The origin of the English word “saffron” is not entirely clear. It may derive from the 12th-century Old French term saffron, which in turn derives from the Latin word safranum, from the Arabic za’farān, which derives from the Persian word Zarparan, meaning “gold-studded” (implying either the golden stamens of the flower or the golden color it produces when used as a spice). saffron names in different languages are given below.