A settlement, village, or group of dwellings; more specifically, a small rural settlement distinct from a walled city or town. In biblical usage, חַוָּה (chavvâh) designates a populated hamlet or encampment, especially within tribal or rural contexts.

Etymology From the Hebrew root חוה, meaning 'to show, tell, declare, live' (though the connection is debated), with the derived sense here associated with 'living' or 'inhabited place.' The noun חַוָּה points to a place characterized by habitation or communal living. Some scholars suggest a link to Akkadian and Aramaic cognates for settlement or encampment, but the etymology remains somewhat uncertain.

Reflexes  · not yet grouped by proto-form

LanguageWordMeaningSegmentationRoot
Kimbundu kaya village kaya
Kongo (Kikongo) kaya village, hamlet -aya
Lunda kaya village kaya
Luvale kaya village kaya
Umbundu kaya village, settlement kaya