The plant name cannabis is from Greek κάνναβις (kánnabis), via Latin cannabis, originally a Scythian or Thracian word, also loaned into Persian as kanab. English hemp (Old English hænep) may be an early loan (predating Grimm’s Law) from the same source. In Hebrew the word is קַנַּבּוֹס [qan:a'bos].

The further origin of the Scythian term is uncertain, although it is possible that it traces back to the Assyrian word ‘qunubu’ (way to produce smoke) which was used to refer to the plant.