Beja

Noun

Beja pl (plural only)

1. An ethnic group found along the Horn of Africa.

Proper noun

Beja

1. The language of the Beja ethnic group.
2. A town in Latvia.
3. A city and district in Portugal.
4. A town in Tunisia, often spelled Béja.

Further reading

• Ethnologue entry for Beja, bej

Etymology

From Arabic.

Proper noun

Beja

1. Beja (a city in southern Portugal)
   • 13th century, attributed to Alfonso X of Castile, Cantigas de Santa Maria, E codex, cantiga 224 (facsimile):

     Ond auẽo pois aſſẏ— que en Beia u moraua un ome Caſado ben con ſa moll q̇ amaua

     It happened as such, that in Beja lived a man, well-married with his wife whom he loved.

Etymology

From Old Portuguese Beja, from Arabic بَاجَة‎ (bāja), from Visigothic Paca, from Latin Pax (Augusta)/ Pax (Iulia) (the ancient Roman town).

Pronunciation

• Audio (Portugal)

  (file)

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈbɛʒɐ/

Proper noun

Beja f

1. Beja (a district in southern Portugal)
2. Beja (a city and municipality of Beja, Portugal)