Reconstruction:Proto-Yoruboid/ɔ́-bɪ̃̀rɪ̃

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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

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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The etymology is uncertain. The /b/ root exists in several words relating to women, including, *ò-bò (vagina) and *á-bo (female), and may be related to *bí (to give birth to). The root *rɪ̃ also exists in the reconstructed word for man, *ɔ́-kʊ̃rɪ̃, and its similarity with the root *ɔ́-nɪ̃, suggests that *rɪ̃ may simply be a variation of nɪ̃ (/n/ and /r/ are known to be allophonic in Yoruboid languages). Thus, Akinkugbe 1976 suggests a reconstruction combining a /b/ termed root for woman, and person, like *á-bo (female) +‎ *ɔ́-nɪ̃ (person), literally female person, with changing of vowel initial roots. Compounds of this type are known to occur in some other Niger-Congo languages.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ɔ́.bɪ̃̀.rɪ̃̄/

Noun

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*ɔ́-bɪ̃̀rɪ̃

  1. woman
  2. wife
    Synonym: *ɔ́-yà

Descendants

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