ọlọza

Olukumi

Etymology

For the first sense, from oní- (“one who has”) +‎ ọzà (“town”), compare with Yoruba ọlọ́jà, Itsekiri ọlájà, for the second sense, from oní- (“one who has”) +‎ ọzà (“market”). The semantic shift of ọjà from meaning town, village to market seems to have happened after the adoption of ọlọ́jà (king) as a title. Such a semantic shift exists in the dialects of the Yoruba language as well, but it is possible this term was borrowed into Olukumi from Central Yoruba dialects or even Itsekiri.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ̄.lɔ́.zà/

Noun

ọlọ́zà

1. king, monarch

Derived terms

• Ọlọ́zà (“title of the monarch of the town of Ugbodu”)
• ayọ́lọ́zà (“queen”)

Related terms

• ọ́gwá (“palace”)