agwagwa (Hausa)

Where does "agwagwa" come from?

The Hausa word 'agwagwa,' meaning duck, is believed to have been borrowed from the Nupe word 'gbàǹgbá.' This term likely shares a common origin with similar bird designations found in related languages, such as Gourmanchéma. Its journey illustrates how trade and contact between neighboring West African cultures lead to the shared vocabulary for local wildlife.

Full etymology tree

• agwagwa (Hausa), 'duck'
  • inherited gbàǹgbá (Nupe), 'duck'

Ancestors

• gbangba (Nupe)

Updated July 2026

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Etymology data from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · About Miraris