Safari — Lexography

Journey of meaning

3 forms

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The safari journey, in text

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سَفَر · Arabic
noun · Arabic
Reading: sa-far
Journey. A journey, departure, or travel. The Arabic word has a broader range than the selected English wildlife-expedition sense. Dictionaries differ on whether safar or the related safarī was the immediate source.
c. 600s — Approximate textual period. A seventh-century Qur’anic context for the journey noun. The Birmingham manuscript contains other chapters; its radiocarbon date is not used to date this verse or this word’s origin.
Arabic / Arabian Peninsula — Approximate Glottolog language reference point. Not a word origin, borrowing location or historical border.
سَفَر (safar), Arabic: Journey. Wiktionary gives this Arabic source form. English > Etymology, prose account
safar → safari: borrowing. Wiktionary gives safar; Merriam-Webster gives the related Arabic form safarī. English > Etymology, prose account
Merriam-Webster reports Arabic safarī, “of a journey”, in its etymology. Word History > Etymology
Arabic سَفَر denotes departure, travel or a journey, including a military expedition. Arabic > Etymology 1.1 > Noun
The selected reading of سَفَر is /sa.far/ (Standard Arabic). Arabic > Etymology 1.1 > Pronunciation
Safar has a journey-sense Qur’anic reference. Chapter 2, verse 184, word 9
سَفَر: c. 600s — textual period. What is the Birmingham Qur’an? > introductory historical context
سَفَر is classified as noun for this Arabic stage. Arabic > Etymology 1.1 > Noun
Regional orientation uses Glottolog’s reference point stan1318. LanguageTable row stan1318; Latitude, Longitude (rounded where needed).
safari · Swahili
noun · Swahili
Reading: sah-FAH-ree
Journey. A journey or trip, without necessarily implying wildlife or hunting. The Swahili word is the immediate source identified for the English expedition sense.
By 1859 — Approximate inferred bound. English use in 1859 gives its Swahili source a latest-possible bound. The journey word may be substantially older; this does not date its first use in Swahili.
Swahili reference region / East Africa — Approximate Glottolog language reference point. Not a word origin, borrowing location or historical border.
safari (safari), Swahili: Journey. The Swahili word is the immediate source for English. English > Etymology, prose account
safar → safari: borrowing. Wiktionary gives safar; Merriam-Webster gives the related Arabic form safarī. English > Etymology, prose account
safari → safari: borrowing. The source identifies this connection. English > Etymology, prose account
Swahili safari denotes a journey or trip and, separately, a time or instance; the entry derives it from Arabic safar. Swahili > Etymology; Noun
The selected reading of safari is /sɑˈfɑ.ɾi/ (Present-day Unguja Standard Swahili). Swahili > Pronunciation
Swahili safari is the source in the English borrowing account. English > Etymology
safari: By 1859 — inferred bound. Word History > First Known Use, Noun
safari is classified as noun for this Swahili stage. Swahili > Etymology; Noun
Regional orientation uses Glottolog’s reference point swah1253. LanguageTable row swah1253; Latitude, Longitude (rounded where needed).
safari · English
noun · English
Reading: suh-FAH-ree
An expedition, especially for hunting or observing wildlife. An expedition associated with hunting, viewing or photographing wildlife. English also extends safari to other exploratory trips, so specialization describes the selected sense rather than every modern use.
1859 — First known use reported by the source, not the origin of the word.
English reference region / Britain — Approximate Glottolog language reference point. Not a word origin, borrowing location or historical border.
safari (safari), English: An expedition, especially for hunting or observing wildlife. English develops a more specialized expedition sense. English > Etymology, prose account; English noun/verb definitions for the displayed sense
safari → safari: borrowing. The source identifies this connection. English > Etymology, prose account
English safari denotes an expedition, particularly a hunting expedition in Africa. Definition sense 1; Kids Definition
English safari: 1859. First known use reported by the source, not the origin of the word. Word History > First Known Use; the specified part of speech / sense
A journey or expedition to observe, photograph, or hunt wild animals, especially in Africa. By extension, the word can describe other trips made to explore or seek something. English > Noun
The selected reading of safari is /səˈfɑːɹ.i/ (Present-day British English). English > Pronunciation
safari is classified as noun for this English stage. English > Noun
Safari can denote the hunting expedition’s caravan and equipment, the expedition itself, or a journey more generally. The dictionary dates its first English use to 1859. Noun > senses 1–2; Etymology; First Known Use
Regional orientation uses Glottolog’s reference point stan1293. LanguageTable row stan1293; Latitude, Longitude (rounded where needed).

