fẹ

See also: Appendix:Variations of "fe"

Yoruba

Alternative forms

• فعَِ

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɛ́/

Verb

fẹ́

1. (transitive) to want, to desire

   Mo fẹ́ sùn. ― I want to sleep.

2. to be on the verge of

   Synonym: fẹ́rẹ̀ẹ́

   Òjò fẹ́ rọ̀. ― It's about to rain. (Rain is almost falling.)

3. to like

   Synonym: fẹ́ràn

4. (usually transitive, sometimes intransitive, stative) to love

   Synonym: nífẹ̀ẹ́

   • 2014, Brymo, Fẹ́ mi:

     Fẹ́ mi, fẹ́ mi o/ Ó yá sọ̀kalẹ̀/ Mo fẹ́ fún ẹ lẹ́bùn/ Kó o fara balẹ̀/ Mo máa fún ẹ ládùn.

     Love me, love me o/ Come on get down/ I want to give you a gift/ So you calm down/ I'll give you pleasure.

   1. (transitive) to marry

      Synonym: gbé

      Ṣé wàá fẹ́ mi? ― Will you marry me?

Usage notes

• Sense 2 usually occurs with the particle ti.
• Sense 1, 2, and 3 are often written as fẹ́ẹ́ when preceding another verb

Derived terms

• Fẹ́mi (“given name”)
• fẹ́rẹ̀ẹ́ (“almost”)
• olùfẹ́ (“lover”)
• àfẹ́ẹ̀rí (“wanting without seeing”)
• ìfẹ́ (“love”)
• ìfẹ́kúfẹ̀ẹ́ (“bad love”)

 

Etymology 2

Obìnrin méjì tó ń fẹ́ ọkà

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɛ́/

Verb

fẹ́

1. to blow

   Afẹ́fẹ́ ń fẹ́. ― A breeze is blowing.

2. to winnow

   Àwọn àgbẹ̀ máa ń fẹ́ ọkà nígbà tí afẹ́fẹ́ bá fẹ́. ― Farmers typically winnow when it's windy.

Derived terms

• afẹ́fẹ́ (“wind”)
• fẹ́kà (“to winnow maize/grain”)

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɛ̀/

Verb

fẹ̀

1. to be wide
2. (intransitive) to widen, to expand

   Ọ̀rọ̀ àyálò ń fẹ àká-ọ̀rọ̀ Yorùbá, ṣùgbọ́n ìpàdánù wo ló wà?

   Loanwords are expanding Yorùbá's lexicon, but at what cost?

Usage notes

• fẹ when followed by a direct object.

Derived terms

• Ifẹ̀ (“city in Nigeria”)
• fífẹ̀ (“wide”)

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fɛ̀/

Verb

fẹ̀

1. (chiefly CY and SEY) to be successful, to be prosperous

   ìpàdé e ní fẹ̀ ― The party was very successful

   Ọnìkan kìí jẹ́ kí ìlú fẹ̀ ― One person does not cause a town to become prosperous

2. (chiefly CY and SEY) to be mature, to be ripe

Usage notes

• fẹ when followed by a direct object.