Reconstruction:Proto-Yoruba/o-ríɣo

This Proto-Yoruba entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Yoruba

Alternative forms

• *o-rí, *o-óɣo

Etymology

The compounding of the suffix "ɣo" (later "wo") is possibly an Proto-Edekiri innovation still maintained in a majority of Edekiri languages. Proto-Yoruba likely inherited it but the non-suffixed form likely existed side-by-side, see Doublet of *o-rí. A contracted form also likely existed, see *o-óɣo. Proposed to be derived from Proto-Edekiri *o-ríɣo.

Descendant languages also use an e- prefix, which is likely a remnant of an old noun class system where o-/e- prefixes likely related to plurals. This noun class form did not exist in Proto-Yoruboid and thus was long obsolete in Proto-Yoruba, as it is in modern Yoruboid dialects.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ō.rí.ɣō/

Noun

*o-ríɣo

1. head

Descendants

• Owe Yoruba: oówo
• Yoruba: orí (Central and NWY dialects)
• Olukumi: órí
• Ede Idaca: erío
• Ede Idaca: eríwo, eéwo
• Ede Nago: erí, eého