aṣiwere
The Yoruba word for "idiot" is aṣiwere.
aṣiwere refers to a person of low general intelligence. In informal contexts, you may also use the word Ewu, which literally means "goat," to signify someone's foolishness.
Meaning: person of low general intelligence (noun)
Did you know?
- Yoruba has many idioms for foolishness that involve the head, ori, because the head is considered the seat of one's destiny and intelligence.
- In Yoruba culture, calling someone aṣiwere can be a serious social transgression because mental health is often linked to spiritual or ancestral causes.
- The word aṣiwere is sometimes used in Yoruba music and street slang to describe someone who is 'crazy' with passion or energy, rather than lacking intelligence.
Examples in context
- Ọmọ aṣiwere ni wọ́n ń pè é.They are calling him an idiot.
- Kí ni aṣiwere ṣe?What did the idiot do?
- Má ṣe jẹ́ aṣiwere.Do not be an idiot.
Example conversation
Yejide is arguing with Olumide about a mistake he made.
- YejideKí ló dé tí o fi ṣe èyí?Why did you do this?
- OlumideMi ò mọ̀, mo ṣìnà.I don't know, I got lost.
- YejideO jẹ́ aṣiwere tòótọ́, Olumide!You are a real idiot, Olumide!
- OlumideMá bínú, Yejide.Don't be angry, Yejide.
