gbẹ
Gun
Alternative forms
- gbɛ̀ (Benin)
Etymology
From Proto-Gbe *-gbɛ. Compare Fon gbɛ̀, Saxwe Gbe ɛgbɛ̀, Adja egbɛ (“universe, creation, life”), Ewe agbe.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɡ͡bɛ̀/
Noun
gbẹ̀ (plural gbẹ̀ lẹ́) (Nigeria)
- life
Derived terms
- gbẹ̀tọ́ (“human”)
Yoruba
Etymology 1
Proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *gbɛ̃̀, cognate with Igala gbẹ̀
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɡ͡bɛ̀/
Verb
gbẹ̀
- (chiefly CY, transitive, intransitive) to plant; to sow
- Synonym: gbìn
Usage notes
- gbẹ before a direct object
Derived terms
- àgbẹ̀ (“farmer”)
Related terms
- lẹ́ (“to transplant a plant”)
Etymology 2
Proposed to come from Proto-Yoruboid *gbɛ, cognate with Igala gbẹ
Alternative forms
- ڠعَِ
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɡ͡bɛ̄/
Verb
gbẹ
- (intransitive) to become dry; to become dehydrated
- (transitive, intransitive) to dry up
Derived terms
- ọ̀gbẹlẹ̀ (“dry season”)
- ìgbẹ
- fàgbẹ
Etymology 3
Related to Etymology 2
Alternative forms
- ڠعَِ
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɡ͡bɛ̄/
Verb
gbẹ
- (intransitive) to become emaciated or evaporated
Derived terms
- ìgbẹ
- òǹgbẹ (“thirst”)
Etymology 4
Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *gbɛ̃́, cognate with Igala gbẹ́
Alternative forms
- ڠعَِ
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɡ͡bɛ́/
Verb
gbẹ́
- to carve or sculpt; (in particular) to carve or sculpt something out of wood or stone
Usage notes
- when the medium used to carve or mold is wood or stone, use gbẹ́.
- when clay or earth is being used to mold, use mọ
Derived terms
- ìgbẹ́
- gbẹ́gilére (“woodcarver”)
- gbẹ́dó-gbẹ́dó
- gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà (“carpenter”)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɡ͡bɛ́/
Verb
gbẹ́
- (transitive, intransitive) to dig; to dig up
- wọ́n gbẹ́ kànga ― They dug a well
Usage notes
- when the medium used to carve or mold is wood or stone, use gbẹ́.
- when clay or earth is being used to mold, use mọ
Derived terms
- ìgbẹ́
- gbẹ́gilére (“woodcarver”)
- gbẹ́dó-gbẹ́dó
- gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà (“carpenter”)
Related terms
- wà (“to dig; to mine”)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ɡ͡bɛ́/
Verb
gbẹ́
- (intransitive) to cackle; (specifically referring to the cackle a hen makes when laying her eggs)
- abodìẹ́ ń gbẹ́ kẹ́kẹ́ lórí ẹyin ― The hen was cackling loudly on her eggs
Derived terms
- ìgbẹ́ (“cackle”)