'European-looking' is a compound formed from the adjective 'European' and the present-participle adjective-forming element 'looking' (from the verb 'look'). 'European' ultimately derives from 'Europe' with the suffix '-an' meaning 'of or relating to'.

'Europe' comes from Latin 'Europa', which in turn comes from Greek 'Europa'. The adjective 'European' was formed in English from 'Europe' + '-an'. The word 'look' comes from Old English 'lōcian'/'locian' meaning 'to look', and the compound 'European-looking' is a modern English formation combining these elements to mean 'appearing European'.

Originally 'European' simply meant 'of or relating to Europe'; 'look' meant 'to direct one's sight' or 'appear'. Over time the compound came to mean specifically 'having an appearance or style that suggests Europe or Europeans.'