Moringa - The names

 

When treating this genus we went well out of our way to find African names. We did not find them on sites calling for biodiversity preservation. Why bother with vernacular when the botanical names are well known ? How many Africans working in the field are familiar with botanical latin ? Taxonomists and people in the field have to communicate with each other if anything worthwhile is to be achieved. We were saying this 40 years ago. Attitudes do not appear to have changed much in 2026.

Moringa arborea Verdcourt

ARABIC : بان شجري ban shajari.

ENGLISH : Kenyan moringa.

Moringa borziana Mattei

Hyperanthera borziana (Mattei) Chiov. 

BORANA : Saffara (Kenya). 

ENGLISH : Borzi's Drumstick, Kenyan moringa, Somalian moringa.

SOMALI : Borrant, Majindi, Fintir, Hawe, Haduma, Mawe, Mawow, Wame, Wuame (Somalia).

Moringa concanensis Nimmo ex Dalzell & A.Gibson

ENGLISH : Bitter drumstick tree, Indian moringa, Konkan moringa, Wild drumstick tree, Wild Indian horseradish tree. 

HINDI : जंगली सरगुआ Jangli sargua, Sargoda, सेंजन Senjana. 

KANNADA : ನುಗ್ಗೆ Nugge, ಕಾಡುನುಗ್ಗೆ Kaadu nugge. 

MALAYALAM : മുരിന്ഗാ Muringa.

MARATHI : मशींग Mashinga, रान शेवगा Ranshevaga.

SANSKRIT : मधुशिग्रुः Madhushigru, अक्षिव Aksiva, बहुलाद Bahulada, बहुपल्लव Bahupallava, बहुपत्रक Bahupatraka, Garbhapataka.

TAMIL :  காட்டு முருங்கை Kattu murunkai, முறுங்கை Murungai.

Moringa drouhardii Jumelle

ENGLISH :  Madagascar moringa.

MALAGASY :  Hazomalana, Maroserano, Moringy.

Moringa edulis Medik. ->  Moringa oleifera Lam.

Moringa hildebrandtii Engler

ENGLISH : Hildebrandt's moringa, Madagascar moringa.

MALAGASY : Felinimirongo, Hazomaroseranana, Maroseranana. 

Moringa longituba Engler

Hyperanthera longituba (Engl.) Chiov. 

BORANA : Saffara (Kenya).

ENGLISH : Ethiopian moringa, Kenyan moringa, Somalian moringa.

SOMALI : Borrant (Kenya), Fintir (Somalia, Majindi dialect), Haduma (Kenya), Hane (Ethiopia), Hawe (Somalia), Mane (Ethiopia), Make (Somalia), Mawow (Somalia), Wame (Somalia), Wuame (Somalia).

Moringa moringa (L.) Small -> Moringa oleifera Lam.

Moringa oleifera Lam.

Anoma moringa (L.) Lour., Guilandina moringa L., Hyperanthera decandra Willd., 

Hyperanthera moringa (L.) Vahl, Hyperanthera pterygosperma Oken, nom. illeg. superfl., Moringa amara Durin, Moringa domestica Buch.-Ham., Moringa edulis Medik., Moringa erecta Salisb., Moringa moringa (L.) Millsp., not validly publ., Moringa nux-eben Desf., Moringa octogona Stokes, Moringa parvifolia Noronha, nom. nud., Moringa polygona DC., Moringa pterygosperma Gaertn., nom. illeg. superfl., Moringa robusta Bojer, Moringa sylvestris Buch.-Ham., Moringa zeylanica Pers. 

AFRIKAANS : Behenneutboom, Moringaboom, Peperwortelboom.

AMHARIC : ሽፈራው shiferawi.

ARABIC : البان alban, بان زيتى ban zaytaa, حَبَّة غَالِيَة Habbah ghaliah, مورنغا murinja, رُوَاق Rawag, شَجَرَة الرُّوَاق Shagara al ruwag.

ASSAMESE : চজিনা chjina.

BAMBARA : Jirininbulu (Mali), Névrédé.

BARIBA : Yoroguma, Yorwata, Yuru ara (Benin, Nigeria).

BENGALI : সজনে sajane.

