bwana

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbwɑːnə/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (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

Anguthimri

Noun

bwana

1. (Mpakwithi) bream

References

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

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

Italian

Noun

bwana m (invariable)

1. bwana

Old Sundanese

Alternative forms

• buana

Etymology

From Sanskrit भुवन (bhuvana, “the world”).

Noun

bwana

1. the world

   Synonym: dunya

   • c. 14th century, Astana Gede Inscription:

     ...pakena gawé rahayu pakeun heubeul jaya dina buana.

     ... should do good in order to prosper long in this world.

Descendants

• ⇒ Sundanese: ᮘᮥᮃᮔ (buana, “continent”)

Swahili

Alternative forms

• (abbreviation) Bw.

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