ọja

Olukumi

Etymology

From Igbo ọjà

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ̄.d͡ʒà/

Noun

ọjà

1. flute

Yoruba

Ọjà nílùú Èkó

Etymology 1

Proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *á-jà (“village, homestead”), cognate with Olukumi ọzà (“market”), Igala ájà (“residence. compound, homestead, settlement”), Itsekiri aja (“village”), Ifè adzà (“market”), where the semantic meaning shifted from "village," "homestead," or "home" to market, likely as towns grew bigger and markets became a feature of an established town. This semantic meaning seems to still exist in compound terms like ọlọ́jà (“king”), literally meaning "ruler of the town." The semantic shift may have appeared after the split of Itsekiri from Proto-Edekiri. Likely not related to Igala ájá (“market”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ̄.d͡ʒà/

Noun

ọjà

1. (obsolete) village, town, homestead

   Synonyms: abúlé, egurè, abà, ilé, ìlú

2. (by extension) market

   ariwo àwọn èrò ọjà ń hó kùù ― The noise of the market people was very loud

3. (by extension) market commodities, merchandise; products

   ọmọ́ ń polówó ọjà ― The child was inviting buyers to buy merchandise

4. (slang) marijuana

   Synonyms: igbó, (slang) ẹja, (slang) gbáná

Synonyms

Yoruba varieties (market)

Language Family	Variety Group	Variety	Words
Proto-Itsekiri-SEY	Southeast Yoruba	Ìjẹ̀bú	ọ̀bù, ìta
		Ìkálẹ̀	ọ̀bọ̀n
		Ìlàjẹ	ọ̀bọ̀n
		Oǹdó	ọ̀bùn
		Ọ̀wọ̀	-
		Usẹn	-
Proto-Yoruba	Central Yoruba	Èkìtì	ọjà, ẹrẹ́jà
		Ifẹ̀	ọjà
		Ìgbómìnà	ọjà
		Ìjẹ̀ṣà	ọjà
		Western Àkókó	-
	Northwest Yoruba	Àwórì	ọjà
		Ẹ̀gbá	-
		Ìbàdàn	ọjà
		Ọ̀yọ́	ọjà
		Standard Yorùbá	ọjà
	Northeast Yoruba/Okun	Ìbùnú	-
		Ìjùmú	-
		Ìyàgbà	-
		Owé	ọjà
		Ọ̀wọ̀rọ̀	-

Derived terms

• alágbàtà-ọjà (“middleman”)
• ará ọjà (“market people”)
• ọjà àìkúnjúwọ̀n (“inferior goods”)
• Ọjà-ọba (“King's market”)
• ọlọ́jà
• àìyá ọjà (“market behavior”)
• ìtajà (“shop”)

 

Etymology 2

Ìyá tó fi ọ̀já pọn ọmọ rẹ̀

Cognate with Edo ọza

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ̀.d͡ʒá/

Noun

ọ̀já

1. belt, sash, often used to denotate membership or rank within a group

   Synonym: àmùrè

2. baby sling; an additional cloth sash used to secure the ìpọnmọ when backing infants

   Synonyms: ìgbàjá, agbàjá, ọ̀já-ìdí

   abiyamọ́ fi ọ̀já gbé ọmọ pọ̀n ― The mother used a cloth sash to carry her child on her back

Derived terms

• agbàjá-ọ̀pẹ̀lẹ̀ (“A sash worn by a senior Ifa priest”)
• ọlọ́jàá (“someone wearing a belt or sash”)
• òògùn ọlọ́jàá (“medicine capsule”)

 

Etymology 3

ọ̀- (“negation prefix”) +‎ jà (“to fight”), literally “That who cannot fight”

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ̀.d͡ʒà/

Noun

ọ̀jà

1. (Ekiti) princess in the town of Ado Ekiti and surrounding towns

   Synonym: ọmọba