ìwọ́ noun /ì.wɔ́/
Definitions
  1. umbilical cord
  2. navel
Etymology
Compare with Itsekiri ùghọ́, possibly cognate with Ifè ìfɔ̃́ (“navel”). Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *ʊ̀-ɣɔ́, *ɪ̀-ɣɔ́, ultimately from Proto-Edekiri *ʊ̀-ɣɔ́, *ɪ̀-ɣɔ́. Originally only referring to the umbilical cord, it has semantically shifted to also refer to the navel, becoming synonymous with idodo
Dialectal synonyms “navel, umbilical cord” 30 varieties

Southeast Yoruba

Ìjẹ̀bú Òde
ùwọ́
Ẹ̀pẹ́
ùghọ́
Ìkòròdú
ìghọ́
Ṣágámù
ùghọ́
Òkìtìpupa
ùghọ́
Mahin
ùghọ́
Oǹdó
ùghọ́
Ọ̀wọ̀ (Ọ̀ghọ̀)
ùghọ́
Usẹn
ùghọ̀

Ìtsẹkírì

Ìwẹrẹ
ùghọ́

Olùkùmi

Ugbódù
ughọ́

Central Yoruba

Àdó Èkìtì
ụ̀ọ́
Àkúrẹ́
ụ̀ọ́
Ọ̀tùn Èkìtì
ụ̀ọ́
Iléṣà (Uléṣà)
ụ̀ọ́

Northwest Yoruba

Èbúté Mẹ́tà
ìwọ́
Èkó
ìwọ́
Ìbàdàn
ìwọ́
Ìfẹ́lódùn LGA
àwẹ́
Ìrẹ́pọ̀dùn LGA
ìwẹ́
Ìsin LGA
ìwẹ́
Ìlọrin
ìwọ́
Ọ̀yọ́
ìwọ́
Nàìjíríà
ìwọ́
Bɛ̀nɛ̀
ìwɔ́

Northeast Yoruba/Okun

Ìjùmú
ùwọ́
Kabba
iwọ̀uwọ̀

Ede languages/Southwest Yoruba

Akpáré
ìfɔ̃́ navelokùfɔ̃́ umbilical cord
Atakpamɛ
ìfɔ̃́ navelokùfɔ̃́ umbilical cord
Tchetti (Tsɛti, Cɛti)
ìfɔ̃́ navelokùfɔ̃́ umbilical cord
View the dialect map on Wiktionary ↗
Source: Wiktionary · etymology 3, where this word is spelled “iwọ”. Reference: en-iwọ-yo-noun-3le~lYjb