Where does “раја” come from?
раја (Macedonian) comes from Ottoman Turkish رعایا, from Arabic رَعَايَا, from Arabic رَعِيَّة — subject; herd, flock; citizens, flock.
раја (Macedonian): rayah; commoners
Ancestry of “раја”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Ottoman Turkish | رعایا | — |
| 2 | Arabic | رَعَايَا | — |
| 3 | Arabic | رَعِيَّة | subject; herd, flock; citizens, flock |