Where does “mallam” come from?

mallam (English) comes from Zou lám, from Proto-Kuki-Chin *lam, from Proto-Sino-Tibetan lam — road, way, path.

mallam (English): In Africa, a teacher of the Qur'an

Definitions

  1. In Africa, a teacher of the Qur'an

Ancestry of “mallam”, step by step

mallam traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Zou lám

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Zoulámside
2Proto-Kuki-Chin*lam—
3Proto-Sino-Tibetanlamroad, way, path

via Arabic مُعَلِّم

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Arabicمُعَلِّمteacher

via Zou mâl

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Zoumâlback of a thigh
Every word from Proto-Sino-Tibetan lam →Every word from Proto-Kuki-Chin *lam →Every word from Zou lám →