Relationships

safar → safari: borrowing, qualified. Wiktionary gives safar; Merriam-Webster gives the related Arabic form safarī. English > Etymology, prose account

safari → safari: borrowing, documented. The source identifies this connection. English > Etymology, prose account

Inspect the evidence 26 claims

Open a claim to follow the source and our interpretation.

01سَفَر (safar), Arabic: Journey. Wiktionary gives this Arabic source form.
Source
safari — English and Swahili entriesEnglish Wiktionary contributorsEnglish > Etymology, prose account
Source passage
Excerpt
Borrowed from Swahili safari (“journey”), borrowed from Arabic سَفَر (safar).
English > Etymology
Qualification Source-supported
The excerpt shows the source’s form or etymological account. The concise meaning and explanation are Lexography’s reading of the entry.
What Lexography infers
We show safar as a Arabic stage for safari. Time context is recorded in the separate period evidence; this lexical excerpt alone does not supply a first-use date.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 91984194. CC BY-SA 4.0; selected and adapted with attribution Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
02Regional orientation uses Glottolog’s reference point stan1318.
Source
Glottolog 5.3 — language reference coordinatesHammarström, Forkel, Haspelmath & Bank; Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyLanguageTable row stan1318; Latitude, Longitude (rounded where needed).
Source passage
Reference record
stan1318 · Standard Arabic · Latitude 27.9625 · Longitude 43.8525
LanguageTable row stan1318; Name, Latitude, Longitude
Qualification Reference only
This is a language reference coordinate. It is not evidence of where this word originated, was borrowed or travelled.
What Lexography infers
We use this point to orient safar on the map, with an approximate region label. It adds no historical route or border claim.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 072ca0d0410039fb8b779be8fc165bac575d2cda. CC BY 4.0; selected coordinates, rounded for regional orientation
03safari (safari), Swahili: Journey. The Swahili word is the immediate source for English.
Source
safari — English and Swahili entriesEnglish Wiktionary contributorsEnglish > Etymology, prose account
Source passage
Excerpt
Borrowed from Swahili safari (“journey”), borrowed from Arabic سَفَر (safar).
English > Etymology
Qualification Source-supported
The excerpt shows the source’s form or etymological account. The concise meaning and explanation are Lexography’s reading of the entry.
What Lexography infers
We show safari as a Swahili stage for safari. Time context is recorded in the separate period evidence; this lexical excerpt alone does not supply a first-use date.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 91984194. CC BY-SA 4.0; selected and adapted with attribution Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
04Regional orientation uses Glottolog’s reference point swah1253.
Source
Glottolog 5.3 — language reference coordinatesHammarström, Forkel, Haspelmath & Bank; Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyLanguageTable row swah1253; Latitude, Longitude (rounded where needed).
Source passage
Reference record
swah1253 · Swahili · Latitude -8.25605 · Longitude 37.624
LanguageTable row swah1253; Name, Latitude, Longitude
Qualification Reference only
This is a language reference coordinate. It is not evidence of where this word originated, was borrowed or travelled.
What Lexography infers
We use this point to orient safari on the map, with an approximate region label. It adds no historical route or border claim.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 072ca0d0410039fb8b779be8fc165bac575d2cda. CC BY 4.0; selected coordinates, rounded for regional orientation
05safari (safari), English: An expedition, especially for hunting or observing wildlife. English develops a more specialized expedition sense.
Source
safari — English and Swahili entriesEnglish Wiktionary contributorsEnglish > Etymology, prose account; English noun/verb definitions for the displayed sense
Source passage
Excerpt
Borrowed from Swahili safari (“journey”), borrowed from Arabic سَفَر (safar).
English > Etymology
Qualification Source-supported
The excerpt shows the source’s form or etymological account. The concise meaning and explanation are Lexography’s reading of the entry.
What Lexography infers
We show safari as a English stage for safari. The period is supported by a separate dated claim.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 91984194. CC BY-SA 4.0; selected and adapted with attribution Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
06Regional orientation uses Glottolog’s reference point stan1293.
Source
Glottolog 5.3 — language reference coordinatesHammarström, Forkel, Haspelmath & Bank; Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary AnthropologyLanguageTable row stan1293; Latitude, Longitude (rounded where needed).
Source passage
Reference record
stan1293 · English · Latitude 53.0 · Longitude -1.0
LanguageTable row stan1293; Name, Latitude, Longitude
Qualification Reference only
This is a language reference coordinate. It is not evidence of where this word originated, was borrowed or travelled.
What Lexography infers
We use this point to orient safari on the map, with an approximate region label. It adds no historical route or border claim.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 072ca0d0410039fb8b779be8fc165bac575d2cda. CC BY 4.0; selected coordinates, rounded for regional orientation
