H1632 גָּרֹל gârôl → ← H1431 גָּדַל gâdal
26 languagesA term denoting someone of great stature, prominence, or harshness—in the only attested context, apparently used as an epithet designating a person of significant power or severity. The nuance can include 'mighty man' or one characterized by harsh actions or reputation.
Etymology
Formed from the root גורל or possibly influenced by גדול ('gadol', 'great'); the actual derivation is uncertain due to scant attestations. The consonantal structure suggests a relationship with הַגָּדול (great), but the vocalization is irregular, possibly due to scribal confusion or dialectal variation.
Reflexes · not yet grouped by proto-form
| Language | Word | Meaning | Segmentation | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bemba | ikulu | great, big, chief, prominent person | kulu | |
| Bemba | nkulu | elder, ancestor, chief | -kulu | |
| Chichewa | ikulu | palace, big house, principal house | -kulu | |
| Chichewa | mkulu | elder, chief, great man | -kulu | |
| Chokwe | ikulo | palace, chief's place | -kulu | |
| Kimbundu | nkulu | elder, ancestor | -kulu | |
| Kinyarwanda | ikuru | palace, king's house; importance | -kulu | |
| Kinyarwanda | mukuru | elder, older | -kulu | |
| Kirundi | ikuru | palace, king's house; importance | -kulu | |
| Kirundi | mukuru | elder, older | -kulu | |
| Kongo (Kikongo) | nkulu | elder, chief, great one, ancestor | kulu | |
| Lingala | nkɔ́lɔ | elder, chief, lord | -kulu | |
| Lozi | likulu | great, big, chief place; palace | -kulu | |
| Luba-Kasai (Tshiluba) | nkulu | great one, elder | -kulu | |
| Luba-Katanga | ikulu | palace, chief's house | -kulu | |
| Luganda | ekikulu | the main/important/principal thing; the official palace | -kulu | |
| Luganda | mukulu | elder, grown-up, elder sibling | -kulu | |
| Lunda | likulu | palace, big house, chief's place | -kulu | |
| Shona | mukuru | elder, chief, grandfather | -kulu | |
| Shona | ukuru | greatness, prominence; seniority | -kulu | |
| Sotho | moholo | elder, patriarch, grandfather | -khulu | |
| Swahili | ikulu | state house, presidential palace | -kulu | |
| Tswana | mogolo | elder, great one, grandparent | -khulu | |
| Umbundu | ekulu | big, important, chief's place | -kulu | |
| Xhosa | umkhulu | grandfather, elder, ancestor | -khulu | |
| Zulu | umkhulu | grandfather, ancestor, old man | -khulu |