English 'safari' comes from Swahili, where it means simply 'journey,' borrowed in turn from Arabic 'safar' (travel) — the specialized sense of a wildlife expedition in the African bush is an English semantic addition that does not exist in the source languages.
An expedition to observe or hunt animals in their natural habitat, especially in East Africa.
From Swahili 'safari' (journey, expedition), from Arabic 'safar' (سفر, journey, travel). The Arabic word derives from the root s-f-r (to travel, to journey). The word entered English through the accounts of European explorers in East Africa, particularly Richard Burton and John Hanning Speke, who used it in their published narratives of expeditions to find the source of the Nile. In Swahili, 'safari' simply means any journey; the specialized sense of a wildlife expedition developed in English. Key roots: s-f-r (س-ف-ر) (Arabic: "to
In Swahili, 'safari njema' is the standard farewell — 'good journey.' The word has no inherent connection to animals or wildlife. An urban bus ride in Nairobi is a 'safari,' as is a walk to the market. The glamorous, khaki-clad wildlife expedition is an English invention projected onto an ordinary Swahili travel word. Apple's web browser 'Safari,' launched in 2003, plays on the exploration metaphor
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