English Explanatory Dictionary

bwana

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Big boss, important person.

Pronunciation

/ˈbwɑːnə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-bwana.wav

Word forms

bwana bwanas

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Afroasiatic *ʔab- Proto-Semitic *ʔabw- Arabic أَب (ʔab)bor. Swahili bwanabor. English bwana Borrowed from Swahili bwana (“master”), from Arabic أَبُونَا (ʔabūnā, “our father”). Doublet of abbot.

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