xwlakɔ

Gun

Alternative forms
  • whlàkọ́, wlàkọ́ (Nigeria)

Etymology

Likely from Xwlà (“Grand-Popo, the Xwla people”) +‎ kɔ́ (“ground”), literally “the ground of Grand-Popo / ground of the Xwla”. Grand-Popo is a city on the Beninese coast that has a rich history of salt production. Their salt was collected from the bottom of the lagoon during the dry season. They traded their salt with nearby groups such as the Gun and Fon. Cognates include Fon xwlakɔ́, Fon xulakɔ́

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /xʷlà.kɔ́/, /χʷlà.kɔ́/

Noun

xwlàkɔ́ (plural xwlàkɔ́ lɛ́) (Benin)

  1. salt
    Synonym: ojɛ̀
    Amiwɔ́ lɔ́ vìví ná xwlàkɔ́ kpé wùtú ― The red stew is sweet because there is enough salt

References
  1. Manning, Patrick. “Coastal Society in the Republic of Bénin: Reproduction of a Regional System (La Société Côtière de La République Du Bénin: Reproduction d’un Système Régional).” Cahiers d’Études Africaines, vol. 29, no. 114, 1989, pp. 239–57. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4392212.
  2. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15564894.2022.2084654
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