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ɛrɛe [ ˩ \ ] (1) somebody else
    (unknown to the speaker);
    ɣɛrhie-ɣ-ɛɽ-ɔɣ-ũʋ̃ɛ, ɔɣ-ɛrɛe nɔ
    [ ˥ / ˦ ˦ ˩ \ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ˥ ] (iɣe [ ˥ ˩ ]) don’t take
    it, for it is not my own, it
    is somebody else’s! (ɔɣ-ɛrɛe
    [ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ] always means “somebody
    unknown”, while ɔɣ-ɔʋ̃a-ʋehe
    [ ˥ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ] does not imply “un-
    known”); ɛr(ɛ)-ɔɽu ʋ̃-ɔ̃na
    [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ (4-1) ] “did somebody do me
    this” (when something bad has
    happened in one’s absence).
    This example leads on to the
    meaning of (2) “some un-
    known enemy”, implying any
    forces that work towards one’s
    undoing, such as e.g. the evil
    wishes of other people, bad
    advice, opposition, etc. The ɛrɛe
    [ ˩ \ ] is given a sacrifice upon the
    advice of doctors; the act of
    sacrificing is called mu [ ˥ ] ze [ ˥ ]
    na [ ˥ ], and the prayer is: ɛrɛe ʋ̃ɛ,
    ɣ-eʋ̃i n-iyaɽu-ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ / ] “my
    ɛrɛe, look (ɣe [ / ]) at the things
    I am doing (sacrificing) to you”.
    The prayer averts the above-
    mentioned influences. The term
    occurs also in a thanksgiving
    formula used by a junior woman
    to her seniors when having taken
    part of a meal; ɛrɛe ɣigb-uɛ
    [ ˩ ˥ ˦ / ‿ ˩ ] “the bad wishes of other
    people may not kill you!” v.
    kada [ \ ˩ ], bukpɛ [ ˥ ˩ ]. (3)
    Further, this term is applied to
    a man whom one knows to be
    one’s enemy; it seems to imply
    equality in age or rank: ɛrɛ-egbe
    ma ʋ-ɔɽe xĩ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] lit. “equals
    (and enemies) of each other are
    we and he”: he and I are equals
    (and enemies); ɛrɛ(e) ʋ̃ɔ̃‿ũxĩ
    [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “you are my enemy”, i.e.
    you have tried to undo me.