?
Santa (Tagalog) comes from Spanish santa, from Old Spanish sancta, from Latin sānctus, from Latin Iacobus, from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος, from Ancient Greek Ἰακώβ, from Hebrew יַעֲקֹב, from Hebrew עָקֵב — heel of the foot; heel.
Santa (Tagalog): title used with the name of female saints: Saint; St
Definitions
- title used with the name of female saints: Saint; St
Ancestry of “Santa”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spanish | santa | feminine singular of santo; female equivalent of... |
| 2 | Old Spanish | sancta | — |
| 3 | Latin | sānctus | sacred, made inviolable, having been established as sacred |
| 4 | Latin | Iacobus | Jacob; James; Saint James |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | Ἰάκωβος | — |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | Ἰακώβ | Jacob |
| 7 | Hebrew | יַעֲקֹב | Jacob |
| 8 | Hebrew | עָקֵב | heel of the foot; heel |