ibale
Yoruba
Etymology
From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bá (“to meet”) + ilé (“home”), literally “The act of finding someone still at home”
- This is referring to the notion of purity associated with virginity
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ì.bá.lé/
Noun
ìbálé
- virginity
- hymen
- hymeneal blood
- Synonym: ayèré
- virginity test
Derived terms
- ìgbàbálé (“defloration”)
- jábàálé (“to disvirgin”)
Related terms
- omidan (“virgin”)
- ọbitun (“virgin”)
- wúńdíá (“virgin”)
References
- Renne, Elisha P. Population and Progress in a Yoruba Town , 2003