Tangier
/tænˈdʒɪr/noun
A major port city in northwestern Morocco, at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar.
Did you know?The city’s name passed through several languages over centuries, and English Tangier ultimately reflects the long, layered history of a strategic harbor that was known to Greek and Roman geographers long before modern Morocco.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Tingis
“An ancient name for the settlement/region at the Strait of Gibraltar”
Roman Era
Latin
Tingis
“The Roman name for the city and province center”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
Tanja
“The Arabic form of the city name”
Middle French
French
Tanger
“The French name for the Moroccan port”
16th Century
English
Tangier
“English form of the city name, referring to the North African port”