Morocco
/məˈrɒk.oʊ/noun
A country in northwest Africa, on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts.
Did you know?The English name ultimately comes through Spanish and Portuguese from Marrakesh, the former imperial capital of Morocco, showing how place names can shift as they pass through conquerors and traders.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Berber
Amazigh
Mṛṛakc
“The place name that became Marrakesh, likely referring to land or settlement in the region”
11th Century
Arabic
مراكش (Marrākush)
“Marrakesh, the imperial city whose name was used for the wider country”
Medieval Period
Spanish/Portuguese
Marruecos / Marrocos
“The land of Marrakesh; the country of Morocco”
16th Century
French
Maroc
“Morocco”
Modern English
English
Morocco
“The country of Morocco”