Chukwu
/ˈtʃuː.kwuː/noun
In Igbo religion and usage, the supreme God or highest divine being.
Did you know?Chukwu is a genuine Igbo theonym, not an English word, and its meaning is tied to indigenous theology rather than a simple literal compound that scholars can agree on with certainty.
Etymological Timeline
Precolonial Igbo
Igbo
Chukwu
“The supreme deity or highest God in Igbo cosmology”
19th Century
English
Chukwu
“Recorded by missionaries and colonial-era writers as the Igbo name for God”
Modern English
English
Chukwu
“Used in English-language writing to refer to the Igbo supreme deity or as a personal name”
Modern Igbo
Igbo
Chukwu
“A sacred name for the supreme being, central in prayer, praise, and naming”