ọja

From Igbo ọjà

• IPA^(key): /ɔ̄.d͡ʒà/

ọjà

1. flute

Proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *á-jà (“village, homestead”), cognate with Olukumi ọzà (“market”), Igala ájà (“residence. compound, homestead, settlement”), Itsekiri aja (“village”), Ifè adzà (“market”), where the semantic meaning shifted from "village," "homestead," or "home" to market, likely as towns grew bigger and markets became a feature of an established town. This semantic meaning seems to still exist in compound terms like ọlọ́jà (“king”), literally meaning "ruler of the town." The semantic shift may have appeared after the split of Itsekiri from Proto-Edekiri. Likely not related to Igala ájá (“market”)

• IPA^(key): /ɔ̄.d͡ʒà/

ọjà

1. (obsolete) village, town, homestead

   Synonyms: abúlé, egurè, abà, ilé, ìlú

2. (by extension) market

   ariwo àwọn èrò ọjà ń hó kùù ― The noise of the market people was very loud

3. (by extension) market commodities, merchandise; products

   ọmọ́ ń polówó ọjà ― The child was inviting buyers to buy merchandise

4. (slang) marijuana

   Synonyms: igbó, (slang) ẹja, (slang) gbáná

Cognate with Edo ọza

• IPA^(key): /ɔ̀.d͡ʒá/

ọ̀já

1. belt, sash, often used to denotate membership or rank within a group

   Synonym: àmùrè

2. baby sling; an additional cloth sash used to secure the ìpọnmọ when backing infants

   Synonyms: ìgbàjá, agbàjá, ọ̀já-ìdí

   abiyamọ́ fi ọ̀já gbé ọmọ pọ̀n ― The mother used a cloth sash to carry her child on her back

ọ̀- (“negation prefix”) +‎ jà (“to fight”), literally “That who cannot fight”

• IPA^(key): /ɔ̀.d͡ʒà/

ọ̀jà

1. (Ekiti) princess in the town of Ado Ekiti and surrounding towns

   Synonym: ọmọba