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What is the origin of the word "Djibouti" and is it French, Somali or Afar?

Do Djiboutians even know what their country's name stands for? and should they change their name if they don't know what it's?

Once Jay Leno make fun of it, saying it's Dj+booty!

I don't know man but I think it's french

IRONm@N wrote:Do Djiboutians even know what their country's name stands for? and should they change their name if they don't know what it's?

muslim-man wrote:I don't know man but I think it's french

Inaa lilaah...Jaahilnimada iyo kaalaxnimada kala reeba somaaliyeey


As to the name, somalis say that it means "jab" (downfall) "buti" (a man eating creature or a cannibal)...in other words, meeshi butida lagu jabiyey.

The Afars say it comes from the word Gabood...not quite sure what that means but up to this day there's an area in the city called gabood. In their contacts with the arabs, the word became Gabuut, Gabuuti, Jabuuti.

The name is derived from French General Jean Michel de la Djibouti. He founded present day Djiboutiville after he conquered the Afars and Issas.

Both ethnicities now claim that the name comes for their language and made up creative explanations to cover their shame.

Cinque Mtume wrote:The name is derived from French General Jean Michel de la Djibouti. He founded present day Djiboutiville after he conquered the Afars and Issas.

Both ethnicities now claim that the name comes for their language and made up creative explanations to cover their shame.

This is more closer to the truth --then what skippy is making up.

lool @ animal named Buti, meeshii Buti lagu jibiyay kulahaa! may be more like Jabaati

hopeless somalis

Forgive me Skip, just had to do it.

According to Wiki;

Named after the bottom point of the Gulf of Tadjoura. Possibly derived from the Afar word gabouti, a type of doormat made of palm fibres. Another plausible, but unproven, etymology is that "Djibouti" means "Land of Tehuti" or Land of Thoth, after the Egyptian Moon God.

I got this from comment on the youtube video

butiamawake (7 months ago)

Djibouti actually means; my casserol in 'Afar, the language of the 'Afar people, natives of Djibouti.

Why my casserol? "Yi buuti" ?
The colonial French power, officer sees woman with casserol , asks "what are you doing" (in french) she replies "aaaha yi buti" (in 'Afar)
Djibooooty.

Djibouti etymology, is neither Somali nor Afar.

The origina of the names comes from Yemen sailors arriving on the African coast where the local Issas deformed the Arabic words -- "the boat (bout) has arrived (dji)".

There you have it folks

since when does "boat" become arabic, I thought it was english.

Djibouti means Djabouti. Ok, I don't know but the name is cool. And please don't make fun of us reer Djibouti.

thanx 4 asking man. I always wanted 2 knw bt didnt want 2 cum across as racist.

The Name comes from an English word that a black English soldier said to couple who asked him why she was In their land. Instead she said Kiss My "Chubby Booty" so then the Name came as jibouti meaning chubby booty.

hanad_mn wrote:The Name comes from an English word that a black English soldier said to couple who asked him why she was In their land. Instead she said Kiss My "Chubby Booty" so then the Name came as jibouti meaning chubby booty.

Ceeb. Isla xishoo.