ọyan

See also: oyan

Yoruba

Alternative forms

• ẹyàn (Ikale)

Etymology

From ọ- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ yàn (“to suckle”). The use of yàn with this noun is restricted to Central Yoruba dialects, while others use mu (“to drink”).

Compare with Igala ẹ́nyà, Olukumi ọnyàn, Itsekiri èyán, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́-ɲã̀. Perhaps distantly related to àyà (“chest”) or *ɔ́-yà (“wife”), which links to other Volta-Niger words for woman. Etymological evidence suggests that ọyàn served as a more euphemistic name compared to ọmú, and while it has largely replaced ọmú in common day speech, its original euphemistic origins may support the idea that it comes from a non-anatomical root, similar to the developement of euphemisms for genitalia.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ̄.jã̀/

Noun

ọyàn

1. (anatomy, originally euphemistic) breast

   Synonym: ọmú

Derived terms

• ìkórí ọyàn (“nipple”)
• ìfọ́mọlọ́yàn (“breastfeeding”)
• ọyàn àjẹ́ (“the plant Cnestis ferruginea”)