Origami
/ˌɔːrɪˈɡɑːmi/noun
The Japanese art of folding paper into decorative or representational forms.
Did you know?The Japanese word kami can mean “paper” or “deity,” but these are homophones with different historical origins—so origami sounds more mystical than its actual etymology.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Japanese
Japanese
oru
“To fold or bend”
Classical Japanese
Japanese
kami
“Paper; a material made in sheets”
17th Century
Japanese
orikata
“Paper-folding or the manner of folding; an earlier term associated with folding techniques”
18th–19th Century
Japanese
origami
“A compound of ori, “folding,” and kami, “paper””
1880s
Japanese
origami
“The modern term became established in Japan for recreational and artistic paper folding”
20th Century
English
origami
“An English loanword for Japanese-style paper folding”
Explore more surprising origins