Reconstruction:Proto-Yoruboid/ɛ́-kʊ̃̀

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

Perhaps equivalent to *ɛ́- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ *kʊ̃̀ (“to growl”). Compare with Khana kuè, Igbo agụ, Westermann proposes the root ultimately comes from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-gui-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛ́.kʊ̃̀/

Noun

*ɛ́-kʊ̃̀

1. leopard

Descendants

• Igala: ẹ́kọ̀
• Yoruba: ẹkùn
• Ekiti Yoruba: ẹkụ̀n

Related terms

• *ɛ́-tà (“civet cat”)