monsoon
/mɒnˈsuːn/
noun
Origin
Arabic
mawsim — season, time of year
Overview
Meaning Now
- A seasonal prevailing wind in the region of South and Southeast Asia, blowing from the southwest between May and September and bringing rain (the wet monsoon).
- The rainy season accompanying this wind.
Literal older meaning
seasonal time or weather
Language path
Arabic → Portuguese → English
Earliest form
monçaon
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term was introduced to European languages by Portuguese traders and explorers who encountered the predictable wind patterns of the Indian Ocean, which were essential for seasonal navigation between Africa and India.
Evolution
- Proto-Semitic
*w-s-m
“to mark, to designate”
Root meaning relating to designated times or seasons.
- Arabic
mawsim
“season, fixed time”
- Portuguese
monção
“seasonal wind”
Adopted by Portuguese mariners in the Indian Ocean.
- English
monsoon
“seasonal wind in South Asia”
Recorded in English from the late 16th century.
Connections
Word parts
monsoon
root
seasonal wind
Related across languages
Dutch
moesson
monsoon
French
mousson
monsoon
Explore next
Related to monsoon
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.