Himalayan
/ˌhɪm.əˈleɪ.ən/noun
Relating to the Himalayas, the mountain system spanning parts of South and Central Asia.
Did you know?Sanskrit Himālaya combines hima, “snow” or “winter,” with ālaya, “dwelling” or “abode,” making the range’s name an ancient poetic image rather than a modern geographic label.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵʰeyəm
“Winter or the cold season; the reconstructed ancestor of words connected with winter and snow.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kheîma
“Winter, storm, or wintry weather.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
hima
“Snow, frost, cold, or winter.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
ālaya
“Abode, dwelling, or resting place.”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Himālaya
“The abode of snow; the name of the great Asian mountain range.”
19th Century
English
Himalayan
“Relating to the Himalayas.”