iyawo mi
The English phrase "my wife" is translated into Yoruba as iyawo mi.
This phrase is used by a married man to refer to his female spouse.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of iyawo, meaning "wife" and mi, meaning "my".
How does it change in a sentence?
In Yoruba, the possessive pronoun mi follows the noun it modifies.
Did you know?
- A popular folk etymology suggests iyawo comes from ìyà, meaning 'suffering' or 'punishment', and the name of the town Ìwó.
- In Yoruba culture, a husband may refer to his wife as ìyá àwọn ọmọ, which means 'mother of the children' as a sign of respect.
- While iyawo means 'wife', it is also used to refer to a bride on her wedding day, regardless of whether the marriage has been consummated.
Examples in context
- Iyawo mi ni ẹlẹ́rìí.My wife is a witness.
Example conversation
Tunde is introducing his spouse to a friend.
- MorenikeTunde, ta ni obìnrin yẹn?Tunde, who is that woman?
- TundeIyawo mi ni Morenike.Morenike is my wife.
- MorenikeẸ kú àbọ̀, Morenike.Welcome, Morenike.
- TundeO ṣeun, Morenike nire.Thank you, Morenike is kind.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries iyawo, mi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
