wọn

Nigerian Pidgin

Etymology

From English one.

Pronunciation

• (numeral, article): IPA^(key): /wɔ́n/
• (pronoun): IPA^(key): /wɔ̀n/

Numeral

wọ́n (English-based orthography one)

1. one
   • 1996, Nicholas G. Faraclas, “1.5.2.2 - Anaphore between co-ordinate structures; 2.2.4.1 - Adverbs from nouns”, in Bernard Comrie, editor, Nigerian Pidgin (Descriptive Grammars), London and New York: Routledge, →ISBN, pages 94, 241:

     Wo̱n mango do̱n re̱di bò̱t dì o̱da (wo̱n) ne̱va ye̱lo.[…]
     Yù ge̱t wo̱n awa. Im ko̱m slip wo̱n awa.

     One mango has ripened but the other (one) is not yet yellow.[…]
     You have one hour. (S)he slept for one hour.

   • (Can we date this quote?), Roy Okonkwo, “Jọn Chapta 1”, in Naijíriá Píjin‎^[1], Di Fẹ́st Pípul Wé Bikọ́m Pípul Wé de Fọ́ló Jízọs Im Wè:

     40. Wọ́n ọf di tuú mẹn wé hiá wétín Jọn tọk, an dẹn dẹm kọ́n fọ́ló Jízọs bi Ándru. Ándru bi Saímọ́n Píta brọ́da.

     40. One of the two men that heard what John said and then followed Jesus was Andrew. Andrew was Simon Peter's brother.

Derived terms

• wọ́n-wọ́n (“one by one”)

Article

wọ́n (English-based orthography one, plural sọm)

1. a, an (precedes a noun)
   • 1996, Nicholas G. Faraclas, “1.2.5.2.4 - Articles”, in Bernard Comrie, editor, Nigerian Pidgin (Descriptive Grammars), London and New York: Routledge, →ISBN, pages 67–68:

     A tay wo̱n klo̱t.[…]
     Dì man ko̱m kil wo̱n kotingrâs.

     I put on a cloth.[…]
     The man killed a grasscutter.

Pronoun

wọn (English-based orthography one)

1. one
   • 1996, Nicholas G. Faraclas, “2.1.6.5 - Derivatives of numerals; 2.1.6.6 - Quantifiers”, in Bernard Comrie, editor, Nigerian Pidgin (Descriptive Grammars), London and New York: Routledge, →ISBN, pages 226–227:

     A do̱n se̱l dì fe̱st wo̱n.[…]
     A se̱l dì sem nyam. A se̱l dì sem wo̱n.[…]
     A se̱l dì last nyam. A se̱l dì last wo̱n.

     I sold the first one.[…]
     I sold the same yam. I sold the same one.[…]
     I sold the last yam. I sold the last one.

   • (Can we date this quote?), Roy Okonkwo, “Mátiu Chapta 5”, in Naijíriá Píjin‎^[2], Jízọs Sé Mék Wi Nọ́ de Swia:

     37. […] Éní ọ́dá tin wé una tọ́k pás dís tins, na dẹ́vul, wé bi di wíkẹ́d wọn, i frọm kọm.

     40. Any other thing that one says, is the devil, the wicked one.

Derived terms

• anọ́dá wọn (“another one”)
• dát wọn (“that one”)
• dís wọn (“this one”)
• ẹ́vriwọn (“everyone”)
• ọ́dawọn (“other one”)
• sọ́mwọn (“someone”)
• wọ́n anọ́dá (“one another”)
• éniwọn (“anyone”)

 

References

• Nicholas G. Faraclas (1996) Bernard Comrie, editor, Nigerian Pidgin (Descriptive Grammars), London and New York: Routledge, →ISBN

Yoruba

Etymology 1

Alternative forms

• rin-ọn, rọn (Ekiti, Ijesha)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wɔ̃́/

Pronoun

wọ́n

1. they (third-person plural or honorific personal pronoun)

See also

Affirmative subject pronouns

	singular	plural or honorific
1st person	mo	a
2nd person	o	ẹ
3rd person	ó	wọ́n

Negative subject pronouns

	singular	plural or honorific
1st person	mi / n	a
2nd person	o	ẹ
3rd person	[pronoun dropped]	wọn

Object pronouns

	singular	plural or honorific
1st person	mi	wa
2nd person	ọ / ẹ	yín
3rd person	[preceding vowel repeated for monosyllabic verbs] / ẹ̀	wọn

Note: except for yín, object pronouns have a high tone following a low or mid tone monosyllabic verb, and a mid tone following a high tone. For complex verbs, the tone does not change.

Emphatic pronouns

	singular	plural or honorific
1st person	èmi	àwa
2nd person	ìwọ	ẹ̀yin
3rd person	òun	àwọn

Determiner

wọn

1. their (third-person plural or honorific possessive pronoun)

See also

Yoruba possessive pronouns

	singular	plural or honorific
1st person	mi	wa
2nd person	(r)ẹ	yín
3rd person	(r)ẹ̀	wọn

Etymology 2

Compare with Olukumi ghán, Ifè hã́, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *ɣã́, ultimately from Proto-Edekiri *ɣã́

Alternative forms

• ghọ́n
• ghán

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wɔ̃́/

Verb

wọ́n

1. to be expensive

   Iṣu ti wọ́n jù ― Yam is too expensive

2. to be rare

   Synonym: ṣọ̀wọ́n

Derived terms

• ọ̀wọ́n
• ọ̀wọ́ngógó (“scarcity”)
• ṣọ̀wọ́n (“to be rare”)

 

Etymology 3

Alternative forms

• ọ̀n (Ekiti)
• ghọ̀n (Owe)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /wɔ̃̀/

Verb

wọ̀n

1. to weigh
2. to measure; to gauge

Derived terms

• ìwọ̀n (“amount; quantity”)
• ìwọ̀nba (“quantity”)
• ìwọ̀ntúnwọ̀nsì (“balance; moderation”)
• òṣùwọ̀n (“measurment; scale”)