Oregano comes from Greek orīganon, possibly meaning 'mountain joy' — from oros (mountain) and ganos (brightness) — for a plant that thrives on sunny Mediterranean hillsides.
An aromatic herb of the mint family, used widely in Mediterranean and Mexican cooking.
From Spanish orégano, from Latin origanum, from Greek orīganon. The Greek word may be a compound of oros (mountain) and ganos (brightness, joy), making oregano literally 'mountain joy' or 'brightness of the mountain,' a poetic name for a plant that thrives on sunny Mediterranean hillsides. Key roots: oros (Greek: "mountain"), ganos (Greek: "brightness, joy, ornament").