Search
Close this search box.

Etymology of “Taboo”

In 1777, British explorer and navigator Captain James Cook brought a linguistic discovery back to England. The word taboo, Cook wrote in A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean, encompassed an array of forbidden acts and behaviors in Tonga, a Polynesian archipelago. From the Proto-Polynesian word ta, meaning “mark” and bu, meaning “especially” comes the compound-word tabu. Various forms of this word exist on several Pacific islands: kapu in Hawaii and tapu in Tahiti.

Other Resources

What is social communication, and why is it so important?

We use it every time we go to a party, talk to a colleague, make a phone call, or go through the checkout line at the grocery store. Social communication is otherwise defined as the set of verbal and nonverbal...

Learn More

What is Social Communication, and Why is it so Important?

We use it every time we go to a party, talk to a colleague, make a phone call, or go through the checkout line at the grocery store. Social communication is otherwise defined as the set of verbal and nonverbal...
Learn More

Flex Your Mice? The Surprising Etymology of “Muscle”

What comes to mind when you think about muscles? Maybe it’s bodybuilders or protein shakes. But if you study the etymology of the word, you’ll get a clue as to what ancient Romans thought flexing looked like. Let’s take a...

Learn More

Contact Us

Get Started Today

Interested in our language services? Complete the form or call us during business hours (9 AM to 6:00 PM ET) at 800.895.8210.

Preparing for your test?

View our test prep materials or FAQ’s for common questions about taking a test.