gbẹ

• gbɛ̀, ogbɛ̀ (Benin)
• ogbẹ̀

From Proto-Gbe *-gbɛ. Compare Fon gbɛ̀, Saxwe Gbe ɛgbɛ̀, Adja egbɛ (“universe, creation, life”), Ewe agbe.

• IPA^(key): /ɡ͡bɛ̀/

gbẹ̀ (plural gbẹ̀ lẹ́) (Nigeria)

1. life

Proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *gbɛ̃̀, cognate with Igala gbẹ̀

• IPA^(key): /ɡ͡bɛ̀/

gbẹ̀

1. (chiefly CY, transitive, intransitive) to plant; to sow

   Synonym: gbìn

• gbẹ before a direct object

• àgbẹ̀ (“farmer”)

• lẹ́ (“to transplant a plant”)

Proposed to come from Proto-Yoruboid *gbɛ, cognate with Igala gbẹ

• ڠعَِ

• IPA^(key): /ɡ͡bɛ̄/

gbẹ

1. (intransitive) to become dry; to become dehydrated
2. (transitive, intransitive) to dry up

• ọ̀gbẹlẹ̀ (“dry season”)
• ìgbẹ
• fàgbẹ

Related to Etymology 2

• ڠعَِ

• IPA^(key): /ɡ͡bɛ̄/

gbẹ

1. (intransitive) to become emaciated or evaporated

• ìgbẹ
• òǹgbẹ (“thirst”)

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *gbɛ̃́, cognate with Igala gbẹ́

• ڠعَِ

• IPA^(key): /ɡ͡bɛ́/

gbẹ́

1. to carve or sculpt; (in particular) to carve or sculpt something out of wood or stone

• when the medium used to carve or mold is wood or stone, use gbẹ́.
• when clay or earth is being used to mold, use mọ

• ìgbẹ́
• gbẹ́gilére (“woodcarver”)
• gbẹ́dó-gbẹ́dó
• gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà (“carpenter”)

• IPA^(key): /ɡ͡bɛ́/

gbẹ́

1. (transitive, intransitive) to dig; to dig up

   wọ́n gbẹ́ kànga ― They dug a well

• when the medium used to carve or mold is wood or stone, use gbẹ́.
• when clay or earth is being used to mold, use mọ

• ìgbẹ́
• gbẹ́gilére (“woodcarver”)
• gbẹ́dó-gbẹ́dó
• gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà (“carpenter”)

• wà (“to dig; to mine”)

• IPA^(key): /ɡ͡bɛ́/

gbẹ́

1. (intransitive) to cackle; (specifically referring to the cackle a hen makes when laying her eggs)

   abodìẹ́ ń gbẹ́ kẹ́kẹ́ lórí ẹyin ― The hen was cackling loudly on her eggs

• ìgbẹ́ (“cackle”)