oluku

Yoruba

Etymology

Cognate with Igala ónúkwu, Itsekiri ukun, and Olukumi olùkù, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *o-lùkù

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ō.lù.kù/

Noun

olùkù

1. (chiefly CY, SEY, and NEY) friend

   Synonyms: àwé, ọ̀rẹ́

Usage notes

• The phrase olùkù mi (my friend) serves as the etymology for the Olukumi people and Lucumí people (Afro-Cubans), but these two groups are not related.

Derived terms

• Olùkùmi (“Olukumi subethnic group”)

Descendants

• → English: Olukumi
• → Spanish: lucumí
• > Lucumí: lucumí (inherited)

References

• Adetugbọ, Abiodun. The Yoruba language in Western Nigeria: Its major dialect areas [1], 1967
• Arokoyo, Bolanle E. A LEXICOSTATISTICS COMPARISON OF YORÙBÁ, ÌGBÒ AND OLÙKÙMI DIALECTS [2], 2016