Reduplication With kí

Any Member of a Set

Level 4

Repeated nominal material with a linker forms an “any” expression.

How It Works

Attested nominal “any” expressions combine repeated material with the linker kí. Examples include ilékílé, “any house,” ibikíbi, “any place,” and awakọ̀káwakọ̀, “any driver.” In permission or possibility clauses, these express choice within the relevant class without selecting a particular member.

The surface word is not always an unchanged noun–linker–noun sequence. Compare retained kí in ibikíbi with ká in awakọ̀káwakọ̀. These complete outputs illustrate different linker vowels. Their spelling does not make one automatic vowel-change rule appropriate for every nominal base.

Use the attested complete words rather than generating a guessed paradigm. These nominal formations differ from kí introducing a subordinate clause and from agentive or gerundive reduplication. The present examples demonstrate free-choice readings; they do not establish every possible negative or evaluative use.

Examples (3)

  1. O lè wọ ilékílé.

    You may enter any house.

    The permission leaves the house unrestricted within the relevant setting.

  2. A lè jókòó ní ibikíbi.

    We may sit anywhere.

    The choice ranges over places.

  3. Awakọ̀káwakọ̀ lè ṣe iṣẹ́ yìí.

    Any driver can do this work.

    The nominal expression ranges over drivers.

How It Connects

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Reduplication With kíLevel 4Any Member of a Set

Learn This First

Learn each complete nominal “any” form.