Where does “mwanaharamu” come from?

mwanaharamu (Swahili) comes from Swahili haramu, from Hausa haram, from Arabic حَرَام — accursed thing; forbidden.

mwanaharamu (Swahili): an illegitimate person

Definitions

  1. an illegitimate person

Ancestry of “mwanaharamu”, step by step

mwanaharamu traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Swahili haramu

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swahiliharamuillegal, criminal; forbidden; haram
2Hausaharama sin or forbidden deed
3Arabicحَرَامaccursed thing; forbidden

via Swahili mwana

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swahilimwanachild; In compounds, someone who does or has a...
2Proto-Bantumʊ̀jánàchild
Every word from Arabic حَرَام →Every word from Hausa haram →Every word from Swahili haramu →