'arara' originates from Portuguese, specifically the word 'arara', which in turn comes from Tupi-Guarani 'arará' meaning 'macaw'.

'arara' was borrowed into Portuguese from the indigenous Tupi-Guarani word 'arará' and later adopted into English usage (especially in natural history and travel accounts) as 'arara'.

Initially it meant 'macaw' in the source language, and this basic meaning has been retained in English usage for the same group of parrots.