Where does “ulaji rushwa” come from?

ulaji rushwa (Swahili) comes from Swahili ulaji, from Swahili la, from Arabic لَا, from Proto-Semitic lā — not; no.

ulaji rushwa (Swahili): bribery

Definitions

  1. bribery

Ancestry of “ulaji rushwa”, step by step

ulaji rushwa traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Swahili ulaji

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swahiliulajieating
2Swahililato eat; to consume, to eradicate; no
3Arabicلَاnot; no, not
4Proto-Semiticlānot; no

via Swahili rushwa

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swahilirushwabribe, kickback
2Arabicرُشْوَةbribe
Every word from Proto-Semitic lā →Every word from Arabic لَا →Every word from Swahili la →
ulaji rushwa — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer