Reconstruction:Proto-Yoruboid/ó-gwṹ

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

Possibly from *ó- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ *gwṹ (“to be jealous”), the root verb *gwṹ may translate to the feeling of competitively or jealousy associated with inheritance disputes and relationships among co-wives and children, who are often seeking to undermine their fellow relative from paternal inheritance. *gwú may be from the same root as owú (“jealousy”), see wú (“to be jealous”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ó.ɡʷṹ/

Noun

*ó-gwṹ

1. inheritance
2. jealousy

Descendants

• Yoruba: ogún
• Igala: ógwú