| Word form | oba |
| Original script | 伯母 (parent’s elder brother)、叔母(parent’s younger brother) |
| LWT meaning(s) | |
| Word meaning | The neutral term. The difference between older aunt and younger aunt is only made in writing. No difference between maternal and paternal aunts is made. |
| Comments on word | As a polite form of address, the suffixed form obasan (first attested in the 18th century) is used. |
| Analyzability | unanalyzable |
| Age | Late Old Japanese [21] (794–1185) |
| Lexical stratum | wago |
| Year | 新撰字鏡（around 900） |
| Register | General |