An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Zucker

by Friedrich Kluge

Zucker, m., ‘sugar,’ from the corresponding MidHG. zucker, zuker, m. (OHG. zucura, once only); comp. the corresponding Du. suiker, MidE. sucre, E. sugar, Ic. sẏkr, Dan. sukker, Swed. socker. The word was borrowed from MidLat. zucara, which is derived in the first instance from Arab. sokkar, assokhar; from the same source the Rom. class Fr. sucre and Ital. zucchero are obtained. Span. azúcar was directly adopted from the Arabs, who cultivated the sugarcane in Spain. Comp. further Lat. saccharum, Gr. σάκχαρ, σάκχαρον, Pers. schakar, Sans. çarkarâ, ‘granulated sugar,’ Prakrit sakkara. The primit. source of the word is probably India.