ọmọbìnrin
The Yoruba word for girl is ọmọbìnrin.
ọmọbìnrin is a noun used to refer to a young female person.
Meaning: young female person (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
This word is a compound of ọmọ (child) and bìnrin (female).
Which one should you use?
While ọmọbìnrin refers to a girl, the term used for a boy is ọmọkùnrin.
Did you know?
- In some dialects, the tone of the vowels in ọmọbìnrin must be precise, as changing the pitch can completely alter the meaning of the individual components.
- Because ọmọ means both 'child' and 'offspring', ọmọbìnrin can sometimes be used to describe a daughter regardless of her age.
- A girl's name in Yoruba culture is often more significant to her identity than the general noun ọmọbìnrin, as names are frequently chosen to reflect the circumstances of her birth.
Examples in context
- Ọmọbìnrin yẹn wà ní ilé.That girl is at home.
- Ọmọbìnrin yẹn rẹwẹpẹ.That girl is beautiful.
- Mo rí ọmọbìnrin kan ní pápá.I saw a girl in the field.
- Ọmọbìnrin náà ń kàwé.The girl is reading a book.
Example conversation
Yejide and Femi are looking at a photograph.
- YejideTa ni ọmọbìnrin yii?Who is this girl?
- FemiỌmọbìnrin yẹn jẹ ọmọ mi.That girl is my daughter.
- YejideO rẹwa gan.She is very beautiful.
- FemiO ṣeun, Yejide.Thank you, Yejide.
