Yawa (妖物)
Demon
Yawa (妖物)
Category: Religion | Society | Demon | Curse word
Other pronunciations: jawa (Kana Dialect)
Synonyms: ogima, ongo (ungo), asuwang, yamat
1. Definition
Yawa (noun)
→ A demon or evil spirit;
→ In extended usage, a curse or insult, similar to “damn” or “devil” in English.
Yawa ka! – “You devil!”
Gisudlan siya og yawa. – “He was possessed by a demon.”
2. Etymology:
妖 (ya) – “unnatural,” “bewitching,” or “ominous,” referring to forces that disturb cosmic harmony.
物 (wa) – “thing” or “creature.”
Together: “unnatural being” or “rogue entity.”
3. Derived Terms:
Yawanon – to be possessed by or act like a demon; to be overtaken by a malevolent force (Bisaya).
妖物 (yawa : demon) + 人 (non/nun : person) = demon person
4. Comparison
Likely borrowed from the Sinitic term 妖物 (“supernatural being” or “monster”), via Middle Chinese or Hokkien. “Yamat” is also an expression in Bisaya, used in place of “yawa.” The Middle Chinese pronunciation of 妖物, jewmjut, is close to “yamat.”
"Expression by which one manifests the feeling that a person has toward others.
Both this term and the previous one are vulgar, ugly, and scandalous when applied to any creature; the Natives usually consider it a sin to utter them.
It can be used, and in fact is used, when it is necessary to speak of the demon, the devil, Lucifer, or the possessed." — Diccionario Bisaya-Español
References:
Diccionario Bisaya-Español – Historical record of Bisaya-Spanish terms.
Wiktionary – yāowù (妖物)
Wiktionary – iau-mi̍h (妖物)
Irasutoya – Source illustration.