yepi

Sranan Tongo

Etymology

From earlier herepi, from English help or Dutch helpen. The initial y- may have originated from a glide in connected speech (compare yesi and yuru for a similar development) via the stages herepi (whence Saramaccan heépi) > *erepi > *yerepi (whence Aukan yeepi) followed by syncope of the intermediate syllable.^[1]

Verb

yepi

1. to help, assist, support, save

Descendants

• Aukan: yeepi
• Saramaccan: heépi

Noun

yepi

1. help, assistance

Derived terms

• yepiman (“helper”)

References

1. Echteld, Johannes J. M. (1962) The English Words in Sranan (Negro-English of Surinam)‎, USA: J.B. Wolters Groningen

• Wilner, John, editor (2003-2007), “yepi”, in Languages of Suriname, 5th edition, SIL International, Sranan-English Dictionary