alọ

Gun

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Proto-Gbe *-lɔ, cognates include Fon alɔ̀, Saxwe Gbe alɔ̀, Adja alɔ, Ayizo alɔ, Kotafon Gbe alɔ

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /à.lɔ̀/
Audio (Nigeria)(file)

Noun

àlọ̀ (plural àlọ̀ lẹ́) (Nigeria)

  1. hand

Derived terms

Yoruba

Etymology

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ lọ́ (“to twist, to make confusing”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /à.lɔ́/

Noun

àlọ́

  1. (idiomatic) riddle, quiz
    Synonyms: ààrọ̀, àlọ́ àpamọ̀
    mo já àlọ́ náà ― I solved the riddle
  2. (idiomatic) folktale, fable
    Synonym: àlọ́ àpagbè

Interjection

àlọ́ o!

  1. Used by the storyteller to the listeners to introduce a folktale or riddle
    Àlọ́ ooo! Àlọ̀ ọ̀ọ̀ọ̀! Àlọ́ ooo! Àlọ̀ ọ̀ọ̀ọ̀! Àlọ́ mi dá fùrù gbá gbòó, ó dá lórí... ― The introduction to a folktale

Usage notes

(interjection): It is said several times and each time the reply from the listeners is àlọ̀!, typically with the last vowel drawn out.

Derived terms
  • alálọ̀ọ́ (“storyteller, griot”)
  • àlọ́ àpagbè (“folktale”)
  • àlọ́ àpamọ̀ (“riddle, quiz”)
  • apàlọ́ (“storyteller”)
  • ìtàn-alálọ̀ọ́ ẹlẹ́ranko (“fable”)
  • pàlọ́ (“to tell a riddle or folktale”)
  • òwe (“proverb, adage”)
  • ìtàn (“history, story”)
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