birth

a-áp₁ v.s. 1 • To become pregnant or give birth before circumcision. Usage: vulgar. Ɛ́táápá entitó ɛ́ɨ́tʉ̂ ɛ́mʉ́rátɨ̂ The girl has become pregnant before circumcision. It is tragic if this occurs; the girl is in disgrace and generally despised.

2 • [North] To be pregnant (of an animal). Kɛ́áp nkɨ́tɛ̀ŋ. The cow is pregnant. (SN).

3 • [North] To be in early stages of pregnancy.

4 • [South] To wrestle in a friendly way, usually done by warriors as play. LING: In K and W, this verb cannot occur in the progressive, nor in the inceptive. See: a-atá ɛ́-nátîû ‘To be pregnant’; a-ɨmalɨmál ‘To fool about’; ɛn-táápáí ‘Girl who gets pregnant before circumcision’; a-nʉtá ‘To be pregnant’; áà-nàŋàrò ‘To wrestle’.

a-apʉ́ [North] [North] To become pregnant, of animals.

a-atá ɛ́-nátîû v.phrase v.s. 1 • To be expectant, pregnant. Usage: polite. Kɛ́átà ɛ́nátîû. She is pregnant. Syn: a-iroishí ‘To be heavy, pregnant’; a-nʉtá ‘To be pregnant’; a-iturukúm [North] ‘To be pregnant’.

2 • To be in a strange behavioral condition (possibly due to bewitching). Ɛátà ɛ́nátîû nɛnâ tóyîê . (i) Those girls have something strange about them. (ii) Those girls are pregnant. Káɨ́nyɔ́ɔ́ peê ɛŋɔjɨnárì ɛldɛ́ túŋání? Kájó ɛátà ɛ́nátîû. [ɛ̀átà ! ɛ̀nàtìù, one final mora] Why is that person limping? Maybe he has a problem. (e.g. an injury).

a-atá ɛnk-ɔ́shɔ̀kɛ̀ v.phrase v.s. 1 • To be greedy for food, be gluttonous. ɔltʉŋánì ɔáta ɛnkɔ́shɔ̀kɛ̀ A person who is greedy.

2 • To be pregnant. Restrict: women.

3 • To have a big stomach. Ɛátà enkítòk ɛnkɔ́shɔ̀kɛ̀. (i) The woman is pregnant. (ii) The woman is a glutton. (iii) The woman has a big stomach.

em-bolet n. Pet name for a child, given soon after birth.

l-búután [North] n. [North] Ceremony held about four days after the birth of a child (or up to several months or definitely before the child is circumcised ) when an ox or sheep is slaughtered outside the mother's house. Prior to this ceremony, the father does not go near his wife's house.

ɔl-danyɛ́t Acc pl: ɨl-danyɛ́tà. n. The first watery liquid that emerges when s.o. or sth. is giving birth. LING: The plural could refer to the watery liquid from several cows.

a-duŋó v.mid. 1 • To be cut or severed completely (e.g. a string; a rubberband from too much stretching).

2 • To be stopped, dry up (e.g. water from flowing, woman from giving birth).

a-ibirú [North]: a-ɨbɨrʉ́. v. 1 • To miscarry, abort. Eibíru. She will miscarry.

2 • To give birth prematurely. Kɛ́ɨ́bɨ́rʉ́à She has give birth prematurely. (S). This can be used of any female, human or animal.

a-ibiruníé To cause an abortion.

a-ɨkáʉ́ v. To give birth for the first time. Ɛ́́ɨkàwùà ɛntawúó. My heifer has calved for the first time. (Pk). Ɛɨkáwua ŋolé esíánkìkì aíú ɔlkɨkáʉ́ lɛnyɛ́. The young bride gave birth yesterday to her first born boy. (Pk). Usage: For some speakers, this verb is most appropriate for animals.. See: ɛn-kɨkáʉ́ ‘First-born daughter’; ɔl-kɨkáʉ́ ‘First-born son’.

a-ɨrɔ́ny v.prog. 1 • To squeeze, press against sth. Káaɨrɔnyɨtâ. It's pressing me. (S). Ɛgɨ́rà ɛnkɛráí aɨrɔ́ny ɛnkɨlâ naɨsʉjɨ́tà. The child is squeezing the cloth she is washing. (Pk). This could be said if one leans on sth. that puts pressure on the person, such as a chair; or by crowding up against s.o. one is sharing a bed with.

