Terjiman
/ˈtɜːrdʒɪmən/noun
An interpreter or translator, especially in Middle Eastern diplomatic or commercial settings.
Did you know?Terjiman belongs to the same ancient word family as dragoman, the title used for interpreters serving Ottoman rulers, diplomats, and merchants.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Near East
Akkadian
targumannu
“Interpreter or translator; an early recorded form associated with diplomatic mediation.”
First Millennium BCE
Aramaic
meturgemān
“Interpreter or translator, literally a person who renders speech into another language.”
Late Antiquity
Arabic
tarjumān
“Interpreter or translator.”
Medieval Period
Persian
tarjomān
“Interpreter or translator; the term circulated widely through Persianate administrative culture.”
Ottoman Period
Ottoman Turkish
tercüman
“Interpreter, especially an official intermediary in diplomacy and administration.”
Modern English
English
terjiman
“A historical or variant English form meaning interpreter, related to dragoman.”
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