ọba

See also: Appendix:Variations of "oba"

Edo

Etymology

Cognate with Arigidi ɔba, Yoruba ọba

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ́.bá/

Noun

ọba

1. king, ruler

   Synonym: ogie

   Ẹvbo na i mwẹn ọba

   This town has no ruler

Derived terms

• Ọba (“Emperor of the Benin Kingdom”)

Yoruba

Etymology

Folk etymology states that it comes from ọ- (“agent prefix”) +‎ ba (“to watch over”). Other etymological theories suggest it coming from the same root as father, compare with baba (“father”), ọbàkan (“paternal half sibling”), ọmọba, but is usually gender neutral when referring to a monarch. Cognate with Arigidi ɔba, Edo ọba

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ̄.bā/

Noun

ọba

1. king, queen, monarch

   Synonyms: ọwá, ọlọ́jà, olú

2. (obsolete, archaic) father

   Synonyms: baba, bàbá, àbá

Derived terms

• ayaba (“queen”)
• iyọba (“queen mother”)
• Ọba Kòso (“A nickname for Ṣàngó”)
• ọbabìnrin (“queen (as in a queen who rules in her own right, rather as the wife of a king)”)
• Ọbalúayé (“A Yoruba orisha”)
• Ọbamakin (“The name of an ancient Ọọ̀ni”)
• Ọbaálá (“A senior chieftaincy title”)
• Ọbańta (“A senior chieftaincy title and the name of the founder of the Ìjẹ̀bú kingdom”)
• ọbàkan (“paternal half sibling”)
• Ọbàlùfọ̀n (“A Yoruba orisha and ancient king”)
• ọmọba (“prince, princess”)
• ìtẹ́ ọba (“throne”)