Houri
/ˈhʊəri/noun
A beautiful young woman, often described in Islamic texts as a reward for faithful believers in paradise.
Did you know?The term 'Houri' derives from Arabic, where it originally referred to beings with luminous eyes, embodying the concept of ethereal beauty and divine favor.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*ʔūrā
“A being of beauty or a luminous entity.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
حُورِيّ (ḥūrīyy)
“One of the beautiful maidens of paradise, often described as having large, dark eyes.”
10th Century
Arabic
حُور (ḥūr)
“Beautiful ones; used to denote celestial beings with allure.”
18th Century
English
Houri
“Adopted in English from Arabic texts, referring to the maidens of paradise.”