Uncertain. Possibly fromIberian/Celtiberian*bruxtia (compareCatalanbruixa,Portuguesebruxa,Occitanbruèissa), fromProto-Celtic*brixtā(“spell, magic”) (compareOld Irishbricht(“charm”),Old Bretonbrith(“magic”)). It could instead be akin to a differentCeltic word such as Old IrishBrigit(literally“high, exalted”).

• IPA^(key):/ˈbɾuxa/[ˈbɾu.xa]

• Audio(Colombia):

  (file)

• Rhymes:-uxa
• Syllabification:bru‧ja

bruja f (pluralbrujas,masculinebrujo,masculine pluralbrujos)

1. witch,sorceress(woman who practices witchcraft)

   Synonyms:hechicera,maga

2. specifically, aWiccan
3. crone,hag(ugly, evil-looking, or frightening old woman)
4. owl(bird of prey of the orderStrigiformes)

   Synonym:lechuza

5. (Dominican Republic)northern potoo (Nyctibius jamaicensis)^[1]
6. knifetooth dogfish(shark speciesScymnodon ringens)

• bruja malvada(“wicked witch”)

• → Cebuano:bruha
• → Tagalog:bruha

• “brujo”, inDiccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8,Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish:Real Academia Española], 2024 December 10
• “bruja”, inDiccionario de americanismos [Dictionary of Americanisms] (in Spanish),Association of Academies of the Spanish Language [Spanish:Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española],2010