ọwọn

Yoruba

Etymology

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *à-ɓã. A distinctive marker of Proto-Itsekiri-SEY from Proto-Yoruba is the lack of differing second and third person plural pronouns. This distinction continues in the present in Itsekiri and amongst all Southeast Yoruba varieties except Ìjẹ̀bú, which uses ẹ̀wẹn and ọ̀wọn, respectively. Cognates include Itsekiri àghan, Yoruba àwọn, Ìjẹ̀bú Yoruba ọ̀wọn, Ifè àŋa, Igala àma, Olukumi àwan, Àhàn xà, Èkìtì Yoruba ìn-ọn

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ̀.wɔ̃̄/

Particle

ọ̀wọn

1. (Ijebu) Precedes a noun to mark it as plural.

   Ọ̀wọn àdúmáadọ́n wèé éè mù bí Èdùmàrè ṣe súre wọn ― These dark and shining men are unaware how the Creator blessed them

Derived terms

• ọ̀wọ̀nwé (“these”)
• ọ̀wọ̀nyẹ̀n (“these”)

 

Pronoun

ọ̀wọn

1. (Ijebu) they (emphatic third-person plural personal pronoun)
2. (Ijebu) she, he, they (emphatic honorific third-person singular personal pronoun)

See also

Ijebu personal pronouns

Number	Person	Affirmative Subject Pronoun	Negative Subject Pronoun	Emphatic Pronoun	Possessive Pronoun	Object Pronoun	Possessive Determiner	Reflexive Pronoun
Singular	First	mo	mí	èmi	tèmi	mi		ara mi
	Second	wo	wé	ùwọ	tiẹ	ẹ		ara ẹ
	Third	ó, é	[pronoun dropped]	òwun, òun	tiẹ̀	ẹ̀		ara ẹ̀
Plural and Honorific	First	a	á	àwa	tẹni	ẹni		ara ẹni
	Second	wẹn	wẹ́n	ẹ̀wẹn	tiwẹn	wẹn		ara wẹn
	Third	wọ́n		ọ̀wọn	tiwọn	wọn		ara wọn