obinrin

Yoruba

Etymology

Etymology is uncertain, several linguistic hypotheses exist. It is proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ́-bɪ̃̀rɪ̃, this form still exists in Central Yoruba dialects. Akinkugbe suggests it may be equivalent to abo (“female”) +‎ ẹni (“person”). The consonant /b/ exists in several basic female words, including òbò (“vagina”), abo (“female”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ō.bĩ̀.ɾĩ̄/

Noun

obìnrin

1. woman, female

   Synonym: abo

   bí ọkùnrín bá rí ejò, tí obìnrín sì pa á, kò burú; kí ejò ṣáà má ti lọ

   If a man sees a snake, and a woman kills it, that is not bad; the important thing is for the snake not to escape

2. wife

   Synonyms: aya, ìyàwó

   èyí t'ó wù ẹ́ kò wù mí ni kò jẹ́ k'á pawó pọ̀ láti fẹ́ obìnrin

   What appeals to you may not appeal to me, this is why we cannot pool our financial resources together to marry one wife

   (proverb on personal preference)

Synonyms

Yoruba varieties (woman, female)

Language Family	Variety Group	Variety	Words
Proto-Itsekiri-SEY	Southeast Yoruba	Ìjẹ̀bú	obìrẹn, obìnrẹn
		Ìkálẹ̀	obìnrẹn
		Ìlàjẹ	obìrẹn
		Oǹdó	obìẹn
		Ọ̀wọ̀	obìnrẹn
		Usẹn	-
Proto-Yoruba	Central Yoruba	Èkìtì	ọbị̀nrịn, ọbụ̀rịn
		Ifẹ̀	-
		Ìgbómìnà	-
		Ìjẹ̀ṣà	-
		Western Àkókó	-
	Northwest Yoruba	Àwórì	obìnrin
		Ẹ̀gbá	-
		Ìbàdàn	obìnrin
		Òǹkò	obìnrin
		Ọ̀yọ́	obìnrin
		Standard Yorùbá	obìnrin
	Northeast Yoruba/Okun	Ìbùnú	-
		Ìjùmú	-
		Ìyàgbà	-
		Owé	óbùnrin
		Ọ̀wọ̀rọ̀	-

Coordinate terms

• ọkùnrin

Derived terms

• ẹrúbìnrin (“female slave”)
• ẹ̀kọ́ àìsàn-obìnrin (“gynecology”)
• ọbabìnrin (“queen”)
• ọmọbìnrin (“girl”)
• ọmọdébìnrin (“adolescent girl”)
• ọ̀gá-ilé-ìwé lóbìnrin (“headmistress”)
• ìmọ̀ ìtọ́jú ẹ̀yà-ara-obìnrin (“gynecology”)
• ìránṣẹ́bìnrin (“maid”)

 

References

• Adebayo, Taofeeq SOME DIACHRONIC CHANGES IN YORUBA GRAMMAR [1], 2020