This contribution answers the many questions that have always appeared as search terms on this blog for a long time. Unfortunately, I’m not equipped to answer those questions about the names of birds, animals, rodents …
Such questions started appearing since the posting of What’s in a name? – A look at Yoruba’s views of some birds’ names by Deleola Daramola in June 2013.
The article, a very popular one, had a mere 431 total views during the seven months of that year but would subsequently attract 1,640 views (2014); 2,868 views (2015); 2,822 views (2016) and in 2017 to date, there have been 1,872 views – a grand total of 9,633 views.
There have been questions about “Yoruba name for igun”; “… hoopo bird called in Yoruba”; “… aluko and agbe birds in Yoruba culture”; “the English name of eye akalamagbo”; “What is the English of eye kowe”, and many others.
At the end of the list, there are a couple of references, and more can be found through Google.
PLEASE NOTE: Spellings often differ in various Yoruba sub-ethnic groups.
TOLA
Various Yoruba Names for Animals & Birds
===============================
Cobra – Ọka
Ox , Bull – Malu
Spit Snake – Ṣebe
Dog – Aja
Hedgehog – Ọya
Pangolin – Akika
Crocodile – Ọni
Alligator – Ahọnrihọn
Pig – Ẹlẹdẹ
Vulture – Igun, Gunnugun, Gurugu, Akala
Wood-Carrier – Arigiṣẹgi
Hawk – Asa
Palm-Bird – Ologiri
A specie of Bird – Olofẹrẹ
Sparrow – Olokoṣẹ
Peacock – Ọkin
Squirrel – Ọkẹrẹ
Rabbit – Ehoro
crickets – Okinrin
Pouch Rat – Okete
Wild Goat – Edu
A specie of Deer – Ekulu
Shark – Akurakuda
Rat/Mouse – Eku/Ekute
Earthworm – Ekolo
Sing Bird – Ẹyẹ-Orin
Partridge – Aparo
Horse – Ẹṣin
Donkey – Kẹtẹkẹtẹ
Camel – Rakunmi
Ass – Ibakasiẹ
Bat – Adan
Pelican – Ẹyẹ-Ofu
Water-bird – Osin
Dove – Adaba
Viper – Paramọlẹ
Sea-Gulls – Pẹju-pẹju
Yellow-haired Monkey *** Sọmidọlọti/Oloyo
Sea-Bird – Yoja-yoja
Mosquito – Ẹfọn/Yanmu-yanmu
A specie of Beetles – Yanrinbo
Raven – Ẹyẹ-Iwo
Snail – Igbin/Aginniṣọ
Freshwater Snail – Iṣawuru
Stay – Igala
Steer – Ẹgbọọrọ-Akọ Malu
Trout – Ẹja
Buffalo – Ẹfọn
Monkey – Ọbọ
Ape – Ẹdun
Lizard – Alangba
Lobster – Alakasa
Boa Constrictor – Ere
Boar – Ẹlẹdẹ Igbo,
Gorilla, Baboon – Inaki, Inoki, Iro
Chimpanzee – Elegbede
Phython-Constrictor – Ojola
Electric Fish – Ojiji
Scorpion – Ojogan/Akeekee
Toad – Kọnkọ
Antelope – Egbin (Etu)
Tick/Flee – Eegbọn
Hippopotamus – Erinmi
Rhinoceros – Ẹranko bi Imado.
Reynard (Fox) – Kọlọkọlọ
Hyena/Wolf – Ikoko
Giraffe – Agbanrere
Cow – Abo-Malu
Crab – Akan
Wild Pigeon – Oriri
Porcupine – Oorẹ, Eerẹ, Ojigbọn
Black-Ants – Tanpẹpẹ
Centipede – Tanisanko
Millipede – Ọkun
Goanna – Awonrinwon
Frog – Ọpọlọ
Chicken – Oromọ-Adiẹ
Nocturnal Animal – Ajao
Hound – Aja-Ọdẹ
Elephant – Erin/Ajanaku
Sheep – Aguntan
Ram – Agbo
Woodcock – Agbe
A species of Woodcock – Aluko
White-feathered Bird (Penguin) – Lekeleke
Chamelon – Ọga, Alagẹmọ
Crane-Bird – Akọ
Parrot – Odidẹrẹ (Aiyekooto)
Ostrich – Ogongo
White-Ant – Ikan, Ikamudu
Tortoise – Ijapa (Alabaun)
Tiger – Ẹkun
Lion – Kiniun
Pigeon – Ẹyẹle
Pig/Swine – Ẹlẹdẹ
Eagle – Idi .
Guinea Fowl – Awo
Guinea Fowl – Ẹtu
Guinea Pig – Ẹmọ-Ile
Jelly-Fish – Ẹja-Odo
A specie of Bird – Afẹrẹgbojo/Afe-imojo
Spider – Alantakun
Butterfly – Labalaba
Bee – Oyin
Cockroach – Aayan
Cricket – Irẹ
Crab – Akan
Housefly – Eṣinṣin/Eeṣin
Gnats – Kokoro-Ojuọti
Wall-Gecko – Ọmọnle
Mouse – Eliri
Colt Young Horse – Agodongbo
Woodpecker – Akoko
Palm-Bird – Ẹga
Insect – Ipin
Red-Ant – Abonilejọpọn
Civet-cat – Ẹta
Zebra – Kẹtẹkẹtẹ-Abila
Owl – Owiwi
Lice – Ina-Ori
Bed-bug – Idun
Leopard – Amọtẹkun
Hind – Abo-Agbọnrin
Cat – Ologinni
Turkey – Tolotolo
Swallow – Alapandẹdẹ
Kine – Abo-Malu
Stallion – Akọ-Ẹṣin
Gadfly – Iru, Eṣinṣin-nla
Duck – Pẹpẹyẹ
Jackal – Akata/Ajako
Corrections:
Toad – òpòló
Frog – àkèré, kònkò
Leopard – ekùn
Tiger – àmòtékùn
Courtesy, Alagba Adelagun Abudu & Egbe Ifesemule ati Ilosiwaju Ede Yoruba, United Kingdom
Comments