àwa / ẹ̀yin / àwọn

Independent Plural Pronouns

Level 1

àwa: we; ẹ̀yin: plural or respectful you; àwọn: they or respectful he/she.

How It Works

These citation forms begin with low tone. Àwa identifies a group containing the speaker. Ẹ̀yin identifies addressees, and àwọn identifies third-person participants. Respectful singular reference is supported for ẹ̀yin and àwọn; it is not a general meaning of all three forms.

Compare Àwọn ti ra bàtà, “They have bought shoes,” with Àwọn ọmọ ti ra bàtà, “The children have bought shoes.” The first has a pronoun subject; the second has the whole noun phrase àwọn ọmọ as subject.

Independent forms occur in identification, coordination and verbal subject position. àwa àti ẹ̀yin joins two groups. They do not inherently mean “only.” Verbs have no plural ending in these examples; objects and possessors require their own constructions.

Examples (3)

  1. Àwa ni olùkọ́.

    We are the teachers.

    Plural identification in the intended context; the noun has no English-style plural suffix.

  2. Ẹ̀yin ni akẹ́kọ̀ọ́.

    You are the students.

    Identifies a group of addressees in the intended context.

  3. Àwọn ti ra bàtà.

    They have bought shoes.

    Àwọn stands independently as the subject.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

àwa / ẹ̀yin / àwọnLevel 1Independent Plural Pronouns

Learn This First

Independent plural forms identify, join or contrast groups.