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safari

Etymology and origin of the English word safari

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Formation
Borrowing
Borrowed from
Swahili safari

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /səˈfɑːɹ.i/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Swahili safari (“journey, expedition”),[2][3][4][5] from Arabic سفر (safar, “journey”),[2][3][5] with the adjective safarī “of a journey”,[6][3][4] from the verb safara “to travel, set out”.[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A journey or expedition across country in East Africa, often lasting days or weeks, especially for hunting (1860 in the OED, 1890 in Barnhart and Etymonline, with earlier use as a foreign word).[7][2][3]

Semantic evolution

The word also meant the hunting party or caravan itself, with its guides and equipment (1890).[7][4][5] From 1908 it was used as a verb, to go on safari.[7] It has been extended to any long or adventurous journey,[5][7] and from the 1920s to clothing suitable for safaris, such as the safari jacket.[3][7]

Timeline

  • 1860 – a cross-country expedition (OED).[7]
  • 1868 – Merriam-Webster's date.[4]
  • 1890 – the hunting party or caravan.[7][2]
  • 1908 – verb.[7]
  • 1920s – of clothing.[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. An overland expedition, especially one for hunting or viewing wild animals in eastern Africa.
  2. The people, animals and equipment forming such an expedition; a caravan.
  3. Any long or adventurous journey.

Verb

  1. To go on a safari.

Word family

  • safari jacket
  • safari park
  • caravan
  • trek

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  3. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ a b c d Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  6. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Safari.” Etymologically, 14 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/safari. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·