07safar → safari: borrowing. Wiktionary gives safar; Merriam-Webster gives the related Arabic form safarī.
Source
safari — English and Swahili entriesEnglish Wiktionary contributorsEnglish > Etymology, prose account
Source passage
Excerpt
Borrowed from Swahili safari (“journey”), borrowed from Arabic سَفَر (safar).
English > Etymology
Qualification Qualified
Wiktionary gives safar; Merriam-Webster gives the related Arabic form safarī.
What Lexography infers
We connect safar (Arabic) to safari (Swahili) as borrowing. Any line on the map is schematic, not a documented physical itinerary.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 91984194. CC BY-SA 4.0; selected and adapted with attribution Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
08safari → safari: borrowing. The source identifies this connection.
Source
safari — English and Swahili entriesEnglish Wiktionary contributorsEnglish > Etymology, prose account
Source passage
Excerpt
Borrowed from Swahili safari (“journey”), borrowed from Arabic سَفَر (safar).
English > Etymology
Qualification Source-supported
The source identifies this connection.
What Lexography infers
We connect safari (Swahili) to safari (English) as borrowing. Any line on the map is schematic, not a documented physical itinerary.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 91984194. CC BY-SA 4.0; selected and adapted with attribution Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
09English safari denotes an expedition, particularly a hunting expedition in Africa.
Source
safari — Word History & definitionsMerriam-WebsterDefinition sense 1; Kids Definition
Source passage
Excerpt
a hunting expedition especially in eastern Africa
Kids Definition
Qualification Source-supported
The excerpt shows the source’s form or etymological account. The concise meaning and explanation are Lexography’s reading of the entry.
What Lexography infers
We show safari as a English stage for safari. The period is supported by a separate dated claim.
Checked 2026-09-13. Copyright Merriam-Webster; brief attributed excerpts and factual summaries only; no full article redistribution
10Merriam-Webster reports Arabic safarī, “of a journey”, in its etymology.
Source
safari — Word History & definitionsMerriam-WebsterWord History > Etymology
Source passage
Excerpt
Arabic safarī of a journey
Word History > Etymology
Qualification Source-supported
The excerpt shows the source’s form or etymological account. The concise meaning and explanation are Lexography’s reading of the entry.
What Lexography infers
We show safar as a Arabic stage for safari. Time context is recorded in the separate period evidence; this lexical excerpt alone does not supply a first-use date.
Checked 2026-09-13. Copyright Merriam-Webster; brief attributed excerpts and factual summaries only; no full article redistribution
11English safari: 1859. First known use reported by the source, not the origin of the word.
Source
safari — Word History & definitionsMerriam-WebsterWord History > First Known Use; the specified part of speech / sense
Source passage
Excerpt
1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Word History > First Known Use, Noun
Qualification Qualified
First known use reported by the source, not the origin of the word.
What Lexography infers
We place safari at 1859 on the recorded-evidence scale. This does not date the origin of the word.
Checked 2026-09-13. Copyright Merriam-Webster; brief attributed excerpts and factual summaries only; no full article redistribution
12A journey or expedition to observe, photograph, or hunt wild animals, especially in Africa. By extension, the word can describe other trips made to explore or seek something.
Source
safari — English and Swahili entriesEnglish Wiktionary contributorsEnglish > Noun
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
A journey or expedition to observe, photograph, or hunt wild animals, especially in Africa. By extension, the word can describe other trips made to explore or seek something.
English > Noun
Qualification Source-supported
This is an editorial summary of the selected present-day senses, not a claim that every sense existed at the earliest date.
What Lexography infers
Give the searched entry a fuller, readable definition and keep historical changes separately sourced.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 91984194. CC BY-SA 4.0; selected and adapted with attribution Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
13The selected reading of safari is /səˈfɑːɹ.i/ (Present-day British English).
Source
safari — English and Swahili entriesEnglish Wiktionary contributorsEnglish > Pronunciation
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
Present-day British English: /səˈfɑːɹ.i/.
English > Pronunciation
Qualification Qualified
This is a present-day dictionary reading, not a reconstruction of pronunciation at the displayed historical date.
What Lexography infers
The readable guide “suh-FAH-ree” is Lexography’s approximation of this cited pronunciation, not a separate source transcription.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 91984194. CC BY-SA 4.0; selected and adapted with attribution Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
14Arabic سَفَر denotes departure, travel or a journey, including a military expedition.
Source
سفر — Arabic entryEnglish Wiktionary contributorsArabic > Etymology 1.1 > Noun
