2933: Oranges and Oranges Jan 1, 2025

The connection between the Spanish word 'naranja' (orange) and the Afrikaans 'naartjie' (clementine) is not merely linguistic, but shows a brief history of trade around India. Both words probably ultimately derive from the Sanskrit नारङ्ग (nāraṅga), which referred to the orange fruit. The term passed from Sanskrit into Persian as نارنگ (nārang), and from there it entered Arabic as نارنج  (naranj), a word still used today for the fruit. The Arabic 'naranj' influenced several European languages, including Spanish, where it became 'naranja' in the 12th century, likely brought back to Spain by the Moors who had extensive trade connections with the East. 

In the case of Afrikaans, the word 'naartjie' (clementine, or mandarin oranges as opposed to navel oranges) evolved through Dutch, which had its own trade routes to India and Southeast Asia, where oranges were cultivated. The Dutch likely encountered the fruit in the region in specifically southern India, likely through a Dravidian language. From Dutch, 'naartjie' made its way into Afrikaans during the colonial era in South Africa. Meanwhile, the word for ‘orange’, ‘oranje’, comes from the same Sanskrit →Persian →Arabic path as everything else.