Oyinbo

See also: oyinbo

Yoruba

Alternative forms

• Èèbó, Èyìnbó, Èrìbó

Etymology

A folk etymology states it is from ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ yìn (“to scratch”) +‎ bó (“to peel”), literally “The ones who have have scratched and peeled off skin”.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ò.jĩ̀.bó/

Noun

Òyìnbó

1. white person, Caucasian, European
2. (sometimes derogatory) A black person who has adopted a European lifestyle or traits

Derived terms

• ẹ̀fọ́-òyìnbó (“Basella alba”)
• igi-òyìnbó (“potato tree”)
• iyọ̀ òyìnbó (“sugar”)
• oníṣègùn-òyìnbó (“medical doctor”)
• ọ̀pẹ̀-òyìnbó (“pineapple”)
• àkàrà òyìnbó (“cake”)
• èdè òyìnbó (“Any European language”)
• ìdò-òyìnbó (“canna lily”)
• ìgbá-òyìnbó (“eggplant”)
• ìlá òyìnbó (“Urena lobata”)
• ìlú òyìnbó (“the Western world”)
• òro-òyìnbó (“Bitter orange”)

 

Descendants

• → English: oyinbo
• → Igbo: òyìbo
• → Nigerian Pidgin: oyìbo