jinn
/dʒɪn/
noun
Origin
Arabic
ج ن ن — to cover, hide, or conceal
Overview
Meaning Now
- A class of supernatural spirits in Arabian and Islamic mythology, said to be composed of smokeless fire and capable of assuming human or animal forms to interact with people.
Literal older meaning
that which is hidden or veiled
Language path
Proto-Semitic → Arabic → English
Earliest form
جِنّ
Earliest period
7th century
Journey
The concept of the jinn predates Islam, rooted in pre-Islamic Arabian polytheistic belief systems where they were often viewed as spirits inhabiting desolate places or natural objects. In Islamic theology, they are recognized as beings with free will, capable of belief or disbelief, residing in a dimension parallel to humanity.
Evolution
- Proto-Semitic
*g-n-n
“to cover or protect”
Root concept of being concealed from human sight.
- Classical Arabic
جِنّ
“supernatural beings”
Development of the collective noun referring to hidden entities.
- Modern English
jinn
“supernatural spirit”
Borrowed via Middle Eastern literary traditions.
Connections
Word parts
jinn
root
hidden ones
Related across languages
Hebrew
ganan
to cover/protect
Ge'ez
genen
to hide
Explore next
Related to jinn
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.