Saturday, 7 March 2026

The French roots of the word 'parakeet'

'Parakeet' is a word borrowed from French 'peroquet'. The word entered the English language some time around 1581.


parakeet [noun] [1581]
Any of numerous usually small slender parrots with a long graduated tail
See 'parakeet' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from French.

note: Comes from a series of borrowed words from Spanish French and Italian with a Middle French origin. The French word paroquet is likely a diminutive of the name Pierre (Peter) possibly influenced by the Italian parrocchetto or Spanish periquito which literally mean little priest or little parrot.
Etymology: Spanish & Middle French; Spanish 'periquito' from Middle French 'perroquet' parrot
See more loan words from 1500s.


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