name
Common
Abu
Abu (name) means the name of a language spoken in Papua New Guinea.
name
1
The name of a language spoken in Papua New Guinea.
2
Ab, the fifth month of the Babylonian calendar.
3
A minor god of vegetation in Sumerian mythology.
4
The ancient Egyptian name given to the city of Elephantine, near present-day Aswan.
5
A volcano on the island of Honshū in Japan.
6
The name of a town in Yamaguchi, Japan.
7
Mount Abu, the highest mountain in the Indian state of Rajasthan.
particle
1
A word placed before an Arabic-derived name to mean "father of".
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Etymology
Taken from Arabic أَبُو (ʔabū).
Rhymes for Abu
See all rhymes for Abu →Frequently asked questions
What does “Abu” mean?
The word “Abu” means a language of Papua New Guinea.
What part of speech is “Abu”?
Depending on how it is used, “Abu” can be a name and a particle.
Where does the word “Abu” come from?
The word “Abu” comes from Arabic.
Is “Abu” a common word?
“Abu” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Abu” have?
“Abu” has 8 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a language of Papua New Guinea.
Why do many Arabic names begin with Abu?
In Arabic-derived names, Abu means 'father of', so a name such as Abu Bakr traditionally identifies a man by his relationship to a child. This respectful naming custom is known in Arabic as a kunya, and it is why Abu appears at the start of so many personal names rather than as a standalone first name.
Is Abu a language?
Yes. Abu is the name of a language spoken in Papua New Guinea, one of the world's most linguistically diverse countries. This sense is unrelated to the Arabic name element Abu, meaning 'father of'.
What is Abu in the Babylonian calendar?
Abu, also written Ab, is the fifth month of the Babylonian calendar, falling around the height of summer. Its name survives in related calendars, such as the Hebrew month Av.
Who was Abu in Sumerian mythology?
In Sumerian mythology, Abu was a minor god associated with vegetation and plant life. He is a lesser-known figure rather than one of the major deities of the Sumerian pantheon.
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