Bombaim is the historical Portuguese name for the Indian city presently known as Mumbai, formerly called Bombay in English. The designation originated during the period of Portuguese presence in the region (1534–1661) when the archipelago of seven islands that now constitute the city came under the control of the Portuguese East Indies. Contemporary Portuguese documents, such as the 16th‑century chronicle Lendas da Índia by Gaspar Correia, recorded the name “Bombaim” (also rendered “Bom Baim” or “Bom Bahia”) for the island group 【2†L0-L6】.
Etymology
The Portuguese term is generally understood as a phonetic adaptation of the local Marathi name “Mumbaī,” itself derived from the name of the patron deity Mumbadevi. Some secondary sources have suggested that “Bombaim” may have been interpreted as “good bay” (from Portuguese bom ‘good’ + baía ‘bay’), but linguistic analysis indicates that this folk etymology is unlikely and not supported by contemporary evidence 【2†L7-L9】.
Historical usage
- Portuguese administration (1534–1661): After the Treaty of Bassein (1534), the Portuguese governed the islands and referred to them by various names, ultimately standardising the written form “Bom Baim” in official correspondence and maps 【1†L0-L6】.
- Transition to British control: The islands were transferred to the English Crown as part of the dowry of Catherine of Braganza in 1661. The English Anglicised the Portuguese name to “Bombay,” which remained in official use until the city was renamed “Mumbai” in 1995.
Modern relevance
The term “Bombaim” survives primarily in historical scholarship, archival documents, and occasional cultural references that discuss the Portuguese era of the city’s history. It is not used in contemporary geographic nomenclature.
References
- History of Bombay under Portuguese rule (1534–1661), Wikipedia. The article notes that the Portuguese called the island “Bom Baim” during their administration.
- “The Portuguese History of Mumbai,” Portuguese Asia (2023). This source explains the derivation of “Bombaim” from the Marathi name and discusses the unlikely “good bay” interpretation.