okunkun

Yoruba

Alternative forms

• òòkùn
• òkùkù (Ìdàáṣà, Ekiti)

Etymology 1

From ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ kùnkùn (“partial reduplication of kùn to become dark”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ò.kũ̀.kũ̀/

Noun

òkùnkùn

1. darkness
2. (idiomatic) evil

   Synonyms: ibi, bìlísì

3. (idiomatic) secret
4. (idiomatic) blindness

Derived terms

• olókùnkùn (“that which is characterized by darkness”)
• ẹgbẹ́ òkùnkùn (“secret society”)
• ọjà-òkùnkùn (“black market”)

Etymology 2

From ò- +‎ kùn +‎ kùn.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ò.kũ̀.kũ̀/

Noun

òkùnkùn

1. the date palm Phoenix reclinata

   Synonyms: okun, elékikòbi