abẹtẹlẹ

Yoruba

Etymology

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) +‎ bẹ̀ (“to beg”) +‎ tẹ́lẹ̀ (“before”), literally “prior begging”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /à.bɛ̀.tɛ́.lɛ̀/

Noun

àbẹ̀tẹ́lẹ̀

1. (idiomatic) bribe

   Synonyms: búráìbù, rìbá, owó-ẹ̀yìn, ọwọ́-kúdúrú, owó-àbẹ̀tẹ́lẹ̀

   Mi ò kí ń gbàbẹ̀tẹ́lẹ̀. ― I don't take bribes.

2. (idiomatic, law) corruption

   Synonyms: ìwà-ìbàjẹ́, ìdíbàjẹ́