Sranan Tongo

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Possibly from Twi Akan tɔ nko (to fall asleep, to doze)[1][2]

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ɟõŋ.ko/, /d͡ʒõŋ.ko/

Verb

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dyonko

  1. to slumber, to doze off, to nod off, to drowse
    • 1783, C. L. Schumann, Neger-Englisches Worterbuch [Negro English Dictionary]‎[3], archived from the original on 8 February 2023:
      a de siddom djonko
      [A de sidon dyonko]
      He is sitting and dozing off.
    • 1952, Paula Velder, transl., “Midzomernachtsdroom [Midsummer Night's Dream]”, in Michiel van Kempen, Een geschiedenis van de Surinaamse literatuur. Deel IV. De geschreven literatuur van 1923 tot 1975 [A history of Surinamese literature. Part IV. Written literature from 1923 to 1975]‎[4], Paramaribo: Okopipi, translation of A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, published 2002, page 96:
      Effi à pré no wakka boen, / Ano meki ie las' ie bro, / Dink dan datti ie bin djonko / En à kon joe leki visjoen
      [Efi a prei no waka bun, / a no meki yu lasi yu bro / denki dan dati yu ben dyonko / èn a kon yu leki fisyun]
      If the play didn't go well, / didn't make you lose your breath, / just think that you were slumbering / and it came to you like a vision
    • 1962, Johanna Schouten-Elsenhout, “winti [Wind]”, in soela[5], Paramaribo: Bureau Volkslectuur, page 13:
      A swit sewinti / d'e wai a branspen / te doro ini / sranan liba / e mek mi jeje djonko
      [A switi sewinti / d'e wai a Branspen / te doro ini / Srananliba / e meki mi yeye dyonko]
      The pleasant ocean breeze / blowing at Braamspunt / up onto / the Suriname river / makes my soul drowse

Noun

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dyonko

  1. (slang) a joint, a marijuana cigarette
    • 2020 April 1, Stuart Rahan, “De corona-avondklok [The corona curfew]”, in De Ware Tijd[6], archived from the original on 6 August 2021:
      A dyonko e pase fu a wan anu go na wan tra anu, fu a wan mofo go na wan tra mofo.
      The joint passes from hand to hand, from mouth to mouth.

Descendants

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  • Aukan: dyonko
  • Saramaccan: djönkö
  • Dutch: jonko

References

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  1. ^ G. Huttar (1985) “Sources of Ndjuka African vocabulary”, in New West Indian Guide[1], →ISSN, page 57
  2. ^ Johann Gottlieb Christaller (1875) A Dictionary of the Asante and Fante Language Called Tshi (Chwee, Twi), With a Grammatical Introduction and Appendices on the Geography of the Gold Coast and Other Subjects[2], page 233