Reconstruction:Proto-Yoruboid/í-gĩ

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

Alternative forms

*é-gĩ

Etymology

The root can be found in several Volta-Niger languages, see Proto-Bantu *dʊ̀kʊ́nì, Proto-Jukunoid *kun, perhaps related to Igbo nkụ, Proto-Plateau *-kon, Proto-Kwa *-ginĩ, and Proto-Benue-Congo *-kwoni,

There was likely a slight semantic shift in which Proto-Edekiri and Proto-Yoruba inherited the word as meaning "tree," while Igala maintained the definition "firewood." When comparing these cognate roots across different languages, the term is both used for firewood and tree, suggesting the Proto-Yoruboid word likely also had that generalized meaning. Compare with *ó-lĩ́, another root for tree or wood and the Proto-Yoruba root *ì-tì, which also comes from an older Niger-Congo root (but cannot be reconstructed to Proto-Yoruboid)

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /í.ɡĩ̄/

Noun

*í-gĩ

tree, stick, firewood
Synonym: *ó-lĩ́

Descendants

Igala: íji
Ede Idaca: egi
Itsekiri: egin
Olukumi: ijin
Yoruba: igi

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