ya lẹnu

Yoruba

Alternative forms

• يَ لعَِنُ

Etymology

From yà (“to separate, split into two”) +‎ ní (“in”) +‎ ẹnu (“mouth”), literally “To gape open one's mouth”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /jà lɛ́.nũ̄/

Verb

yà lẹ́nu

1. (idiomatic) to surprise

   Ó yà mí lẹ́nu pé wọ́n ò ṣe é dáadáa ― It surprised me that they didn't do it well

Synonyms

Yoruba varieties (to surprise)

Language Family	Variety Group	Variety	Words
Proto-Itsekiri-SEY	Southeast Yoruba	Ìjẹ̀bú	yà nẹ́run
		Ìkálẹ̀	-
		Ìlàjẹ	-
		Oǹdó	-
		Ọ̀wọ̀	-
		Usẹn	-
Proto-Yoruba	Central Yoruba	Èkìtì	yà lẹ́rụn
		Ifẹ̀	-
		Ìgbómìnà	-
		Ìjẹ̀ṣà	-
		Western Àkókó	-
	Northwest Yoruba	Àwórì	-
		Ẹ̀gbá	-
		Ìbàdàn	yà lẹ́nu
		Òǹkò	-
		Ọ̀yọ́	yà lẹ́nu
		Standard Yorùbá	yà lẹ́nu
	Northeast Yoruba/Okun	Ìbùnú	-
		Ìjùmú	-
		Ìyàgbà	-
		Owé	ya narun, yà lẹ̀nu
		Ọ̀wọ̀rọ̀	-

Derived terms

• ìyàlẹ́nu (“surprise, shock”)