2 • To force s.o. to do sth. that they would probably not do on their own.

3 • To have an abortion.

a-ishó [For at least some speakers: [àyshíó] (K)] PF: toíshe [toíshie]. v.apass. 1 • To give birth, bear offspring. LING: This verb is the antipassive form of a-iú(n) 'to bear (offspring)'. Néjî, etoíshe ɛnapá tɔmɔnɔnɨ́. It is reported that the woman who was pregnant has given birth. (K). Kétoíshè She gave birth. (Pk W). Kétiíshè. She gave birth. (S). Etoíshe, nélàù. She has given birth, and lost (the child; i.e. the child died). Ɛgɨ́rà ɛnkɨ́tɛ̀ŋ aishó tì aúlùò. The cow is giving birth outside the kraal. (Pk).

2 • To bear fruit. Ɛgɨ́rà ɔlcánì aishó ayíú ɨlŋanayíó kúmòk. The tree is bearing many fruits. (Pk) (lit: The tree is bearing [intransitive] to bear [transitive] many fruits.). See: a-iú ‘To give birth’.

a-íú In some suffixed forms: a-íún. PF: -toiwuo(k). v.s. To bear offspring or fruit; give birth. Ɛgɨ́rà enkítòk aíú ɛnkɛráí. The woman is bearing a child. (Pk). Ɛgɨ́rà ɔlcánì aishó aíú ɨlŋanayíó kúmòk. The tree is bearing many fruits. (Pk). Kéyù nkítók âi nkɛ́ráí. My wife will bear a child. (S). LING: In this example, nkɛ́ráí is obligatory. Nɛ́manyɨshɔ́ néiuní ɨnkɛ́rà. They will have children. (W). Eyíú ɛntánkɨ̀lɛ̀ ɛnkɛ́ráí. The mother gives birth to a child. (W). Eíúnò. It has already been born/It is born. (W). Eyíúni ɛnkɛ́ráí. The child will be born. LING: [eyíúni] contains four morae. Eyíúni ɛnkɛ́ráí. The child will be born. / The child is being born (right now). (W). Eíni ɛnkɛ́ráí The child will be born. Ɛlɛ̂ oshî ɛtaŋasákɨ̀ áàyìù níkíntókíní iyíé. It is this one who was given birth to first and you later on. (Pk). Néjî etoíuo entíto. It is said that she has given birth to a girl. Áátóíuo tɔ̀ lárî lɛ́ nkálìfù nabô ɔ́ îp naáudó ɔ́ ntòmònì naápìshànà ɔ́ naápìshànà. I gave birth to you in the year 1977. Eitáyio enkiyíô She miscarried. (lit: She gave birth to a deceased child.). LING: Cannot take Progressive -ɨta. This supports the hypothesis that a-íú contains the Ventive Directional, which generally disallows the Progressive.

a-ishó To give birth, bear (fruit). See: a-iní ‘To be born’.

a-jɨ́ŋ ají v. To give birth. Usage: polite. See: a-ishó ‘To give birth’.

kɛ́rɛ́ɛ́k n. Dirt, filth; uncleanliness. Primarily dirt found inside the house of a mother that has just given birth. Mésídáí kɛrɛɛ́k tè biótìshò óò sésènì Dirt is not good for the health of the bodies. See: a-ɨkɛrɛɛ́k ‘To be dirty’; kɛ́rɛ́rɛ̂ ‘Dirty; unclean’.

ol-kérr léélàtà Variant: lkér léràtà (S). Ram for fat, either for a mother who has just given birth, or for a circumcised child. One ram is slaughtered for each such event, either a birth or circumcision, and the mother or circumcised child (boy or girl) is given the fat to drink. Anyone can eat the meat, except warriors, who cannot eat meat at home. See: ol-kúò ‘Lamb’; ol-mérègèsh ‘Ram’.

ol-kérr loo nkʉjɨt n. The name given to a ram which is slaughtered before the birth of a child. See: ol-kípokêt ‘Birth sheep’; ol-kérr lélàtà ‘Ram for fat’.

