Reconstruction:Proto-Yoruboid/ɔ́-nɪ̃

This Proto-Yoruboid entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Yoruboid

Etymology

Compare with Igbo onye, probably related to ènìyàn, ọ̀nị̀yàn, thus perhaps a Doublet of *ɔ̀-nɪ̃̀yã̀. Also see Ukaan ɔ̀ní, Fon mε, Proto-Idomoid *ɔŋɪ́ɲí, Westerman proposed a Proto-Niger-Congo *-ni root. For more distant cognates, see Ega ɔɲáà, Proto-Oti-Volta *nɪ, Proto-Plateau *-nyat, maybe related to Dagbani nii (“body”),

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɔ́.nɪ̃̄/

Noun

*ɔ́-nɪ̃

person, one
human
Synonym: *ɔ̀-nɪ̃̀yã̀

Descendants

Ifè: ɛnɛ
Igala: ónẹ̀
Isekiri: ọnẹ
Northwest Yoruba, Standard Yoruba: ẹni
Central Yoruba
- Ekiti Yoruba: ọnị
Southeast Yoruba
- Ijebu, Ao Yoruba: ọni
- Ikale, Ondo, Owo Yoruba: ọnẹ
- Eastern Akoko
  - Oka Akoko: eni
  - Ùgbẹ̀ Akoko: ọnà
Northeast Yoruba: ọni