BIKOL : Kalunggay (Philippines).

BURMESE : ဒန့်သလွန် Seing han, သေင်ႏဟန်ႏဆျာယာႏ Seing Han Chya Ya (Pa’O), သေင်ႏဟန်ႏဆျာယာႏ 8Theing Han Hsa Ya (Pa’O), ဒန့်သလွန်  dan-tha-lun (dant-tha-lun). 

CATALAN : Arbre de l'oli de ben, Baqueter.

CHICHEWA : Cham'mwanba, Kalokola (Malawi).

CHINESE : 辣木 Là mù, 辣木叶 Là mù yè (Leaves), 辣木嫩果荚 Là mù nèn guǒ jiá (Pods/ Drumsticks), 辣木种子 Là mù zhǒngzǐ (Seeds), 辣木花 Là mù huā (Flowers), 辣木根 Là mù gēn (Root), 辣木根皮 Là mù gēn pí (Root bark), 辣木树胶质 Là mù shù jiāo zhí (Gum).

CZECH : Moringa olejná, Moringa olejodárná. 

DAGAARE : Ɔɔnyukõɔ teɛ.

DAGGAI :  Paizlava (Cameroon). 

DAGBANI : Jɛŋgbɛyɔɣirili. 

DJERMA : Windi-bundu, Zogalagandi, Zôgala gandi (Niger, Senegal).

DANISH : Behennødtræ, Moringa.

DAY : Haalem (Chad).

DHIVEHI : މުރަނގަ ތޮޅި muran'ga tholhi.

DIOLA : Binebeddai (Senegambia, West Africa).

ENGLISH :  Ben oil tree, Benzoil tree, Behen tree, Behn tree, Ben nut, Ben oil tree, Ben tree, Benzolive tree, Bridal veil, Drumstick tree, Horseradish tree, Horse-radish tree, Moringa, Maranga, West Indian ben.

ESTONIAN : Imepuu, Õli-rõigaspuu.

EWE : Yevu-ti (Ghana). 

FINNISH : Ceyloninmoringa. 

FRENCH : Ananambo (Madagascar), Arbre raifort, Bâton mouroum (Reunion), Ben ailée, Ben oléifère, Brède mouroun (Mauritius, Reunion), Brède mouroungue, Moringa ailée, Moringe à graine ailée, Nébédaye (Senegal), Néverdier (Senegal), Névrédé (Mali), Pois quénique.

FULFUDE : Djihiré (Cameroun), Gawara (Nigeria), Gligandjah (Cameroun), Giligandjahi, Guiligandja.

GERMAN : Behenbaum, Behennussbaum, Klärmittelbaum, Meerrettichbaum, Pferderettichbaum, Trommelstockbaum, Wunderbaum.

GREEK : Δέντρο Μόρινγκα Déntro Mórin'nka, θαυματουργό δέντρο thavmatourgó déntro.

GUJARATI :  સરગવો sargvo, સરગવાની સીંગ Saragva ni sing, સેકતાની સીંગ Sekta ni sing (pods).

HAUSA : Bagaruwar maka (Nigeria), Bagaruwar masar (Nigeria), Barambo, Danga, Koraukin zaila, Rimin nacara, Rimin turawa, Samarin, Shipka hali, Shuka halinka, Zogalagandi (Cameroun), Zôgala gandi, Zogale, Zogall, Zogall-gandi, 

Zogalla-gandi.

HEBREW : מורינגה מכונפת muringa mechonfet.

HINDI : ड्रमस्टिक ट्री drumstick tree, मोरिंगा ओलिफेरा moringa olifera, मुनगा munga, सहजन sahajan (sahjan), सहजना sahjana, सहुनजा Sahunajā, सौंजना saun̄janā, सेंजन senjan, सुजना sujana.

HUNGARIAN : Lóretekfa, Tormafa.

ICELANDIC : 

IGBO : Odudu oyibo, Okwe oyibo, Okwe olu, Uhe. 

ILOKANO : Komkompilan, Maruñgaai (Philippines).

ITALIAN : Sàndalo ceruleo.

JAPANESE : マルンガイ Marungai,  モリンガ・オレイフェラ   Marunga oreifera,  ワサビノキ Wasabi no ki,  わさびの木 Wasabi no ki, 山葵の木 Wasabi no ki.

