てよ

Japanese

Etymology 1

て (te, “conjunctive particle; sentence-ending particle of request”) + よ (yo, “certainty, conviction, or emphasis”)

Alternative forms

• ってよ (tteyo)
• でよ (deyo)

Particle

てよ • (te yo) 

1. (childish or women's speech) Indicates request or requirement in the spoiled manner: please
   • 1888, Iwaya Sazanami, 五月鯉 [Satsuki Goi]‎^[1], page 103:

     アノ酉(とり)井(ゐ)さんさう言(いつ)て來(き)てヨ

     Ano Torii-san sō ittekite yo

     Look, Mr. Torii, please tell him so.

2. (chiefly women's speech) Indicates emphasis euphemistically with emotion.
   • 1907, Izumi Kyōka, 婦系図 [Onna Keizu]‎^[2]:

     父(とう)上(さん)も知(し)って居(い)てよ

     Tōsan mo shitte ite yo

     Even my father knows that.

Usage notes

When attached after the word ends with ん (n), it become into でよ (deyo).

When attached after the continuative form (連用形) of the adjective, it can change into ってよ (tteyo).

Etymology 2

Suffix

てよ • (-teyo) 

1. (Classical Japanese) Imperative form (命令形) of つ (tsu), used in the intensive operative sentence.
   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 4, poem 661:

     戀(こひ)々(こひ)而(て)　相有(あへる)時(とき)谷(だに)　愛(うるはし)寸(き)　事(こと)盡(つくし)手(て)四(よ)　長常(ながくと)念者(おもはば) [Man'yōgana]

     恋(こ)ひ恋(こ)ひて　逢(あ)へる時(とき)だに　うるはしき　言(こと)尽(つく)してよ　長(なが)くと思(おも)はば [Modern spelling]

     ⟨ko₁pi₂ ko₁pi₂te ape₂ru to₂ki₁ dani urupasiki₁ ko₂to₂ tukusite yo₂ nagaku to₂ omo₂paba⟩
     → Koi koite aeru toki dani uruwashiki koto tsukushite yo nagaku to omowaba

     Begging for love, at least time to be able to meet, please dedicate affectionate affairs, if you want long lasting.

   • c. late 9th–mid-10th century, Taketori Monogatari

     「われ物(もの)握(にぎ)りたり。今(いま)は下(お)ろしてよ。翁(おきな)、しえたり」

     “Ware mono nigiritari. Ima wa oroshite yo. Okina, shietari”

     "I'm grasping it. Now, take me down. Old-man, I did it."

   • 1776, Ueda Akinari, Ugetsu Monogatari

     かうかうの人(ひと)の女(おんな)のはかなくてあるが、後(こう)身(しん)してよとて賜(たま)へるなり。

     Kōkō no hito no onna no hakanakute aru ga, kōshin shite yo tote tamaeru nari.

     A frail widow with such a such reason, told me, "please become my second husband."

Synonyms

• (Modern Japanese): てしまえ (teshimae)