Wissen Forum • Origin and history of the word "djinn"

Origin and history of the word "djinn"

The word *jinn* derives from the Semitic root GNN (Arabic جَنّ / جُنّ, *gann*) — meaning "invisible," "to hide," or "mad" — and denotes a type of spirit, demon, or guardian deity. Some linguists trace its disputed origin to the Latin word *genius*, while others point to the Aramaic word *ginnaya*, which signifies a deity; however, the precise origin of the word remains uncertain.