eyini

Yoruba

Etymology 1

Probably èyí +‎ nì, nì is used synonymously with èyinì, (compare with yẹn). Used historically among NWY and CY dialects. The opposition between the demonstrative pronouns 'this' and 'that' is expressed by èyí (or èí) and èyinì respectively. In some SEY spoken varieties, however, it is ìyí and ìyẹn. While most CY have maintained it, NWY experience an intralingual borrowing where èyinì was replaced by ìyẹn. In some NWY spoken varieties èyinì and ìyẹn are still used side by side, but with ìyẹn gaining ground over èyinì[1].

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /è.jī.nĩ̀/

Pronoun

èyinì

  1. (CY) that thing/person
    Antonyms: èyí (“this”), (Ekiti) èí (“this”), (SEY) ìyí (“this”)
    Synonym: (SEY, NWY) ìyẹn (“that”)
    ajá mi re èyinì
    That is my dog
Derived terms
Usage
  • Usually preceded by the "to-be" verb in Ekiti forms, rè

References
  1. Abiodun, Adetugbọ (1967), “The Yoruba Language in Western Nigeria: Its major dialect areas”, in (please provide the title of the work)
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