The word "dugong" derives from the Visayan (probably Cebuano) ''. The name was first adopted and popularized by the French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, as "dugon" in Histoire Naturelle (1765), after descriptions of the animal from the island of Leyte in the Philippines. The name ultimately derives from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *duyuŋ. Despite common misconception, the term does not come from Malay duyung and it does not mean "lady of the sea" (Mermaid).
the word "dugong" derives from the visayan (probably cebuano) '' the name was first adopted and popularized by the french naturalist georges-louis leclerc comte de buffon as "dugon" in histoire naturelle (1765) after descriptions of the animal from the island of leyte in the philippines the name ultimately derives from proto-malayo-polynesian *duyuŋ despite common misconception the term does not come from malay duyung and it does not mean "lady of the sea" (mermaid)