'Ethiopian' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'Aithiops,' where 'aitho' meant 'I burn' and 'ops' meant 'face,' referring to the sunburnt appearance of the people.

'Aithiops' transformed into the Latin word 'Aethiops,' and eventually became the modern English word 'Ethiopian' through Old English.

Initially, it referred to people with sunburnt faces, but over time it evolved into its current meaning of people from Ethiopia.