Anansi

See also: anansi

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Akan (and Kromanti) ananse (spider).

Proper noun

Anansi

  1. A trickster spider (though sometimes taking human form), one of the primary characters in West African and Caribbean folklore.

Translations

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /a.nɑ̃.si/, /a.nan.si/

Proper noun

Anansi m

  1. (mythology) Anansi (trickster spider in West African and Caribbean folklore)

Jamaican Creole

Alternative forms

Etymology

Derived from Akan ananse (spider).[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /aˈnansi/
  • Hyphenation: A‧nan‧si

Proper noun

Anansi

  1. Anansi (trickster spider in West African and Caribbean folklore)
    • 1984, Laura Tanna, Jamaican Folk Tales and Oral Histories, →ISBN, page 99:
      Anansi gwan an gwan an gwan [ chops with arm ] til im bill off de whole pasture clean.”
      Anansi kept on going [ chops with arm ] until he'd used his machete to clear the entire pasture.

References

  1. ^ Richard Allsopp, editor (1996), Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage, Kingston, Jamaica: University of the West Indies Press, published 2003, →ISBN, page 29

Portuguese

Etymology

Ultimately from Akan ananse (spider).

Pronunciation

  • (Brazil) IPA(key): /a.nɐ̃ˈsi/

Proper noun

Anansi m

  1. (mythology) Anansi (trickster spider in West African and Caribbean folklore)

Sranan Tongo

Etymology

From anansi, from Akan ananse (spider), Twi Akan ananse (spider), Awutu ananse (spider), Abron ànãnzi (spider).[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /anansi/, [a̠na̠nsi], [ɑ̟nɑ̟nsi]

Proper noun

Anansi

  1. (mythology) Anansi (trickster spider in West African and Caribbean folklore)

References

  1. ^ G. Huttar (1985) “Sources of Ndjuka African vocabulary”, in New West Indian Guide[1], →ISSN, page 53