ɛn-kíbírótó 1 • Premature birth (for humans or domestic animals). Ɛ́yɛ̀ oshî inkítùààk kumók tɛnkárakɨ́ ɛnkíbírótó. Many women usually die because of premature birth. ɛndá kíbírótó [ɛ̀ndá kìbìròtò] that premature birth (W).

2 • Female (human or domestic animal) who is unusually small and thin. Mɛbáɨ́kɨ̀ enkítòk kibirotó shʉ́mátá é nkàjí. The tiny woman can not reach the top of the house.

ɛn-kɨ́páí₁ Nom sg: ɛn-kɨpáí. Acc pl: ɨn-kɨ́pà. Nom pl: ɨn-kɨ́pâ. n.f. n.f. Clear-to-yellowish mucous-like fluid in which the embryo is suspended inside the amnion; amniotic fluid; caul-fat; includes both the white and the yolk of an egg. The word has positive connotations. Usually used in plural form. Singular refers to one spot of the mucous or can be used synonomously with the plural. Táà ɨnkɨ́pà. May you bear children. (lit: Be amniotic fluid.) [A blessing, mostly said by elders.]. ɨnkɨ́pà ɛ́ nkɨ́tɛ́ŋ Amniotic fluid of the cow [This phrase is commonly used by men when swearing.].

2 • n.f. Affirmation that something is true. Restrict: by men. Usage: oath. See: ɔ-sámpʉ́lál ‘Slime’.

Lɛkɨ́pà, Lɛ́kɨ́páí n.prop. boy's name.

Nɔɔ́nkɨ́pà n.prop. Married woman's name.

ɨn-kɨ́pà ó lmosorî Egg-white.

ol-kípókét Nom sg: ol-kipokét. Acc pl: il-kípókètà. Nom pl: il-kipókètà. [North] Acc sg: l-kúpókét. n. Lamb slaughtered for purifying or cleansing a house after a woman gives birth. This is the first ceremony performed on the day of a child's birth. A kid, with fleece of a uniform color, is killed beside the house. The mother drinks some of the blood, while other women feast on the meat (no men eat of this animal). Some of the blood mixed with contents of the animal's stomach is spread around the perimeter of the ɛnkáŋ and on the top right-hand corner of the mother's house. The bones and the grass upon which the kid was slaughtered are collected and burnt outside the house for fear of witchcraft. (S). See: móòr ‘Lamb slaughtered for cleansing’.

en-kiyîô [èŋkìyyô] Nom sg: en-kíyíó. Acc pl: in-kiyiotín. Variant: in-kiyíótìn. Nom pl: in-kíyìòtìn. Variant: in-kíyìòìtìn. n. 1 • Child or fetus who has died. Usage: Reference to a past time. Ɛnkárná ɛ́napá kiyîô natúá ɛná. This is the name of the young girl who died. Ɛshɔmɔ́ pápaaí aasaayá ɛndâ áŋ naituráyìè enkiyîô. My father has gone to visit that family that has lost a child. (W).

2 • Woman who had not given birth before dying.

3 • Young girl, or person of any age. Usage: derog. "Enkiyîô ɛ́ ɛndâ áŋ nátupurróíyìè emotí!" "It is the (wretched?) girl from that village who stole the cooking pot!".

4 • Unborn fetus.

5 • Offspring. Usage: vocative.

