European etymology

Etymology

The word "European" is derived from the Ancient Greek word "εὐρώπη" (Európē), which originally referred to Europa, a Phoenician princess from Tyre who was abducted by Zeus and taken to Crete. The name Europa may have derived from the Phoenician word "ereb," meaning "west," as Phoenicia was located on the eastern Mediterranean coast and Europe was considered to be located in the west.

Meaning

"European" means:

• Relating to Europe, the continent located in the Northern Hemisphere and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Caspian Sea and the Ural Mountains to the east, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south.
• Belonging to or characteristic of the people, culture, history, or geography of Europe.

Origin

The term "Europe" first appeared in the 6th century BCE in the writings of the Greek poet Hesiod. It was used to describe the region that extended from the Aegean Sea to the Pillars of Hercules (the Strait of Gibraltar). Over time, the term came to encompass the entire continent, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ural Mountains.

The name "Europe" was adopted by Roman geographers and later by medieval scholars. It became the standard name for the continent during the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods.

European relate terms

• Europe

  Etymology of Europe The name Europe comes from Greek mythology According to the leg

• eury

  Etymology The word eury is derived from the Ancient Greek word εὐρύς eurús

• occident

  Etymology The word occident originates from the Latin word occidens which literally

• Indo European

  Etymology Indo European is a compound word derived from Indo short for Indic r

• Indo

  Etymology Indo is derived from the Greek word Indos which referred to the Indus Riv

• European

  Etymology The word European is derived from the Ancient Greek word εὐρώπη Eur

• Aryan

  Etymology The name Aryan has Indo European origins It is derived from the Proto Indo E

• Japhetic

  Etymology of Japhetic Derived from the name of Japheth one of the three sons of No

• pan European

  Etymology Pan Greek all entire European Latin of or belonging to Europe

• European

  Etymology The word European is derived from the Ancient Greek word εὐρώπη Eur

• Pre Greek

  Proto Indo European PIE h₂eks axis wheel and later spindle ǵʰwa to turn

• polecat

  Etymology The word polecat originates from the Middle English word polcat which is a

• Aryan

  Etymology The name Aryan has Indo European origins It is derived from the Proto Indo E

• vine

  Etymology The word vine comes from the Old French word vine which in turn comes fro

• aspen

  Etymology The word aspen has the following etymological origins Old English æspe

• Portuguese

  Etymology of Portuguese Portuguese Português Latin Portugallensis Portus Cale An

• nectar

  Etymology The word nectar derives from the Greek word νέκταρ néktar which

• recant

  Etymology The word recant comes from the Latin verb recantare which means to sing b