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illustration Gullah

Gullah

[GUH-luh]

Part of speech: noun

Origin: American English, unknown

1.

A member of a Black cultural community living on the coast of South Carolina and nearby islands.

2.

The Creole language of the Gullah, having an English base with elements from various West African languages. It has about 125,000 speakers.

Examples of Gullah in a sentence

"Jess was lucky enough to be able to visit Gullah heritage sites on her visit to the Carolinas."

"I am interested in studying all Creole languages, but I am most interested in Gullah."

About Gullah

This word is thought to have originated from a shortening of Angola, a group of people originally from Sierra Leone and Liberia. By Angola possibly being shorted to "Gola," the word Gullah might have slowly developed over time.

Did you Know?

The Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, officially designated by the U.S. Congress in 2006, is a National Heritage Area celebrating the cultures and lives of the Gullah people of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Visitors can learn more about the rich African heritage of the Gullah people, sample delicious foods, and participate in a multitude of cultural events, including historical tours, arts and crafts, and music.

illustration Gullah

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