yemaya

Where does the word "yemaya" come from? It comes from Yoruba Yemọja, passing through Spanish before entering English (1900s).

Yemaya’s story begins in Yoruba: Yemọja meant “river goddess of motherhood and creation.” Compound of iye ("mother"), ọmọ ("child"), and ẹja ("fish"): "mother whose children are like the fish". By 1800s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as Yemayá. Creolized in Cuba as enslaved Yoruba carried her worship into Santería/Lucumí practice. It reached English by 1900s as Yemaya. Spread into English through Santería and wider diaspora spiritual writing. Today, yemaya means the Yoruba-derived orisha of the sea and motherhood, venerated across Santería and other diaspora religions.

1. Stage 1 · Yoruba · traditional Yemọja "river goddess of motherhood and creation", compound of iye ("mother"), ọmọ ("child"), and ẹja ("fish"): "mother whose children are like the fish".
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · 1800s Yemayá "orisha of the sea and motherhood in Santería", creolized in Cuba as enslaved Yoruba carried her worship into Santería/Lucumí practice.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1900s Yemaya "orisha and goddess of the sea and motherhood", spread into English through Santería and wider diaspora spiritual writing.