Where does “bwana” come from?
bwana (Swahili) comes from Arabic أب, from Proto-Semitic ʔabw-, from Proto-Afroasiatic ʔab-.
bwana (Swahili): master, lord; mister, Mr; boss
Definitions
- master, lord; mister, Mr; boss
Ancestry of “bwana”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Arabic | أب | father; ancestor, forefather; second-person... |
| 2 | Proto-Semitic | ʔabw- | father |
| 3 | Proto-Afroasiatic | ʔab- | — |
Words derived from “bwana”