10 Everyday Yorùbá Phrases to Use at Home

Learning individual Yorùbá words is helpful, but speaking becomes easier when you learn complete expressions that you can use in real situations.

These ten simple phrases can help children, parents and beginner learners introduce more Yorùbá into their everyday conversations at home.

1. Ẹ káàárọ̀

Meaning: Good morning

Use Ẹ káàárọ̀ when greeting an older person or more than one person in the morning.

Example

A: Ẹ káàárọ̀, Màmá.
Good morning, Mum.

B: Káàárọ̀, ọmọ mi.
Good morning, my child.

2. Ṣé àlàáfíà ni?

Meaning: Are you well?

This is a warm way to ask whether someone is doing well.

Example

A: Ṣé àlàáfíà ni?
Are you well?

B: Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni, àlàáfíà ni.
Yes, I am well.

Practise the question and its response together. This will help you move beyond recognising the question to answering it naturally.

3. Mo wà dáadáa

Meaning: I am fine

Use this expression when someone asks how you are.

Example

A: Báwo ni?
How are you?

B: Mo wà dáadáa.
I am fine.

4. Ẹ jọ̀ọ́

Meaning: Please

Ẹ jọ̀ọ́ is the respectful form of “please.” Use it when speaking to an older person or more than one person.

When speaking casually to a friend, sibling or younger person, say Jọ̀ọ́.

Examples

Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, ẹ fún mi ní omi.
Please, give me some water.

Jọ̀ọ́, fún mi ní omi.
Please, give me some water.

5. Ẹ ṣé

Meaning: Thank you

Use Ẹ ṣé to thank an older person or more than one person.

Use O ṣé when speaking informally to one person.

Example

A: Gba omi.
Take some water.

B: Ẹ ṣé.
Thank you.

6. Mo fẹ́ omi

Meaning: I want water

The structure Mo fẹ́… means “I want…”

You can replace omi with the name of something else.

• Mo fẹ́ oúnjẹ.
  I want food.
• Mo fẹ́ ìwé.
  I want a book.
• Mo fẹ́ bọ́ọ̀lù.
  I want a ball.

To ask someone what they want, say:

Kí lo fẹ́?
What do you want?

Example

A: Kí lo fẹ́?
What do you want?

B: Mo fẹ́ omi.
I want water.

7. Ebi ń pa mí

Meaning: I am hungry

Use this expression when you want to say that you are hungry.

You can also say:

• Òùngbẹ ń gbẹ mí.
  I am thirsty.
• Ó ti yó mi.
  I am full.

Example

A: Ṣé ebi ń pa ẹ́?
Are you hungry?

B: Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni, ebi ń pa mí.
Yes, I am hungry.

8. Wá síbí

Meaning: Come here

Wá síbí is a useful instruction for everyday family conversations.

Here are some related instructions:

Yorùbá	English
Jókòó.	Sit down.
Dìde.	Stand up.
Wọlé.	Come inside.
Jáde.	Go outside.
Lọ síbẹ̀.	Go there.

Practise these expressions through actions. One person gives an instruction while the other person performs the correct action.

9. Jẹ́ ká lọ

Meaning: Let’s go

Use Jẹ́ ká lọ when inviting another person to go somewhere with you.

Example

A: Ṣé o ti ṣe tán?
Are you finished?

B: Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni.
Yes.

A: Jẹ́ ká lọ.
Let’s go.

10. Ó dàbọ̀

Meaning: Goodbye

Use Ó dàbọ̀ when saying goodbye.

You may also hear:

• Màá rí ẹ.
  See you.
• Ó dàárọ̀.
  Good night.
• Ó dìgbà.
  Until next time.

Quick phrase review

Yorùbá	English
Ẹ káàárọ̀.	Good morning.
Ṣé àlàáfíà ni?	Are you well?
Mo wà dáadáa.	I am fine.
Ẹ jọ̀ọ́.	Please.
Ẹ ṣé.	Thank you.
Mo fẹ́ omi.	I want water.
Ebi ń pa mí.	I am hungry.
Wá síbí.	Come here.
Jẹ́ ká lọ.	Let’s go.
Ó dàbọ̀.	Goodbye.

How to practise these expressions at home

Do not try to memorise all ten phrases in one day. Choose two or three and use them repeatedly during real activities.

For example:

• Use Ẹ káàárọ̀ every morning.
• Ask Kí lo fẹ́? during meals.
• Say Ẹ ṣé whenever someone helps you.
• Use Jẹ́ ká lọ when leaving the house.
• Say Ó dàbọ̀ when ending a call.

You can also practise each expression together with its response.

When someone says	You can respond
Ẹ káàárọ̀.	Káàárọ̀.
Ṣé àlàáfíà ni?	Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni, àlàáfíà ni.
Báwo ni?	Mo wà dáadáa.
Kí lo fẹ́?	Mo fẹ́ omi.
Ṣé ebi ń pa ẹ́?	Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni, ebi ń pa mí.

The goal is not only to recognise Yorùbá expressions. The goal is to use them naturally and respond when someone speaks to you.

Choose three phrases from this lesson and practise them today.