Olodumare

== Yoruba == === Alternative forms === Elédùmarè Lédùmaè (Ondo) === Etymology === From oní- +‎ òdùmarè. Many folk etymologies attempt to explain the origin of the term òdùmàrè, but the etymology is ultimately unclear A chapter from the Odù Ifa (Yoruba religious text), Ọ̀sá Ògúndá, explains that the etymology comes from the phrase oní odù tí ń tan òṣùmàrè, ultimately from oní- (“one who has”) +‎ odù (“pot”) +‎ òṣùmàrè (“rainbow”), literally “The owner of the pot from which the rainbow comes from” Another folk etymology explains it as ultimately meaning odù (“source of creation, pot”) +‎ mà (“does not”) +‎ rè (“to become exhausted, empty”), literally “The Owner of the Source of Creation that does not get exhausted; The All Sufficient One” Compare with Òṣùmàrè Another theory tends to link the term to àrè, referring to a stranger or someone of unknown background, referring to the mysterious origins associated with Olodumare, thus breaking down to oní- (“one who has”) +‎ òdù (“pot, source”) +‎ mọ̀ (“to know”) +‎ àrè (“stranger, foreigner, of unknown background”) === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ō.ló.ꜜdù.mā.ɾè/ === Proper noun === Olódùmarè A primordial being of creation in the Yoruba pantheon, regarded as the supreme ruler of the universe and the highest ranking divinity of Ìṣẹ̀ṣe Synonyms: Elédùwà, Ọlọ́run (Christianity) God Synonym: Ọlọ́run