ibale

Yoruba

Etymology

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ bá (“to meet”) +‎ ilé (“home”), literally “The act of finding someone still at home”

• This is referring to the notion of purity associated with virginity

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ì.bá.lé/

Noun

ìbálé

1. virginity
2. hymen
3. hymeneal blood

   Synonym: ayèré

4. virginity test

Derived terms

• ìgbàbálé (“defloration”)
• jábàálé (“to disvirgin”)

Related terms

• omidan (“virgin”)
• ọbitun (“virgin”)
• wúńdíá (“virgin”)

References

• Renne, Elisha P. Population and Progress in a Yoruba Town [1], 2003