bwana

Where does the word "bwana" come from? It comes from Swahili bwana, and was adopted directly into English (1900s).

Bwana’s story begins in Swahili: bwana meant “master, sir.” A respectful term of address for a man of authority. It reached English by 1900s as bwana. Picked up by English speakers in colonial East Africa. Today, bwana means a term of address for a man, used informally to mean boss.

1. Stage 1 · Swahili · 1800s bwana "master, sir", a respectful term of address for a man of authority.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1900s bwana "a term of respectful address for a man", picked up by English speakers in colonial East Africa.