Reconstruction:Proto-Yoruboid/ɔ́-bɪ̃̀rɪ̃

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

Alternative forms

• *ɔ́-bɪ̃̀lɪ̃

Etymology

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

• IPA^(key): /ɔ́.bɪ̃̀.rɪ̃̄/

Noun

*ɔ́-bɪ̃̀rɪ̃

1. woman
2. wife

   Synonym: *ɔ́-yà

Descendants

• Proto-Edekiri: *ɔ-bɪ̃̀rɪ̃
• Igala: èbùlẹ, ónóbùlẹ
  • Itsekiri: onobirẹn
  • Olukumi: ọkùnrẹn
  • Proto-Yoruba: *ɔ-bɪ̃̀rɪ̃
    • Yoruba: obìnrin
    • Ekiti Yoruba: ọbị̀nrịn, ọbụ̀nrịn
    • Southeast Yoruba:
      • Ondo Yoruba: obìẹn
      • Ọ̀wọ̀, Ìkálẹ̀, Rẹ́mọ Yoruba: obìnrẹn
      • Ilaje, Ijebu Yoruba: obìrẹn