toubab

English edit

English Wikipedia has an article on:

toubab

Etymology edit

The most likely earliest derivation is from the Wolof word for Europe, "Tougal". In the same way that Wolof means the people of Jollof, Toubab means the people of Tougal.

Pronunciation edit

IPA^(key): /tu.bab/

Noun edit

toubab (plural toubabs)

(West Africa, Central Africa) A white person.

Usage notes edit

Used especially in the Gambia and Senegal.

Synonyms edit

See Thesaurus:white person

French edit

Etymology edit

Uncertain, possibly from Wolof tuubab, a corruption of toubib (“medic”). More at toubab.

Pronunciation edit

IPA^(key): /tu.bab/

Noun edit

toubab m (plural toubabs)

(West Africa) white person
Synonym: babtou

Hypernyms: blanc, homme blanc

Derived terms edit

babtou