Baby Today

The modern word, guitar, was adopted into English from Spanish guitarra, derived from the Latin confabulation cithara, which in circle was derived from the earlier Greek bulletin kithara, which perhaps derives from Persian sihtar. Sihtar itself is related to the Indian instrument, the sitar.
Illustration from a Carolingian Psalter from the 9th century, showing a guitar-like plucked instrument.
Illustration from a Carolingian Psalter from the 9th century, showing a guitar-like plucked instrument.

• The leading edge guitar is descended from the Roman cithara brought by the Romans to Hispania around 40 AD, and further adapted and developed with the arrival of the four-string oud, brought by the Moors after their conquest of the Iberian Fender Guitar peninsula in the 8th century. Elsewhere in Europe, the indigenous six-string Scandinavian lut (lute), had gained in popularity in areas of Viking incursions across the continent.