What Does Safari Mean?
A safari is a trip, often in Africa, to see wild animals in nature. People travel in a jeep, on foot or by boat.
It is a noun, and you can count it: one safari, two safaris.
We went on a safari in Kenya and saw lions.
A photo safari means taking pictures, not catching animals.
🔊 Pronunciation
suh-FAH-ree
The stress is on the middle part.
🗣️ Natural Examples
On safari, we saw elephants, giraffes and zebras.
The safari jeep bounced along the dusty road.
My uncle took a safari holiday for his birthday.
We visited a safari park, where the animals roam in big spaces.
She wore a safari hat to keep the sun off.
🛠️ How to Use It
Safari is a normal word for trips and holidays.
- Use on safari: We were on safari. Or use go on a safari.
- A safari park is a large park where wild animals live in open areas.
- A photo safari means taking photos of wildlife.
- Safari can describe a style: a safari jacket, safari boots.
🤝 Common Word Partners
- go on safari
- a safari holiday
- a photo safari
- a safari park
- a safari jeep
- a safari hat
👯 Similar and Related Words
- expedition: a long trip with a purpose.
- journey: a trip from one place to another.
- trek: a long, hard walk.
- tour: a planned trip with a guide.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
Spelling. There is no y at the end.
❌ safary, safarie
✅ safari
Use on.
❌ We went to safari last week.
✅ We went on safari last week.
A safari is a trip, not an animal.
❌ We saw a safari.
✅ We saw lions on safari.
💬 In a Conversation
Sam: Where are you going on holiday?
Mia: On safari.
Sam: Is that in Swahili?
Mia: Yes. Safari just means journey.
Sam: So I could go on a safari to the shop.
Mia: In Swahili, yes. With no lions.
🕵️ Where Does It Come From?
The word came into English from Swahili, where safari means "journey" or "expedition". Swahili took it from Arabic safar, "journey".
English recorded it as a foreign word in the 1860s. By 1890, it had its main English meaning: a long trip in East Africa, especially for hunting. Today, many safaris are about watching and photographing animals.
Like Jungle and Pajamas, safari is a word that travelled a long way to reach English.
💡 The OddLingo Trick
Remember: in Swahili, safari is any trip.
English made the word smaller. A safari went from "a journey" to "a journey to see wild animals".