Selva
/ˈsɛlvə/noun
A dense tropical forest, especially one in the Amazon region.
Did you know?The word ultimately connects modern tropical rainforest imagery with Latin silva, the Roman word for a forest or wooded wilderness.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*selwā
“Reconstructed term associated with a wooded or forested place; the reconstruction is considered uncertain.”
Proto-Italic
Proto-Italic
*selwā
“Inherited Italic form meaning forest or woodland.”
Classical Latin
Latin
silva
“Forest, woodland, or uncultivated wooded land.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
silva
“Forest or wooded territory; the spelling sylva also appeared under Greek-influenced learned usage.”
16th Century
Spanish
selva
“Jungle, forest, or dense woodland.”
16th–17th Century
Portuguese
selva
“Forest or jungle, including the great tropical forests of South America.”
19th Century
English
selva
“A tropical rainforest, especially the Amazonian forest.”