Alágba
/à.lá.ɡ͡bà/noun
A Yoruba term referring to an elder, senior person, or respected older authority.
Did you know?In Yoruba culture, elderhood traditionally carries moral and communal authority, so addressing someone as Alágba can signal respect rather than simply describing their age.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Yoruboid
Proto-Yoruboid
*àgbà
“Reconstructed root associated with seniority, greatness, or an elder”
Early Yoruba
Yoruba
àgbà
“Elder; senior or great person”
Classical Yoruba
Yoruba
alàgbà
“An elder or person of advanced age and standing”
Modern Yoruba
Yoruba
alágba
“A respected elder or senior authority; tonal spelling varies by source”
Modern English
English
alágba
“A Yoruba cultural term used in English-language writing for an elder or senior person”