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Why the different names for hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones?

These storms are pretty much the same except for where they happen and which way they rotate so why not just give them a universal name? They are the exact same storm system (correct me if I'm wrong) so why should there location and rotation warrant a different name?

2 Answers

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  • 11 months ago

    Unlike most words that Spanish and English share because of their shared history with Latin, "hurricane" came to English directly from Spanish, where it is currently spelled huracán. But Spanish explorers and conquerers first picked up the word from Taino, an Arawak language from the Caribbean. According to most authorities, the Taino word huracan meant simply "storm. The fact that the Spaniards introduced the word to the English language is the reason that our word "hurricane" generally refers to tropical cyclones that have their origin in the Caribbean or Atlantic. The French typhon (typhoon) is attested with the meaning of whirlwind or storm since 1504. The Oxford English Dictionary cites Hindustani ṭūfān and Chinese tai fung giving rise to several early forms in English.

  • Anonymous
    11 months ago

    wrong forum.  belongs in trolling.

    this question has been asked and answered in this forum dozens of times.

    asking it again is pure trolling.

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