Verbal or ritual expression of gratitude or praise, especially directed toward a deity; acknowledgment, confession, or thanksgiving, often accompanied by acts of worship such as songs or offerings. The term refers both to the act (spoken or sung words) and to particular offerings or sacrifices of thanksgiving in ritual contexts.

Etymology From the root ידה (y-d-h), meaning 'to throw, cast' (chiefly the hand), which develops to 'to thank, praise, confess' through the gesture of extending the hand in acknowledgment. The noun תּוֹדָה (tôwdâh) is a feminine abstract noun formation from this root, indicating the state or act related to thankfulness or confession.

Reflexes  · not yet grouped by proto-form

LanguageWordMeaningSegmentationRoot
Bemba Tota To clap as in giving thanks, to give thanks.
Chokwe kutota to give thanks
Ga kotota to thank, to express gratitude (ritual sense attested)
Kanyok tota to thank, especially to thank God
Kaonde kutota to thank, to praise (normally in religious or formal settings)
Luba-Katanga kutota to give thanks, to thank (in both secular and religious contexts)
Sala (Salampasu) kutota remercier (to thank)
Tonga totela to thank, to give thanks (in formal or religious/ritual contexts)
Tshiluba kutota to thank, give thanks, express gratitude (often to God or in ritual contexts)