ọtẹlẹmuyẹ

Yoruba

Etymology

From ọ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ tẹ̀ (“to step”) +‎ ilẹ̀ (“land”) +‎ múyẹ́ (“quietly, gently”), literally “One who walks around quietly (while investigating)”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔ̀.tɛ̄.lɛ̀.mṹ.jɛ́/

Noun

ọ̀tẹlẹ̀múyẹ́

1. (literally) one who tip-toes
2. (idiomatic) police detective, investigator

Derived terms

• ìwé-ìtàn-àròsọ ọ̀tẹlẹ̀múyẹ́ (“detective novel, fiction”)
• iṣẹ́ ọ̀tẹlẹ̀múyẹ́ (“detective work”)