Yoruba

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Alternative forms

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Etymology 1

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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fẹ́

  1. (transitive) to want, to desire
    Mo fẹ́ sùn.I want to sleep.
  2. to be on the verge of
    Synonym: fẹ́rẹ̀ẹ́
    Òjò fẹ́ rọ̀.It's about to rain. (Rain is almost falling.)
  3. to like
    Synonym: fẹ́ràn
  4. (usually transitive, sometimes intransitive, stative) to love
    Synonym: nífẹ̀ẹ́
    • 2014, Brymo, Fẹ́ mi:
      Fẹ́ mi, fẹ́ mi o/ Ó yá sọ̀kalẹ̀/ Mo fẹ́ fún ẹ lẹ́bùn/ Kó o fara balẹ̀/ Mo máa fún ẹ ládùn.
      Love me, love me o/ Come on get down/ I want to give you a gift/ So you calm down/ I'll give you pleasure.
    1. (transitive) to marry
      Synonym: gbé
      Ṣé wàá fẹ́ mi?Will you marry me?
Usage notes
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  • Sense 2 usually occurs with the particle ti.
  • Sense 1, 2, and 3 are often written as fẹ́ẹ́ when preceding another verb
Derived terms
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Etymology 2

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Obìnrin méjì tó ń fẹ́ ọkà

Pronunciation

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Verb

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fẹ́

  1. to blow
    Afẹ́fẹ́ ń fẹ́.A breeze is blowing.
  2. to winnow
    Àwọn àgbẹ̀ máa ń fẹ́ ọkà nígbà tí afẹ́fẹ́ bá fẹ́.Farmers typically winnow when it's windy.
Derived terms
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Etymology 3

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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fẹ̀

  1. to be wide
  2. (intransitive) to widen, to expand
    Ọ̀rọ̀ àyálò ń fẹ àká-ọ̀rọ̀ Yorùbá, ṣùgbọ́n ìpàdánù wo ló wà?
    Loanwords are expanding Yorùbá's lexicon, but at what cost?
Usage notes
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  • fẹ when followed by a direct object.
Derived terms
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Etymology 4

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Pronunciation

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Verb

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fẹ̀

  1. (chiefly CY and SEY) to be successful, to be prosperous
    ìpàdé e ní fẹ̀The party was very successful
    Ọnìkan kìí jẹ́ kí ìlú fẹ̀One person does not cause a town to become prosperous
  2. (chiefly CY and SEY) to be mature, to be ripe
Usage notes
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  • fẹ when followed by a direct object.