6 • Dame.

ol-kiyîô 1 • Big girl (esp. in terms of body size). Usage: Contemptuous, rare.

2 • [North] Boy.

en-kiyîô é nkoríóŋ Still birth. See: en-títo ‘Girl’.

en-kóítóí ɛ́ nkɛ́ráí Cervix, birth canal. See: o-rrékíé ‘Path’; ɔl-bárɨ́bárà ‘Road’; munyororo ‘Road’.

ol-ker loo nkujit Variant: o-loo-nkujit. Name given to a ram which is slaughtered before the birth of a child.

ol-masí Nom sg: ɔl-másì. Acc pl: ɨl-masîn. Nom pl: ɨl-másìn. n. Hair that the mother allows to grow after delivery of a child. See: kúb ‘Long hair’; ol-kújú ‘Long hair’.

e-mudóŋ Nom sg: e-múdòŋ. Acc pl: i-mudóŋò. Nom pl: i-múdòŋò. n. 1 • Placenta, afterbirth. This may stay with the mother cow for a long time. However, the mother could die if it stays too long.

2 • Kinship.

naɨláŋà Nom sg: náɨ́laŋa. n. Mixture of fresh milk warmed on the fire, mixed with a smaller amount of blood and sugar; typically given to women who have just given birth.

e-neímù ɛn-kɛráí Acc pl: i-néèmù ɨn-kɛ́rà. n. Birth canal. See: a-ɨ́m ‘To pass’; en-kóítóí ɛ́nkɛ̀ràì ‘Birth canal’.

óíjìè The stage of a female animal or woman just after they have given birth; maybe as long as a month. See: en-tómónisho ‘Postpartum stage’.

a-omón ɛnkáí 1 • To pray to God. Usage: lit.

2 • To give birth. Usage: polite. See: a-sáí ‘To plead’.

n-ɔɔ́nkɔ́shùà [North] Nom sg: n-ɔ́ɔnkɔ́shùà. n. [North] Stomach upsets experienced by women at their first two or three months of pregnancy; nausea, morning-sickness.

a-pololó n. 1 • To be torn.

2 • To abort. Abortion is not common, is a matter for investigation, and is not considered good. It is believed that a woman can eat certain things to PREVENT abortion; and that if she refuses to do it, abortion may result. Or, the woman could take certain herbs or drugs to cause abortion.

ɛtapolólè ɔlpáashe To loose a wife in death (lit: 'The fence fell apart').

m-póróí [North] Nom sg: m-póròì. n.sg. 1 • [North] Roasted clotted blood after stirring a mixture of milk and blood. Ncɔɔ́kɨ̀ mpóróí nánya. Give me clotted blood to eat. (SN). In S, this is given to dogs.

2 • [North] Very small child, up to 2 days old. See: ɔl-pɨ́lɛ̀ ‘A pale red liquid from meat’; ɔ-sáróí ‘A mixture of blood and milk’; [North] l-ɔdɔ́ ‘Blood’; [North] n-julótì ‘milk mixed with blood’; [North] m-púpóí ‘unstirred boiled blood’; [North] n-carlúgì ‘unstirred blood mixed with milk’; [North] n-tîs ‘blood mixed with milk and then stirred together’; ɛnk-albúálì ‘Clotted blood’.

m-púpùò [North] Nom pl: im-púpûô. n. Heated blood mixed with sugar and often some milk, then dried to preserve it for a few days. When dry, it may then be crushed. It is given to children as a treat when their mother gives birth, and as a way for them to "receive" their new sibling. It may also be taken by women who have just given birth or who are newly initiated. It is not taken by older men or warriors. Im-púpùò is generally not used in the singular. But the singular (perhaps em-púpuoi?) would be interpreted as referring to one block or piece. See: ɔ-sárgɛ́ ‘Blood’; ɔ-sáróí ‘Curdled milk mixed with blood’; naɨláŋà ‘Fresh milk mixed with blood’; n-julótì [North] ‘Stirred blood mixed with milk’; n-carlúgì [North] ‘Unstirred blood mixed with milk’; n-tîs [North] ‘Blood mixed with milk and then stirred together’; m-póróí [North] ‘Roasted clotted blood’; púpóí ‘Boiled blood’.

a-rutó [North] v.mid. [North] Navel infection occurring when the umbilical cord is cut wrongly.

