ẹ̀gbọ́n obìnrin
The Yoruba word for sister is ẹ̀gbọ́n obìnrin. Wiktionary also lists àbúrò obìnrin.
Meaning: woman or girl having the same parents (noun)
Ways to say it
| Yoruba |
|---|
| ẹ̀gbọ́n obìnrin |
| àbúrò obìnrin |
In Yoruba, the way you say sister depends on whether she is older or younger than you. The term is used to describe a woman or girl having the same parents.
What does it mean word for word?
The word ẹ̀gbọ́n literally means elder sibling.
Which one should you use?
Use ẹ̀gbọ́n obìnrin specifically when referring to an older sister, whereas àbúrò obìnrin is used specifically when referring to a younger sister.
Did you know?
- In Yoruba culture, calling someone your ẹ̀gbọ́n or àbúrò is a common way to show respect to strangers, even if you are not related.
- The Yoruba language uses 'tonal' markers, meaning the pitch of ẹ̀gbọ́n can change its meaning entirely if spoken incorrectly.
- Yoruba has no single, gender-neutral word for 'sibling' that does not imply a hierarchy of age.
Examples in context
- Mo ní ẹ̀gbọ́n obìnrin kan.I have one elder sister.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sister” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
