okun ilẹ

Yoruba

Etymology

From okùn (“rope, string”) +‎ ilẹ̀ (“ground, earth”), a very old euphemism, attested in languages throughout Volta-Niger, compare with Itsekiri eguálẹ̀, Ayere unfanalè, Igbo elili ọfīa (“rope of the forest”). Also see Igala ẹ́ñwu-anẹ̀ (“thing of the ground”). Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *o-kũ̀ a-lɛ̀

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ō.kũ̀ ī.lɛ̀/

Noun

okùn ilẹ̀

  1. (euphemistic) snake; (in particular) used to refer to snakes in the night, where it is believed calling one by its "real name," (ejò) may summon one.
    Synonym: ejò
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