ゆくさ

Japanese

Etymology

The term yukusa derives from a contraction of the adverb 良く (yoku, “well”) (yoku → you → yu), the emphatic particle こそ (koso) (koso → kuso), and the topic particle は (wa). It is cognate to the standard Japanese form ようこそ (yōkoso).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [jɯ̟ᵝkɯ̟ᵝsa̠]

Adverb

ゆくさ • (yukusa) 

1. (Kagoshima) Synonym of ようこそ (“an expression of appreciation at someone's arrival; welcome”)

   ゆくさおさいじゃしたかごっまへ。

   Yukusa osaijashita Kagomma e.

   Welcome to Kagoshima.

Usage notes

The expression "yukusa" used in the Kagoshima dialect is generally followed by an honorific verbal construction, such as おさいじゃした (osaijashita) or おじゃったもした (ojattamoshita), and subsequently the place of arrival.