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eniyan

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Yoruba

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Possibly from Proto-Yoruboid *Vnḭ. A folk etymology states it comes from eni (being, person) +‎ ì- (nominalizing prefix) +‎ yàn (to choose), literally Chosen beings, in comparison to earlier pre-human earthly beings called eníyán, translated as "the one's who were expelled."

Pronunciation

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IPA(key): /è.nĩ̀.jã̀/

Noun

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ènìyàn

  1. person, people, human being

Synonyms

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Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ènìyàn (person)
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Language FamilyVariety GroupVariety/LanguageSubdialectLocationWords
Proto-Itsekiri-SEYSoutheast YorubaEastern ÀkókóỌ̀bàỌ̀bà Àkókóènìyàn, iráyé
Ìjẹ̀búÌjẹ̀búÌjẹ̀bú Òdeònìyọ̀n
Rẹ́mọẸ̀pẹ́ònìyọ̀n
Ìkòròdúònìyọ̀n
Ṣágámùònìyọ̀n
Ìkálẹ̀ (Ùkálẹ̀)Òkìtìpupairáyé
Ìlàjẹ (Ùlàjẹ)Mahiniráyé
OǹdóOǹdóiáyé
ÌtsẹkírìÌwẹrẹirẹ́yé
Proto-YorubaCentral YorubaÈkìtìÈkìtìÀdó Èkìtìọ̀nị̀yọ̀n, ịráyé
Ìfàkì Èkìtìọ̀nị̀yọ̀n
Àkúrẹ́Àkúrẹ́ọ̀nị̀yọ̀n, ịráyé
Mọ̀bàỌ̀tùn Èkìtìọ̀nị̀yọ̀n
Ìjẹ̀ṣà (Ùjẹ̀ṣà)Iléṣà (Uléṣà)ònìyàn
Northwest YorubaÀwórìÈbúté Mẹ́tàènìyàn, èèyàn
Ẹ̀gbádòÌjàkáònìyàn
ÈkóÈkóènìyàn, èèyàn
ÌbàdànÌbàdànènìyàn, èèyàn
ÌlọrinÌlọrinènìyàn, èèyàn
OǹkóÒtùèèyẹ̀n
Ìwéré Iléèèyẹ̀n
Òkèhòèèyẹ̀n
Ìsẹ́yìnèèyẹ̀n
Ṣakíèèyẹ̀n
Tedéèèyẹ̀n
Ìgbẹ́tìèèyẹ̀n
Ọ̀yọ́Ọ̀yọ́ènìyàn, èèyàn
Standard YorùbáNàìjíríàènìyàn, èèyàn
Bɛ̀nɛ̀ènìyàn, èèyàn
Ede Languages/Southwest YorubaǸcà (Ìcà, Ìncà)Baàtɛònìɔ̀n
ÌdàácàBeninIgbó Ìdàácà (Dasa Zunmɛ̀)ònìyàn
Ọ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí-ÌjèỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí/ÌjèÌkpòbɛ́ònìyàn
Onigboloònìyàn
Kétu/ÀnàgóKétuònìyàn
Ifɛ̀Akpáréɔ̀nyà
Atakpamɛɔ̀nyà
Est-Monoɔ̀nyà
Tchetti (Tsɛti, Cɛti)ɔ̀nyà
Southern NagoÌsakétéònìyàn
Ìfànyìnònìyàn
Note: This amalgamation of terms comes from a number of different academic papers focused on the unique varieties and languages spoken in the Yoruboid dialectal continuum which extends from eastern Togo to southern Nigeria. The terms for spoken varieties, now deemed dialects of Yorùbá in Nigeria (i.e. Southeast Yorùbá, Northwest Yorùbá, Central Yorùbá, and Northeast Yorùbá), have converged with those of Standard Yorùbá leading to the creation of what can be labeled Common Yorùbá (Funṣọ Akere, 1977). It can be assumed that the Standard Yorùbá term can also be used in most Nigerian varieties alongside native terms, especially amongst younger speakers. This does not apply to the other Nigerian Yoruboid languages of Ìṣẹkírì and Olùkùmi, nor the Èdè Languages of Benin and Togo.

Derived terms

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