Meaning & use
Bwana
Last updated
A Swahili term meaning "boss" or "master," used in English especially in East African contexts to address or refer to a person in authority.
See it in a sentence
The porters greeted the expedition leader as "bwana" throughout the trek.
In the old adventure film, local guides addressed every European visitor as "bwana."
A note on using this word
The word entered English through colonial-era East Africa and can now sound dated or paternalistic in modern usage.
Words with a similar meaning
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