gbẹ

See also: gbe, Gbe, GBE, gbe-, and gbɛ

Gun

Alternative forms

• gbɛ̀, ogbɛ̀ (Benin)
• ogbẹ̀

Etymology

From Proto-Gbe *-gbɛ. Compare Fon gbɛ̀, Saxwe Gbe ɛgbɛ̀, Adja egbɛ (“universe, creation, life”), Ewe agbe.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡ͡bɛ̀/

Noun

gbẹ̀ (plural gbẹ̀ lẹ́) (Nigeria)

1. life

Derived terms

• gbẹ̀tọ́ (“human”)

 

Yoruba

Etymology 1

Proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *gbɛ̃̀, cognate with Igala gbẹ̀

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡ͡bɛ̀/

Verb

gbẹ̀

1. (chiefly CY, transitive, intransitive) to plant; to sow

   Synonym: gbìn

Usage notes

• gbẹ before a direct object

Derived terms

• àgbẹ̀ (“farmer”)

Related terms

• lẹ́ (“to transplant a plant”)

Etymology 2

Proposed to come from Proto-Yoruboid *gbɛ, cognate with Igala gbẹ

Alternative forms

• ڠعَِ

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡ͡bɛ̄/

Verb

gbẹ

1. (intransitive) to become dry; to become dehydrated
2. (transitive, intransitive) to dry up

Derived terms

• ọ̀gbẹlẹ̀ (“dry season”)
• ìgbẹ
• fàgbẹ

Etymology 3

Related to Etymology 2

Alternative forms

• ڠعَِ

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡ͡bɛ̄/

Verb

gbẹ

1. (intransitive) to become emaciated or evaporated

Derived terms

• ìgbẹ
• òǹgbẹ (“thirst”)

Etymology 4

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *gbɛ̃́, cognate with Igala gbẹ́

Alternative forms

• ڠعَِ

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡ͡bɛ́/

Verb

gbẹ́

1. to carve or sculpt; (in particular) to carve or sculpt something out of wood or stone

Usage notes

• when the medium used to carve or mold is wood or stone, use gbẹ́.
• when clay or earth is being used to mold, use mọ

Derived terms

• ìgbẹ́
• gbẹ́gilére (“woodcarver”)
• gbẹ́dó-gbẹ́dó
• gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà (“carpenter”)

Etymology 5

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡ͡bɛ́/

Verb

gbẹ́

1. (transitive, intransitive) to dig; to dig up

   wọ́n gbẹ́ kànga ― They dug a well

Usage notes

• when the medium used to carve or mold is wood or stone, use gbẹ́.
• when clay or earth is being used to mold, use mọ

Derived terms

• ìgbẹ́
• gbẹ́gilére (“woodcarver”)
• gbẹ́dó-gbẹ́dó
• gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà (“carpenter”)

Related terms

• wà (“to dig; to mine”)

Etymology 6

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡ͡bɛ́/

Verb

gbẹ́

1. (intransitive) to cackle; (specifically referring to the cackle a hen makes when laying her eggs)

   abodìẹ́ ń gbẹ́ kẹ́kẹ́ lórí ẹyin ― The hen was cackling loudly on her eggs

Derived terms

• ìgbẹ́ (“cackle”)