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
Arabic سَفَر denotes departure, travel or a journey, including a military expedition.
Arabic > Etymology 1.1 > Noun
Qualification Source-supported
This records the specified language and sense. Other homographs and historical periods are not interchangeable.
What Lexography infers
Use this lexical record to describe the selected stage; a dictionary definition alone does not date its borrowing.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 92019334. Adapted from English Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0; source revision retained. Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
15Swahili safari denotes a journey or trip and, separately, a time or instance; the entry derives it from Arabic safar.
Source
safari — English and Swahili entriesEnglish Wiktionary contributorsSwahili > Etymology; Noun
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
Swahili safari denotes a journey or trip and, separately, a time or instance; the entry derives it from Arabic safar.
Swahili > Etymology; Noun
Qualification Source-supported
This records the specified language and sense. Other homographs and historical periods are not interchangeable.
What Lexography infers
Use this lexical record to describe the selected stage; a dictionary definition alone does not date its borrowing.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 91984194. CC BY-SA 4.0; selected and adapted with attribution Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
16The selected reading of سَفَر is /sa.far/ (Standard Arabic).
Source
سفر — Arabic entryEnglish Wiktionary contributorsArabic > Etymology 1.1 > Pronunciation
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
Standard Arabic: /sa.far/.
Arabic > Etymology 1.1 > Pronunciation
Qualification Qualified
Both vowels are short; lower-case syllables do not assert stress. This is a present-day dictionary reading, not a reconstruction of pronunciation at the displayed historical date.
What Lexography infers
The readable guide “sa-far” is Lexography’s approximation of this cited pronunciation, not a separate source transcription.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 92019334. Adapted from English Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0; source revision retained. Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
17The selected reading of safari is /sɑˈfɑ.ɾi/ (Present-day Unguja Standard Swahili).
Source
safari — English and Swahili entriesEnglish Wiktionary contributorsSwahili > Pronunciation
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
Present-day Unguja Standard Swahili: /sɑˈfɑ.ɾi/.
Swahili > Pronunciation
Qualification Qualified
The r is tapped. This is a present-day dictionary reading, not a reconstruction of pronunciation at the displayed historical date.
What Lexography infers
The readable guide “sah-FAH-ree” is Lexography’s approximation of this cited pronunciation, not a separate source transcription.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 91984194. CC BY-SA 4.0; selected and adapted with attribution Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
18The selected English wildlife-expedition sense is more specialized than Swahili journey.
Source
safari — English and Swahili entriesEnglish Wiktionary contributorsSwahili > Etymology; Noun; English > Noun
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
Swahili safari denotes a journey or trip and, separately, a time or instance; the entry derives it from Arabic safar.
Swahili > Etymology; Noun
Source summary · not a quotation
A journey or expedition to observe, photograph, or hunt wild animals, especially in Africa. By extension, the word can describe other trips made to explore or seek something.
English > Noun
Qualification Qualified
English also has extended uses for other exploratory trips. No precise date of narrowing is asserted.
What Lexography infers
Classify this selected sense comparison as narrowing; do not claim every English use is restricted to wildlife.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 91984194. CC BY-SA 4.0; selected and adapted with attribution Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
19Safar has a journey-sense Qur’anic reference.
Source
Safar — journey in Qur’an 2:184Quranic Arabic Corpus, University of LeedsChapter 2, verse 184, word 9
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
The corpus identifies safarin at 2:184:9 as a noun meaning a journey.
Chapter 2, verse 184, word 9
Qualification Qualified
This is a lexical reference to the received text, not a claim about a dated physical witness of this verse.
What Lexography infers
Use this evidence only at the stated level: a written example, contextual period or latest-possible bound. It does not establish the origin of the form, its entire sense range, or the date of borrowing.
Checked 2026-09-11. Linked publication retains its own terms; brief original factual summaries only.
20سَفَر: c. 600s — textual period.
Source
Qur’an — early textual contextCadbury Research Library, University of BirminghamWhat is the Birmingham Qur’an? > introductory historical context
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
The account explains the traditional revelation period of 610–632 and codification around 650.
What is the Birmingham Qur’an? > introductory historical context
Qualification Qualified
A seventh-century Qur’anic context for the journey noun. The Birmingham manuscript contains other chapters; its radiocarbon date is not used to date this verse or this word’s origin.
