been a belief that the ɛhi n-oha
actually was a spirit that re-
peated one’s words. (4) ɛhi
n-axɔe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] region at the back
of the head; the hole is explained
by the belief that during his
stay in ɛɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˩ ] a man has to
pay something for his food, and
that a part of his skull is cut
out in order to serve as a
payment; cf. hi [ ˥ ].
ɛhiɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ] (1) native pepper; ɛhiɛ̃
nexwa [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “big pepper” (pl.):
a special sort, see also ikpoʋuxɔ
[ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] and akpɔkɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ]; ɛhĩ-ɛ̃do
[ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] lit. “pepper of Benin”:
the so-called “alligator-pepper”;
ɛhĩ-ɛ̃gbo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] “pepper of for-
est”, a tree, Lonchocarpus grif-
fonianus, only used for build-
ing oxogbo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ]. (2) pepper-
soup; ɛhiɛ̃ sãʋ̃ɛ y-ɔʋ̃-ãɽo [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ]
pepper-soup has splashed into
my eye.
ɛhihi [ ˩ \ ˩ ] a very small black ant,
found in the house.
ɛho [ ˩ ˥ ] (1) throat. (2) voice; ɛho
ɛɽe la gbe [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] his voice
sounds much (i.e carries far;
said of a falsetto voice).
ɛhohaʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] (cold) scales of iron
beaten off by the smith; enwa^
nanwan-erhɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] sparks.
ɛhoho [ ˩ \ ˩ ] wind; ɛhoh-ɛziza [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ]
whirlwind.
ɛhũ [ ˩ ˥ ] hollow spaces in trees
(caused by insects) that are still
covered with bark; ɛhũ-ogo [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]
(ogo [ ˩ ˩ ] old farm) a tree, Trema
guineense, mostly found on old
farms; it has very soft wood,
which is perhaps the reason of
its being called ɛhũ, and is not
used for any purpose.
ɛka [ ˩ ˥ ] a position in ule ogwɛga
