What Does Formosa Mean in Latin?

old name of Taiwan, given by the Portuguese, from Portuguese Formosa insula "beautiful island." The adjective is from the fem. of Latin formosus "beautiful, handsome, finely formed," from forma "form, shape" (see form (n.)). Related: Formosan (1640s).

What does Formosa mean?

From Portuguese formosa (“beautiful”), from Latin formosus (“beautifully formed”), from forma (“form, shape”) + the adjective suffix -osus (“full of”).

What is the origin of the word Formosa?

The name derives from the Latin name Formosus and Spanish word "fermoso", meaning "beautiful". Formosa, as the island of Taiwan was formerly known in the West, has the same linguistic origin - from the Portuguese Ilha Formosa ([ˌiʎɐ fuɾˈmɔzɐ]), "beautiful island".