What Lexography infers
Use this evidence only at the stated level: a written example, contextual period or latest-possible bound. It does not establish the origin of the form, its entire sense range, or the date of borrowing.
Checked 2026-09-11. Linked publication retains its own terms; brief original factual summaries only.
21Swahili safari is the source in the English borrowing account.
Source
safari — English and Swahili entriesEnglish Wiktionary contributorsEnglish > Etymology
Source passage
Excerpt
Borrowed from Swahili safari (“journey”), borrowed from Arabic سَفَر (safar).
English > Etymology
Qualification Qualified
The bound is conditional on this selected etymological account.
What Lexography infers
Use this evidence only at the stated level: a written example, contextual period or latest-possible bound. It does not establish the origin of the form, its entire sense range, or the date of borrowing.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 91984194. CC BY-SA 4.0; selected and adapted with attribution Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
22safari: By 1859 — inferred bound.
Source
safari — Word History & definitionsMerriam-WebsterWord History > First Known Use, Noun
Source passage
Excerpt
1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Word History > First Known Use, Noun
Qualification Qualified
English use in 1859 gives its Swahili source a latest-possible bound. The journey word may be substantially older; this does not date its first use in Swahili.
What Lexography infers
Use this evidence only at the stated level: a written example, contextual period or latest-possible bound. It does not establish the origin of the form, its entire sense range, or the date of borrowing.
Checked 2026-09-13. Copyright Merriam-Webster; brief attributed excerpts and factual summaries only; no full article redistribution
23سَفَر is classified as noun for this Arabic stage.
Source
سفر — Arabic entryEnglish Wiktionary contributorsArabic > Etymology 1.1 > Noun
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
Arabic سَفَر denotes departure, travel or a journey, including a military expedition.
Arabic > Etymology 1.1 > Noun
Qualification Source-supported
Classifies the selected lexical sense from its dictionary section; other senses, grammatical uses and the date of first use are not inferred.
What Lexography infers
Classifies the selected lexical sense from its dictionary section; other senses, grammatical uses and the date of first use are not inferred.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 92019334. Adapted from English Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0; source revision retained. Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
24safari is classified as noun for this Swahili stage.
Source
safari — English and Swahili entriesEnglish Wiktionary contributorsSwahili > Etymology; Noun
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
Swahili safari denotes a journey or trip and, separately, a time or instance; the entry derives it from Arabic safar.
Swahili > Etymology; Noun
Qualification Source-supported
Classifies the selected lexical sense from its dictionary section; other senses, grammatical uses and the date of first use are not inferred.
What Lexography infers
Classifies the selected lexical sense from its dictionary section; other senses, grammatical uses and the date of first use are not inferred.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 91984194. CC BY-SA 4.0; selected and adapted with attribution Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
25safari is classified as noun for this English stage.
Source
safari — English and Swahili entriesEnglish Wiktionary contributorsEnglish > Noun
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
A journey or expedition to observe, photograph, or hunt wild animals, especially in Africa. By extension, the word can describe other trips made to explore or seek something.
English > Noun
Qualification Source-supported
Classifies the selected lexical sense from its dictionary section; other senses, grammatical uses and the date of first use are not inferred.
What Lexography infers
Classifies the selected lexical sense from its dictionary section; other senses, grammatical uses and the date of first use are not inferred.
Checked 2026-09-11 · revision 91984194. CC BY-SA 4.0; selected and adapted with attribution Link formatting and spacing normalized; summaries are labeled.
26Safari can denote the hunting expedition’s caravan and equipment, the expedition itself, or a journey more generally. The dictionary dates its first English use to 1859.
Source
safari — Word History & definitionsMerriam-WebsterNoun > senses 1–2; Etymology; First Known Use
Source passage
Source summary · not a quotation
Safari can denote the hunting expedition’s caravan and equipment, the expedition itself, or a journey more generally. The dictionary dates its first English use to 1859.
Noun > senses 1–2; Etymology; First Known Use
Qualification Source-supported
The selected wildlife sense is one specialisation; broader journey use is still recorded. The Arabic source is given here as safarī, unlike the safar account.
What Lexography infers
Use this evidence for the specified form or sense; the presentation is an editorial summary.
Checked 2026-09-13. Copyright Merriam-Webster; brief attributed excerpts and factual summaries only; no full article redistribution