opurọ́
The Yoruba word for "liar" is opurọ́.
opurọ́ is a noun used to describe a person who tells lies.
Meaning: one who tells lies (noun)
Did you know?
- In Yoruba culture, calling someone an opurọ́ is far more severe than in English, as honesty is deeply tied to one's 'orúkọ' or family name and ancestral honor.
- The word opurọ́ is built from puro, which means to tell a lie, and the prefix o used to turn a verb into a person who performs that action.
- Because 'opurọ́' strikes at a person's character, it is common to see people use proverbs about 'the tongue' to criticize a liar without using the direct noun.
Example conversation
Titi confronts Femi about a lie he told.
- TitiFemi, o tàn mí jẹ́.Femi, you lied to me.
- FemiKòtó, mi ò sọirọ́.That's not true, I didn't lie.
- TitiO jẹ́ opurọ́ tòótọ́!You are a real liar!
- FemiJọ̀wọ́, má sọ bẹ́ẹ̀.Please, don't say that.
