alọ

See also: Appendix:Variations of "alo"

Gun

Alternative forms

• àlɔ̀ (Benin)

Etymology

From Proto-Gbe *-lɔ. Cognates include Fon alɔ̀, Saxwe Gbe alɔ̀, Aja (West Africa) alɔ, Ayizo alɔ, Kotafon Gbe alɔ. Possibly cognate with Gonja enɔ, Adele gʋlɔ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /à.lɔ̀/

• Audio (Nigeria):

  (file)

Noun

àlọ̀ (plural àlọ̀ lẹ́) (Nigeria)

1. hand

Derived terms

• àlọ̀ví (“finger”)

Yoruba

Etymology

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ lọ́ (“to twist, to make confusing”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /à.lɔ́/

Noun

àlọ́

1. (idiomatic) riddle, quiz

   Synonyms: ààrọ̀, àlọ́ àpamọ̀

   mo já àlọ́ náà ― I solved the riddle

2. (idiomatic) folktale, fable

   Synonym: àlọ́ àpagbè

Interjection

àlọ́ o!

1. Used by the storyteller to the listeners to introduce a folktale or riddle

   Àlọ́ ooo! Àlọ̀ ọ̀ọ̀ọ̀! Àlọ́ ooo! Àlọ̀ ọ̀ọ̀ọ̀! Àlọ́ mi dá fùrù gbá gbòó, ó dá lórí... ― The introduction to a folktale

Usage notes

(interjection): It is said several times and each time the reply from the listeners is àlọ̀!, typically with the last vowel drawn out.

Derived terms

• alálọ̀ọ́ (“storyteller, griot”)
• apàlọ́ (“storyteller”)
• pàlọ́ (“to tell a riddle or folktale”)
• àlọ́ àpagbè (“folktale”)
• àlọ́ àpamọ̀ (“riddle, quiz”)
• ìtàn-alálọ̀ọ́ ẹlẹ́ranko (“fable”)

Related terms

• òwe (“proverb, adage”)
• ìtàn (“history, story”)