Where did the word sampaguita come from?

The word "sampaguita" comes from the Tagalog language, a major language spoken in the Philippines.

Here's the breakdown:

* "Sampaguita" is derived from the Tagalog word "sampaga" which means "a kind of jasmine".

* The suffix "-ita" is a diminutive suffix in Tagalog, indicating "small" or "little".

Therefore, the word "sampaguita" literally translates to "small jasmine" in Tagalog.

This name accurately describes the plant, as the sampaguita flower is a small, white flower with a delicate and sweet fragrance, similar to jasmine.