ami

From English amen, from Ecclesiastical Latin āmēn, from Ancient Greek ἀμήν (amḗn), from Biblical Hebrew אָמֵן (ʾāmēn, “certainly, verily”) when used by Yoruba Christians, it is invoked with the Anglo-Christian meaning in mind. Also from Arabic آمِين (ʔāmīn), from Classical Syriac ܐܰܡܺܝܢ (ʾāmēn) or Aramaic אַמִין (ʾāmēn), possibly via Koine Greek ᾱ̓μήν (āmḗn), from Biblical Hebrew אָמֵן (ʾāmēn) when used by Yoruba Muslims, it is invoked with the Arabic meaning in mind.


saari

From Hausa sàhûr̃, ultimately from Arabic سَحُور (saḥūr).

(Islam) suhur, a pre-dawn breakfast during the Ramadan fasting


ibakasiẹ

ìbakasíẹ (canonical)
ìbákasíẹ (canonical)


haramu

From Hausa hàr̃âm, ultimately from Arabic حَرَام (ḥarām).


oriṣa

Portuguese: orixá

Spanish: orisha

French: oricha

Haitian Creole: Olicha

English: orisha

Japanese: オリシャ (orisha)

Russian: ориша (oriša)

From Òrìṣà. The precise etymology of the term is unknown, (possibly from Proto-Yoruboid *Ò-rìsà, Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ̀-rɪ̀cà, or Proto-Yoruboid *Ò-rìcà), but several folk etymologies exist, the main one suggesting it comes from orí (“head, conscience, destiny”) + ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣà (“to be selected, to choose”), literally “The head that is specially selected”. (This is unlikely though as this term only fits the Yoruba definition of òrìṣà, but not the cognate versions in other languages or even in other Yoruba dialects).
The term òrìṣà, which is a general name for all deities in the Yoruba religion, likely derived from the proper noun form Òrìṣà, in reference to a specific arch-divinity of the sky and creation (now known as Òrìṣàńlá and Ọbàtálá). In other related languages, and some dialects of the Yoruba language, the cognate term has retained its proper noun definition, referring to a specific high-ranking male divinity associated with the sky, creation, and government. These cognates include Itsekiri Òrìtsẹ̀, Igbo Òlìsà, Urhobo Oyise, Èkìtì Yoruba Ọ̀rị̀ṣà, Edo Osa, Oisa, Ebira Oricha, and Fon Lisà

compound

(Ìṣẹ̀ṣe, religion) orisha (deity in Yoruba religion)


anabi

From Hausa ànnabī̀, from Arabic اَلنَّبِيّ (an-nabiyy).


Ọlọrun

/ɔ̄.lɔ́.ꜜɾũ̄/

From oní- (“one who has”) + ọ̀run (“heaven”), literally “The one who owns heaven”.

affix

(Christianity, Islam) God (the monotheistic deity of the Abrahamic religions)


Oluwa

→ Haitian Creole: lwa
→ English: loa

According to R.C. Abraham, from olú (“lord”) + wa (“our”), literally “Our lord” or from olúwa (“lord, husband”).


alufaa

→ Portuguese: alufá

From a Songhay language, ultimately from Arabic فَقِيه (faqīh, “expert in Islamic law”). Compare Ewe alufa, Fula alfaa, Baatonum alufa, Nupe àlùfáà.


aluwala

From Hausa àlwàlā, ultimately from Arabic وَضُؤَ (waḍuʔa).


afaa

(Islam) An imam, a Muslim religious leader.


laada

(Islam) the belief that every that every good action attracts reward from Allah.


saraa

From Arabic صَدَقَة (ṣadaqa), perhaps through Hausa sadakā̀, compare with sádákà; or from Arabic زَكَاة (zakāh).


afonifoji

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fo + ní + fojì


nasia

From Hausa nàsīhā̀, ultimately from Arabic نَصِيحَة (naṣīḥa).

der

Arabic نَصِيحَة (naṣīḥa)


alukiamọ

From Hausa kìyāmā̀, ultimately from Arabic قِيَامَة (qiyāma).


irun

Perhaps related to the root for five, see ọrún (“every five days”)

(Islam) salat (The obligatory prayer that Muslims are called to perform five times a day)


keferi

From Hausa kāfìr̃ī, ultimately from Arabic كَافِر (kāfir, “unbeliever”).

(Islam, sometimes derogatory) disbeliever, infidel


disai

From Hausa lī̀shā, ultimately from Arabic عِشَاء (ʕišāʔ).

Arabic عِشَاء (ʕišāʔ)


Mọmọdu

/mɔ̃́.mɔ̃́.dù/


Bilisi

Hausa ìblîs, ultimately from Arabic إِبْلِيس (ʔiblīs)


taaba

(Islam) to perform wudu; to wash parts of the body before prayer


sẹriya

bor

Arabic شَرِيعَة (šarīʕa)


janmọọ

/d͡ʒã̀.mɔ̃́ɔ̃̀/

From Hausa jàma'à, ultimately from Arabic جَمَاعَة (jamāʕa). Cognate with Nupe jàmáà.


ibaada

From Hausa ìbādā̀, ultimately from Arabic عِبَادَة (ʕibāda).


ile kewu

From ilé (“building”) + kéwú (“Quranic recitation”).

com

(Islam) madrasah (a school that teaches Islamic theology)


lemọmu

Borrowed from Hausa lī̀mâm or lī̀mân, ultimately from Arabic إِمَام (ʔimām). Doublet of ìmáàmù.


yigi

(Islam) nikah (a wedding conducted using Islamic rites)


imi-ọjọ

/ī.mĩ́.ɔ̄.d͡ʒɔ́/

From imí (“excrement, feces”) + ọjọ́ (“day, sunrise, sun”), literally “excrement of the sun”.


Yisa

der

Arabic عِيسَى (ʕīsā)

(Islam) Jesus (Isa), a major prophet in Islam


alujanna

/à.lù.d͡ʒã́.nã̀/