Where does “bwana” come from?

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

bwana (Swahili): master, lord; mister, Mr; boss

Definitions

  1. master, lord; mister, Mr; boss

Ancestry of “bwana”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Arabicأبfather; ancestor, forefather; second-person...
2Proto-Semiticʔabw-father
3Proto-Afroasiaticʔab-father

Words derived from “bwana”

Every word from Proto-Afroasiatic ʔab- →Every word from Proto-Semitic ʔabw- →Every word from Arabic أب →