ya lẹnu
Yoruba
Alternative forms
- يَ لعَِنُ
Etymology
From yà (“to separate, split into two”) + ní (“in”) + ẹnu (“mouth”), literally “To gape open one's mouth”.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /jà lɛ́.nũ̄/
Verb
yà lẹ́nu
- (idiomatic) to surprise
- Ó yà mí lẹ́nu pé wọ́n ò ṣe é dáadáa ― It surprised me that they didn't do it well
Synonyms
Yoruba varieties (to surprise)
| Language Family | Variety Group | Variety | Words |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proto-Itsekiri-SEY | Southeast Yoruba | Ìjẹ̀bú | yà nẹ́run |
| Ìkálẹ̀ | - | ||
| Ìlàjẹ | - | ||
| Oǹdó | - | ||
| Ọ̀wọ̀ | - | ||
| Usẹn | - | ||
| Proto-Yoruba | Central Yoruba | Èkìtì | yà lẹ́rụn |
| Ifẹ̀ | - | ||
| Ìgbómìnà | - | ||
| Ìjẹ̀ṣà | - | ||
| Western Àkókó | - | ||
| Northwest Yoruba | Àwórì | - | |
| Ẹ̀gbá | - | ||
| Ìbàdàn | yà lẹ́nu | ||
| Òǹkò | - | ||
| Ọ̀yọ́ | yà lẹ́nu | ||
| Standard Yorùbá | yà lẹ́nu | ||
| Northeast Yoruba/Okun | Ìbùnú | - | |
| Ìjùmú | - | ||
| Ìyàgbà | - | ||
| Owé | ya narun, yà lẹ̀nu | ||
| Ọ̀wọ̀rọ̀ | - |
Derived terms
- ìyàlẹ́nu (“surprise, shock”)