ɛn-taŋáŋì Nom sg: ɛn-táŋàŋì. Acc pl: ɨn-taŋâŋ. Nom pl: ɨn-táŋàŋ. n. The bloody substance secreted from the body of a cow ɔ days after it gives birth. See: n-tánáŋâ ‘Bloody substance secreted from the body after birth’.

ɛ-tapɔlɔ́lɛ̀ n. Abortion. Abortion is not common, is a matter for investigation, and is not considered good. It is believed that a woman can eat certain things to PREVENT abortion; and that if she refuses to do it, abortion may result. Or, the woman could take certain herbs or drugs to cause abortion.

ɛ́-tápɔ́lɔ́lɛ ɔr-páashɛ v.phrase. To loose a wife in death.

a-tɛmakɨ́ v. To abort.

ɛ́-tɨ́jɨ́ŋá ají v.phrase. Live birth. The idea is not that the child entered the house, but that the mother is now comfortably at rest and celebrating in the house, along with her friends.

e-toíshe [North] Acc sg: e-tiíshè. v.mid.pf. (Third-person) Perfect(ive) middle form of a-ishó; (to) have given birth. Ɛyákakɨ́ ɛntɔ́mɔ́nɔ́nɨ̀ naatɔ́ɨ́shɛ́ dɛ́t ɛndáà. A woman who just had a baby had food brought for her. (Pk). Etoíshe ɛnapá tɔmɔnɔnɨ́. That pregnant woman has given birth. Átóíshè kákè káyieu ɛɨ́látá náyieu inkírí I have given birth, but I need fat and I need meat. (KS). See: a-ishó ‘To give birth’.

a-toíwùò v.pf. To have given birth; perfect(ive) of a-íú. See: a-íú(n) ‘To give birth, bear (offspring)’; a-ishó ‘To give birth, bear (offspring)’; in-tóyìè ‘Girls’.

en-tómónìshò n.f. 1 • The stage of a woman just after she has given birth; post-partum woman. Ɛ́tɔ́n doí mɛ́ɨ́shɔ́ ɛncalán é tómónìshò ɨnâ kitók epukú tiájì. The weakness of the postpartum stage does not allow that woman to come out of the house. (Pk). See: óíjìè ‘The stage of a female animal or woman after giving birth’.

ɛn-tɔ́mɔ́nɔ́ n. Condition or status of having a lot of children. Ɛntɔ́mɔ́nɔ́ doí námitikí kʉlɨ́káɨ́ máréítà ɛ̀pàl inkíshú mɛ́mɨ́rà. It is because of the many children that some families cannot avoid selling cows. (lit: It is having many children that prevents other families from stopping to sell cows.) (Pk).

en-tómónónisho 1 • The stage of a woman just after she has given birth; post-partum woman.

2 • Person (man or woman) who has a lot of children. See: en-kitók ‘Woman’.

ɛ-wɔlɛ́t Nom sg: ɛ-wɔ́lɛt. Acc pl: ɨ-wɔlɛ́tà. Nom pl: ɨ-wɔ́lɛ́tà. [North] Acc sg: ɔlɛ́t. n. 1 • Child born after the death of a first child. This has been heard used by a woman referring to one of her children as "a piece of her"; an endearment. (Pk).

2 • An answer.

a-yíú [North]: àyù. In some suffixed forms: a-yíún. v.s. 1 • To be born.

2 • To give birth. Ɛgɨ́rà ayíú ɛntánkɨ̀lɛ̀ ɛnkɛ́ráɨ́. The woman is giving birth to a child. (W). Eyiúní ɛnkɛ́ráɨ́. The child is being born. (W).