used of elephants and toucans);
described by xwaxwa [ \ \ ].
va [ / ] to split into two equal
parts (v. sɔ [ / ] “to split into
many parts”, e.g. wood, with
axes).
vã [ / ] to stop at a certain place
in order to rest (when on travel);
“to branch”; t-ivã eʋa [ ˥ ˩ ˩ \ ]
I will rest there; cf. ɔvãʋiɛ [ ˩ ˩ / ].
vaɣavaɣa [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] occurs in a song
only, describes a staggering kind
of motion broken by intervals of
clinging to a tree; used of the
bat avamu [ ˩ \ ˩ ], and also, meta-
phorically, of prostitutes; with
the verb ɽu [ ˥ ]; cf. va 2 [ ˥ ], and
the next item.
vaɣavaɣa [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] describes the flight
of herons, hornbills, and of the
bats ɔwɔ [ ˩ ˩ ] and avamu [ ˩ \ ˩ ],
i.e. that of fairly big, but not
powerful animals, whilst vuɣa-
vuɣavuɣa [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] describes the
powerful flight of a big bird;
ɔtĩ vaɣavaɣa [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] it flies
clumsily; cf. the preceding item.
ve [ ˥ ] to offer a price for some-
thing and to argue about it,
“to prize”; il-iɣo‿uv-ɛe [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ \ ‿ ˥ ]
how much do you give for it?
v-ɛe mɛ ɣe [ \ ˥ / ] “ask for it
for me (to see)”; used e.g. when
the trader is absent or speaks a
foreign language. ve y-urhu [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ]
lit. “to promise (?) on (one’s)
neck”, i.e. responsibility: to
promise to pay; to vote (a sacri-
fice or cowries) to an ihɛ̃ or ɛbɔ.
vɛ [ ˥ ] (1) to open (of a sore only).
(2) to come out (of a secret); ɛʋ̃ɛ
na vɛe [ ˩ / ˩ \ ] the secret (word)
has come out; cf. vɛ [ / ].
vɛ̃ 1 [ ˥ ] to wrestle; oko na m-obɔ
gua vɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˦ ] this fellow
