bwana

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Swahili bwana (“master”), from Arabic أَبُونَا (ʔabūnā, “our father”). Doublet of abbot.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbwɑːnə/

• Audio (UK):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɑːnə

Noun

bwana (plural bwanas)

1. (slang) Big boss, important person.
   • 2005, David Foster Wallace, Consider the Lobster and Other Essays, New York: Little, Brown and Company, →ISBN, page 208:

     It is Jim C.’s custom always to say “Up Simba” in a fake-deep bwana voice as he hefts the camera to his right shoulder […]

Usage notes

Not always used as a favorable term.

Anagrams

• Waban, ba-wan, bawan, nawab

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Anguthimri

Noun

bwana

1. (Mpakwithi) bream

References

• Terry Crowley, The Mpakwithi dialect of Anguthimri (1981), page 185

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Chichewa

Etymology

Borrowed from Swahili bwana (“master”), from Arabic أَبُونَا (ʔabūnā, “our father”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɓʷá.na/

Noun

bwána class 1a (plural abwána class 2)

1. boss, master

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Italian

Noun

bwana m (invariable)

1. bwana

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Swahili

Etymology

From Arabic أَبُونَا (ʔabūnā, “our father”).

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Noun

bwana (ma class, plural mabwana)

1. master, lord
2. mister, Mr.
3. boss
4. husband

Coordinate terms

• bibi

Descendants

• → Chichewa: bwana
• → English: bwana