iyawo

Yoruba

Alternative forms

• ị̀yàwó (Ekiti)

Etymology

A Folk etymology suggests it is from ìyà (“suffering, punishment”) +‎ Ìwó (“Iwo town”), literally “The suffering I experienced in Ìwó town”. The story originates from several verses of the odù Ifá chapter Ogbèyọ̀nú, in which the orisha Ọ̀rúnmìlà married a woman in the town of Ìwó and she proceeds to mistreated him severely, yet he still maintained his patience.

• Compare Nupe yàwó.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ì.jà.wó/

Noun

ìyàwó

1. (dated) junior wife; (the other wives in a polygamous marriage not the senior wife)

   Antonym: ìyáálé

2. (by extension) wife

   Synonyms: aya, obìnrin

Derived terms

• ìgbéyàwó (“wedding”)

Related terms

• orogún

Descendants

• → Krio: yawo
• → Nupe: yawo