Etymology Explorer › Translingual

Where does “Chikungunya virus” come from?

Chikungunya virus (Translingual) comes from Makonde chikungunya, from Makonde kungunyala — to dry up or become contorted.

Ancestry of “Chikungunya virus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Makondechikungunyathat which bends up
2Makondekungunyalato dry up or become contorted
Every word from Makonde kungunyala →