Sicilia
/sɪˈsɪliə/noun
The Latin name for Sicily, the large island in the Mediterranean Sea.
Did you know?The origin of Sicilia is uncertain, but it likely preserves a pre-Latin island name from peoples who lived there before Greek and Roman control, which is why its true root remains a historical mystery.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Classical Antiquity
Pre-Latin
*Sikelia / *Sicilia
“An indigenous or pre-Greek name for the island, later adopted by Greeks and Romans.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Σικελία (Sikelía)
“The island of Sicily.”
Classical Latin
Latin
Sicilia
“Sicily, the island and Roman province.”
Old French
Old French
Sicile
“Sicily.”
Middle English
English
Sicile / Sicily
“The island of Sicily.”