Aw (sometimes spelled ''Au'') is an

honorific An honorific is a title that conveys esteem, courtesy, or respect for position or rank when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term "honorific" is used in a more specific sense to refer to an honorary academic title. It ...

title in the Harari and Somali languages. It is used widely and most commonly in the Somali territories. During his research in the ancient town of

Amud Amud or Amoud ( so, Camuud, ar, عمود) is an ancient, ruined town in the Awdal region of Somaliland.Damtew Teferra, ''African higher education: an international reference handbook'', (Indiana University Press: 2003) Named after its patron Sain ...

, the historian

G.W.B. Huntingford George Wynn Brereton Huntingford (19 November 1901 – 19 February 1978) was an English linguist, anthropologist and historian. He lectured in East African languages and cultures at SOAS, University of London from 1950 until 1966.Awbare Awbare (Amharic: አውበሬ, so, Aw Barre), officially known as Teferi BerTeferi Ber is the name used by the Central Statistical Agency in it''Agricultural Sample Enumeration 2001-2002 (1994 E.C.): Report on Area and Production - Somali Regi ...

and

Awbube Awbube ( Amharic: አውቡቤ, so, Aw Bube), ( en, Aububah ("Flying Saint"), (also spelt ''Awbuube''), called after its patron Saint ''Awbube'', also known as Alaua or Halaua, is an ancient and ruined town located in the western Fafan Zone in th ...

), it denoted the final resting place of a local saint. It commonly designates a father, respected elder or

saint In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of Q-D-Š, holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and Christian denomination, denominat ...

in Harari and Somali languages.Transactions of the Somali Academy of Sciences and Arts Volume 1 page 164Encyclopedia of Africa south of the Sahara page 47 Most notably applied to the founder of Harar Aw Abadir. The term has been adopted by various Somali clans from Harari language. According to the Somali

Geledi The Geledi are a Somali clan that live predominantly in the environs of Afgooye city. They are a sub-clan of the Rahanweyn and led the Geledi sultanate during the late 17th to early 20th century. They are divided into two main lineage groups: the ...

clan, the appellation Aw is used amongst them however more devoutly between those of

Habasha Habesha peoples ( gez, ሐበሠተ, translit=Ḥäbäśät or Ḥabäśät ; am, ሐበሻ, አበሻ, translit=Häbäša, 'äbäša; ti, ሓበሻ, translit=Ḥabäša; etymologically related to English "Abyssinia" and "Abyssinians" by way o ...

descent and patricians. Sorcerers among the

Arsi Oromo Arsi Oromo is an ethnic Oromo branch, inhabiting the Oromia Region, mainly in the Arsi, West Arsi and Bale Zones of Ethiopia, as well as in the Adami Tullu and Jido Kombolcha woreda of East Shewa Zone. They claim to have descended from Sikko ...

are known as Awan Shan which is derived from the title Aw. People with the title include: *Aw Barkhadle, saint *Aw Abdal, saint *Aw Ali Hamdogn, saint and scholar *Aw Umar Ziad, saint *Aw Seid, saint

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* Noble titles {{term-stub

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