ọlọja

Yoruba

Etymology

For the first sense, from oní- (“one who has”) +‎ ọjà (“town”), compare with Olukumi ọlọ́zà, for the second sense, from oní- (“one who has”) +‎ ọjà (“market”). The semantic shift of ọjà from meaning town, village to market seems to have happened after the adoption of ọlọ́jà (king) as a title. Eventually the use of the term as king or monarch has largely been replaced historically by terms like ọwá, ọba, and baálẹ̀.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ̄.lɔ́.d͡ʒà/

Noun

ọlọ́jà

1. (archaic) king, monarch

   Synonyms: ọba, ọwá, olú

2. head or leader of a market

   Synonym: Ìyálọ́jà

3. market person; someone who sells at a market

Usage notes

• The term ọlọ́jà was widely used as a term for king by most dialects and Yoruboid languages, it now only is still used in that sense by certain Yoruba dialects, in titles of monarchs (see Lọ́jà), and Odu Ifa verses.

Derived terms

• Ọlọ́jà (“title of a monarch in certain Yoruba towns”)