What does the prefix "Aw" mean in Af-Somali

Khaem

πŸ‡©πŸ‡― π’–π’π’–π’π’–π’˜π’– 𐒆𐒖𐒂 π’π’π’ƒπ’™π’—π’–π’šπ’– π’‰π’˜
VIP
Been seeing it around recently what does it mean?
 

Soul Kaizer

βœͺπ•½π–Šπ–‹π–”π–—π–’π–Šπ–‰βœͺ
Been seeing it around recently what does it mean?
1696265064681.png
 

Khaem

πŸ‡©πŸ‡― π’–π’π’–π’π’–π’˜π’– 𐒆𐒖𐒂 π’π’π’ƒπ’™π’—π’–π’šπ’– π’‰π’˜
VIP

Khaem

πŸ‡©πŸ‡― π’–π’π’–π’π’–π’˜π’– 𐒆𐒖𐒂 π’π’π’ƒπ’™π’—π’–π’šπ’– π’‰π’˜
VIP

mohamedismail

Reewin. Lixda Gobol ee Maayland unii leh!
It means father same as Ab. Only some clans use it ive seen it common in Reewin clans and sheekhaal clans.

For example father in Af Maay is Aw and saying my father is Awkey. So the word may be Af Maay in origin.
 
Aw was an affix used for religious men with the standing of reverence. For example, aw-Barkhadle.
8318ad91638ee56a4603f78bc2b60815.png

I think it is a Sufi tradition. We have no concept of Christian sainthood in Islam. Some good Islamic people might be revered for their righteousness, but they are not saints.

@mohamedismail
1696265894733.png
 

NidarNidar

β™škαΉ―r w αΈ«ssβ™š
VIP
It's probably an ancient Cushitic word, we can find it in Somali sites/titles etc... and even Awoowe which means grandfather, something to be respected.
 
Its means Holy or saint, and its not a Harari loan word, as there is evidence of pre-Islamic individuals in Somali culture that enjoyed the same honorific:

β€œAw Mahad (guardian of the harvest) and Aw Hilter (who protected men from attack by river crocodiles) appear to be timeless. They may be personages from pre-Islamic belief who were transformed in popular tradition into Muslim saints” - p.28, Lee V. Casanelli, The Shaping of Somali Society

What is really interesting in terms of etymology is that the Adal Sultanate was also known as Awdal by the locals, and β€˜dal’ means country in af-Somali while β€˜aw’ would be either β€˜holy’ or β€˜saintly’. Therefore it would be safe to assume that Awdal = β€˜Holy Country’ or β€˜Country of Saints’, which ties in nicely with the international reputation that the Sultans of Adal enjoyed from Cairo to Mogadishu.
 

Khaem

πŸ‡©πŸ‡― π’–π’π’–π’π’–π’˜π’– 𐒆𐒖𐒂 π’π’π’ƒπ’™π’—π’–π’šπ’– π’‰π’˜
VIP
It's probably an ancient Cushitic word, we can find it in Somali sites/titles etc... and even Awoowe which means grandfather, something to be respected.
Oh shit I never saw the connection with Awoowe
 

Khaem

πŸ‡©πŸ‡― π’–π’π’–π’π’–π’˜π’– 𐒆𐒖𐒂 π’π’π’ƒπ’™π’—π’–π’šπ’– π’‰π’˜
VIP
Its means Holy or saint, and its not a Harari loan word, as there is evidence of pre-Islamic individuals in Somali culture that enjoyed the same honorific:

β€œAw Mahad (guardian of the harvest) and Aw Hilter (who protected men from attack by river crocodiles) appear to be timeless. They may be personages from pre-Islamic belief who were transformed in popular tradition into Muslim saints” - p.28, Lee V. Casanelli, The Shaping of Somali Society

What is really interesting in terms of etymology is that the Adal Sultanate was also known as Awdal by the locals, and β€˜dal’ means country in af-Somali while β€˜aw’ would be either β€˜holy’ or β€˜saintly’. Therefore it would be safe to assume that Awdal = β€˜Holy Country’ or β€˜Country of Saints’, which ties in nicely with the international reputation that the Sultans of Adal enjoyed from Cairo to Mogadishu.
Awdal meaning "Holy country" is pretty badass Ngl.

I don't know of the reputation that Adalite Sultan's had with foriegn states?
 

NidarNidar

β™škαΉ―r w αΈ«ssβ™š
VIP
Its means Holy or saint, and its not a Harari loan word, as there is evidence of pre-Islamic individuals in Somali culture that enjoyed the same honorific:

β€œAw Mahad (guardian of the harvest) and Aw Hilter (who protected men from attack by river crocodiles) appear to be timeless. They may be personages from pre-Islamic belief who were transformed in popular tradition into Muslim saints” - p.28, Lee V. Casanelli, The Shaping of Somali Society

What is really interesting in terms of etymology is that the Adal Sultanate was also known as Awdal by the locals, and β€˜dal’ means country in af-Somali while β€˜aw’ would be either β€˜holy’ or β€˜saintly’. Therefore it would be safe to assume that Awdal = β€˜Holy Country’ or β€˜Country of Saints’, which ties in nicely with the international reputation that the Sultans of Adal enjoyed from Cairo to Mogadishu.
The older I get the more I want to learn, since a man without his roots is lost, there is always a deeper meaning behind words in Somali since it's oral culture and most of it is not written down but orally thought.
 

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