Where does “bwana” come from?

bwana (Chichewa) comes from Swahili bwana, from Arabic أب, from Proto-Semitic ʔabw-, from Proto-Afroasiatic ʔab- — father.

bwana (Chichewa): boss, master

Definitions

  1. boss, master

Ancestry of “bwana”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swahilibwanamaster, lord; mister, Mr; boss
2Arabicأبfather; ancestor, forefather; second-person...
3Proto-Semiticʔabw-father
4Proto-Afroasiaticʔab-father
Every word from Proto-Afroasiatic ʔab- →Every word from Proto-Semitic ʔabw- →Every word from Arabic أب →