afopina

Yoruba

FWOTD – 7 April 2023

àfòpiná

Alternative forms

• àfòòpiná

Etymology

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ fò (“to fly”) +‎ pa (“kill, turn off”) +‎ iná (“light, fire”), literally “one who flies and kills (turns off) the light”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /à.fò.k͡pī.nã́/

Noun

àfòpiná

1. moth

   Synonym: òólá

   • 2010 July 13, Villepastour, Amanda and Ayandokun, Rabiu, Ancient Text Messages of the Yoruba Bata Drum‎^[1], Oxford: Taylor & Francis, →ISBN:

     Àfòpiná, tó lóun ó pa fìtílà. Ara ẹ̀ ni yóò pa.

     The moth that attempts to extinguish an oil lamp flame. It is destined to fail.

   • 2005 July 1, Oyekan Owomoyela, Yoruba Proverbs‎^[2], University of Nebraska Press, →ISBN:

     Àfòpiná tó fẹ́ paná súyà; ẹran pọ̀ sí i

     The moth that wants to put out the suya fire; the meat becomes more.

Usage notes

• àfòpiná can be used metaphorically for one who is undertaking a suicide mission; comparing suicide with the way a moth is attracted to an oil lamp that will inevitably kill it.