Infanta etymology

Etymology:

• Old Spanish: "infante"
• Medieval Latin: "infans" (meaning "child" or "young person")

Meaning:

• Originally referred to the children of kings or nobles in 13th-century Spain.
• Over time, it became synonymous with "prince" or "princess" in the royal families of Spain and Portugal.

Origin:

The term "infanta" originated from the Medieval Latin word "infans," which was commonly used to refer to a young child or a person under the age of adolescence. In the 13th century, the term was adopted into Old Spanish as "infante" and began to be used specifically for the children of kings and nobles. It was meant to distinguish them from the "infantes de casa," or children of ordinary people.

In the royal courts of Spain and Portugal, the title of "infanta" was given to both male and female children of the monarch. The male heirs were titled "infante" and were in line to succeed to the throne. Female heirs were titled "infanta" and held the position of royal princess.

The term is still used today in the Spanish and Portuguese languages to refer to the children and grandchildren of the king or queen, excluding the heir apparent.

Infanta relate terms

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