Reconstruction:Proto-Yoruboid/ò-sĩ̀mĩ̀lì

This Proto-Yoruboid 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-Yoruboid

Etymology

The term is found across several Volta-Niger languages, whose societies and languages likely developed along the Niger river for thousands of years. See Igbo òsìmìlì (“river”), Igbo Òsìmìlì (“Niger river”), Edo ohinmwin (“Niger river”). Perhaps distantly related to Yoruba omi (“water”). The /ɛ/ prefix in Yoruba may be a remnant of a plural form of this word, many words across dialects in Yoruba and Yoruboid languages will have an /o/ or /ɔ/ prefix, which may represent the singular form, and /e/ or /ɛ/, representing the plural form. This can be seen in other related languages including Edo and it is also used in Itsekiri. As Proto-Yoruba got rid of the use of plural and singular forms, descendant languages likely adopted either one of these forms. See ènìyàn vs. ọ̀nị̀yàn, ọnị vs. ẹni, for example.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ò.sĩ̀.mĩ̀.lì/

Noun

*ò-sĩ̀mĩ̀lì

any large body of water or river (usually referring to the Niger river)

Proper noun

*Ò-sĩ̀mĩ̀lì

Niger river

Descendants

Igala: Òhìmìlì
Yoruba: Ẹ̀sìnmìrìn