KANNADA : ನುಗ್ಗೆಕಾಯಿ Nuggekāyi.

KHMER : ដើមម្រុំ daem mroum.

KONKANI : म्हशींग Mashinga. 

KOREAN : 모링가 moling-ga.

LATVIAN : Eļļainā moringa. 

LITHUANIAN : Aliejinė moringa.

LUGANDA : Molinga (Uganda).

MADURESE : Marongghi.

MALAGASY : Ananambo.

MALAY : Kacang kelor (Indonesia), Kalor, Kelo, Kelor, Kélor (Bali, Java), Kelur, Lemunggai, Merunggai, Moringa, Murông (Acèh), Pokok benzoil, Pokok kelor, Rambungai, Rembungai.

MALAYALAM : മൊരിൻഗ ഒളൈഫെറാ moringa olaiferra, മുരിങ്ങ muringa.

MARATHI : शेवगा shevaga.

NDEBELE : Umuguluka (Zimbabwe).

NEPALESE : सैजन Saijana.

NORWEGIAN : Livets tre, Mirakeltreet, Pepperrottre.

ORIYA : ସଜନା sajana.

PERSIAN : گز روغنی  goz rogheni, گز روغنی برگ goz rogheni barg (tree), گز روغنی درخت goz rogheni darkht (leaves),  گز روغنی غلاف  goz rogheni ghlaf (pod).

POLISH : Moringa olejodajna. 

PORTUGUESE : Acácia-branca (Brazil), Acácia branca, Akásia-branka (Cape Verde), Árvore-rabanete-de-cavalo (Brazil), Morangue (Timor), Moringa, Moringueiro (Brazil), Moxingo (india), Muringueiro, Quiabo-de-quina (Brazil).

PUNJABI : ਸੋਹਾਂਜਣਾਂ Sōhān̄jaṇāṁ, ਸੁਹਾਂਜਣਾ suhān̄jaṇā (East Punjab / India), سوہانجݨا Swḥạnjṇạ (West Punjab / Pakistan).

RUSSIAN : Моринга масляниста Moringa maslyanista, Моринга олейфера   Moringa oleifera.

SANSKRIT : शिग्रुः shigruh, Subhanjana.

SANTALI : ᱢᱩᱱᱜᱟ 

SARA : Kag n'dongue (Chad).

SHONA : Mupulanga (Zimbabwe).

SINHALESE :  මොරින්ගා ඔලිෆෙරා moringā oliferā, මොරින්ගා කරල් moringā karal (pods), මොරින්ගා කොළ moringā koḷa (leaves), මොරින්ගා ගස moringā gasa (tree), මුරුංගා muruṁgā.

SOMALI : Dangap (Somalia).

SPANISH : Ángela (Colombia), Arbol de las perlas, Arbol de los aspáragos, Ben (Venezuela), Jazzman francés (Colombia, Puerto Rico), Jacinto (Mexico), Libertad (Venezuela), Malungáy (Philippines), Maranga calalu, Marango, Palo de Abejas (Dominican Republic), Palo de aceite, Palo Jeringa (Cuba), Paraíso, Paraíso blanco (Central America), Perlas (Guatemala), Reseda, Terebinto (El Salvador).

SWAHILI : Mlonge, Mlongo, Mronge, Mrongo, Mkimbo (Kenya), Mzungu (Kenya), Mzunze.

SWEDISH : Pepparrotsträd.

TAGALOG : Kalungai, Kamalungai, Malunggay, Molongai (Philippines).

TAMIL :  முருங்கை Murungkai (Muruggai), முருங்கை கீரை Murungai keerai (Leaves),  முருங்கக்காய் Murungakkai (Pods), முருங்கை இலைகள் Murungai ilaigal (leaves).

TELUGU : మునగ Munaga (tree), మునగకాయ Munagakaya (Pods), మునగాకు Munagaku (Leaves).

THAI : กาแน้งเดิง Ka naeng doeng (Karen), มะค้อนก้อม Ma khon kom (Northern Thailand), มะรุม Má rum, ผักอีฮึม Phak i huem (Northeastern), ผักอีฮุม Phak i hum (Northeastern), ผักเนื้อไก่ Phak nuea kai, เส่ช่อยะ Se cho ya.

