Gullah

English

Etymology

First attested in 1739 as a male black slave's proper name, of unclear origin. Traditionally linked by folk etymology to an apheresis of Angola (where many African slaves were carried from), or an apparent West African ethno-tribal group called the Gola people.

See more at the Wikipedia article Gullah, including other theories.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡʌl.ə/
• Rhymes: -ʌlə

Proper noun

Gullah

1. A creole of English and various African languages spoken on a group of islands off the coast of the Carolinas and Georgia in the Southern United States.

   Gullah has been spoken continuously since before the Civil War.

2. The culture surrounding this language and geography.

Translations

the language

• Danish: gullah n
• French: gullah (fr) m
• Swedish: gullah

Noun

Gullah (plural Gullahs or Gullah)

1. A member of the Gullah culture.

Adjective

Gullah (not comparable)

1. Pertaining to the Gullah language and culture.

   The music of George Gershwin’s Porgie and Bess was inspired in part by Gullah "shouts".

Synonyms

• Geechee

Further reading

• Wiktionary's coverage of Gullah terms
• Ethnologue entry for Gullah, gul ⁠