dzuwa
/ˈd͡zu.wa/
noun
Origin
Proto-Bantu
*jòba — sun
Overview
Meaning Now
- The sun, as a celestial body or source of light.
- A day, representing the period of daylight.
Language path
Proto-Bantu → Chewa
Earliest form
*jòba
Earliest period
Proto-Bantu era
Journey
The word originates from the Proto-Bantu root *jòba, which is widely represented across Bantu languages as the primary term for the sun. In Chewa and related languages, it maintains both the astronomical sense and the temporal sense of 'daylight' or 'day'.
Evolution
- Proto-Bantu
*jòba
“sun”
- Chewa (modern)
dzuwa
“sun / day”
Regular sound change from Proto-Bantu *j to d͡z in Chewa before close vowels.
Connections
Word parts
dzuwa
root
sun
Related across languages
Zulu
ilanga
sun / day
Swahili
jua
sun
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Related to dzuwa
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.