TULU : ನುರ್ಗೆ ಮರ Nurge mara.

UKRAINIAN : Моринга масляниста Moringa maslyanista.

URDU : مورینگا Moringa, شجماہ Shajmah, سوہانجنا Sohanjna.

VIETNAMESE : Cây chùm ngây, Chùm ngây, Rau chùm ngây.

VISAYAN : Balungai, Kamalongan, Malungit (Philippines). 

WOLOF : Nebedai.

XHOSA : iMoringa, Umthi wamayeza, Umthi wemoringa.

YORUBA : Ewé ilé (Benin), Ewe igbale, Ewé igbale, Ewé ilé, Idagbo monoye.

Moringa ovalifolia Dinter & A.Berger

Moringa ovalifoliolata Engl.

AFRIKAANS :  Meelsakboom (Namibia), Sprokiesboom.

ARABIC : بان بيضوي الأوراق ban bidawi al'awraq.

ENGLISH :  African moringo, Ghost tree, Namibian moringa, Phantom tree.

UNIDENTIFIED : Omutindi (Botswana, Namibia), Oluhongwe (Angola, Namibia).

Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori 

Gymnocladus arabica Lam., Hyperanthera aptera (Gaertn.) Steud., Hyperanthera arborea J.F.Gmel., Hyperanthera monodynama Vilm., Hyperanthera peregrina Forssk., Hyperanthera semidecandra Vahl, Moringa aptera Gaertn., Moringa arabica (Lam.) Pers., Moringa myrepsica Thell. 

ARABIC :   Al bân (tree) , Al Yassar, El bân, Habb al bân (fruit), Ithi, Jasaar, Shagara al rauwãq (Sudan), Vassar, Yassar.

ENGLISH : Wispy-needled yasar tree, Wild drumstick tree.

GERMAN : Echter Bennußbaum.

HEBREW : מוֹרִינְגָּה רָתְמִית morinegah ratemit.

SOMALI : Dangap, Dongop, Dumok.

Moringa pygmaea Verdcourt

ENGLISH :  Somalian moringa.

SOMALI : Hawe, Mawe (Somalia), Mawow, Wame, Wuame.

Moringa rivae Chiov.

Hyperanthera rivae (Chiov.) Chiov. 

ENGLISH : Ethiopian moringa, Kenyan moringa.

Moringa rivae subsp. rivae

ENGLISH : Short-fruited Ethiopian moringa.

Moringa rivae subsp. longisiliqua Verdc.

ENGLISH :  Long-fruited Ethiopian moringa.

Moringa ruspoliana Engler

Hyperanthera ruspoliana (Engl.) Chiov. 

ENGLISH : Ethiopian moringa, Kenyan moringa.

Moringa stenopetala (Baker f.) Cufod. 

Donaldsonia stenopetala Baker f., Moringa streptocarpa Chiov. 

AMHARIC : ሽፈራው shiferaw, shiferawi, አሌኮ / ሐሌኮ Aleko (Southern Ethiopia).

ARABIC : بان ضيق التويجية ban diq altuwijia, بان ضيق التويجيه ban diq altuwijih.

BORANA : Etebusoit, Loresienjo (Kenya), Lorsenjo, Lossantscho (Kenya), Saffara.

BULGARIAN : Моринга стенопетала Moringa stenopetala.

CHINESE : 非洲辣木 Fēi zhōu là mù.

ENGLISH : African moringa, Cabbage tree, Ethiopian moringa, Kenyan moringa.

FRENCH : Moringa du Kenya, Moringa éthiopien.

ITALIAN : Moringa dell'Africa orientale.

JAPANESE : モリンガ・ステノペタラ Moringa sutenopetara.

SOMALI : Borrant (Kenya), Haduma (Kenya), Hawe (Somalia), Mau, Mawa, Mawali. Mawe, Mawow, Wame, Wuame (Somalia).

SWAHILI : Mau, Mawali, Mlonge, Mronge, Mlongelonge, Mkimbo, Mzunze, Mzungu.