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

woman
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

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