what does tsunami mean

A tsunami is a series of very large, powerful sea waves usually caused by sudden movements of the ocean floor, such as underwater earthquakes, landslides, or volcanic eruptions.

What does “tsunami” mean?

• The word tsunami comes from Japanese and literally means “harbor wave.”

• It is written from the words tsu (harbor) and nami (wave).

People used this word because these waves often appear most dramatically and destructively when they enter bays and harbors, where the water suddenly rises and rushes inland.

How a tsunami behaves (quick scoop)

• A tsunami is not just one wave but a whole series of waves that can arrive over minutes to hours.

• Out in deep ocean, tsunami waves can travel as fast as a jet (up to about 800 km/h) but may only be tens of centimeters high.

• As they reach shallow coastal waters, they slow down and grow dramatically in height, sometimes reaching tens of meters.

• That is why tsunamis can flood coastal areas, destroy buildings and infrastructure, and carry debris far inland.

Many scientists avoid calling them “tidal waves,” because they are not caused by tides but by sudden displacement of large amounts of water.

TL;DR:
“Tsunami ” means “harbor wave” in Japanese and refers to a series of very large ocean waves usually caused by underwater earthquakes or other sudden seafloor movements that can powerfully flood coasts.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.