Days of the week in Yoruba.

Learning the days of the week will help you talk about your routine, lessons, appointments, and future plans in Yorùbá.

The Yorùbá word for day is ọjọ́, while week is ọ̀sẹ̀.

Days of the week in Yorùbá

English	Yorùbá
Sunday	Ọjọ́ Àìkú
Monday	Ọjọ́ Ajé
Tuesday	Ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun
Wednesday	Ọjọ́rú
Thursday	Ọjọ́bọ̀
Friday	Ọjọ́ Ẹtì
Saturday	Ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta

You may sometimes hear the shorter forms Àìkú, Ajé and Ìṣẹ́gun. However, the complete forms can make the meanings clearer for beginners.

Asking what day it is

To ask about the day, say:

Ọjọ́ wo ni òní?
What day is today?

Ọjọ́ wo ni ọ̀la?
What day is tomorrow?

Ọjọ́ wo ni àná?
What day was yesterday?

Possible responses

Òní ni Ọjọ́ Ajé.
Today is Monday.

Ọ̀la ni Ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun.
Tomorrow is Tuesday.

Àná ni Ọjọ́ Àìkú.
Yesterday was Sunday.

Common code-mixed responses

Yorùbá speakers often mix Yorùbá and English in everyday conversations. Because of this, you may also hear:

Òní ni Monday.
Today is Monday.

Ọ̀la ni Tuesday.
Tomorrow is Tuesday.

Àná ni Sunday.
Yesterday was Sunday.

The complete Yorùbá names are important to learn, but recognising these code-mixed forms will help you understand everyday conversations.

Talking about today, yesterday and tomorrow

Yorùbá	English
Òní	Today
Àná	Yesterday
Ọ̀la	Tomorrow

Examples:

Òní ni Ọjọ́rú.
Today is Wednesday.

Àná ni Ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun.
Yesterday was Tuesday.

Ọ̀la ni Ọjọ́bọ̀.
Tomorrow is Thursday.

Talking about weekly activities

You can use the days of the week to say when an activity happens.

Mo máa ń lọ sí ilé ìwé ní Ọjọ́ Ajé.
I go to school on Mondays.

Mo ní kíláàsì Yorùbá ní Ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun.
I have a Yorùbá class on Tuesday.

A máa ń lọ sí ọjà ní Ọjọ́bọ̀.
We go to the market on Thursdays.

Mo máa sinmi ní Ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta.
I will rest on Saturday.

A máa ń lọ sí ṣọ́ọ̀ṣì ní Ọjọ́ Àìkú.
We go to church on Sundays.

Asking when something will happen

Use Nígbàwo? to ask “When?”

Example:

Nígbàwo ni kíláàsì Yorùbá rẹ?
When is your Yorùbá class?

Kíláàsì Yorùbá mi wà ní Ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun.
My Yorùbá class is on Tuesday.

Another example:

Nígbàwo ni o máa lọ sí ọjà?
When will you go to the market?

Mo máa lọ sí ọjà ní Ọjọ́bọ̀.
I will go to the market on Thursday.

Practise the days of the week

Complete each sentence with the correct day.

1. Today is Monday.
   Òní ni __________.
2. Tomorrow is Tuesday.
   Ọ̀la ni __________.
3. Yesterday was Friday.
   Àná ni __________.
4. I have a Yorùbá class on Wednesday.
   Mo ní kíláàsì Yorùbá ní __________.
5. I will rest on Saturday.
   Mo máa sinmi ní __________.

Answers

1. Ọjọ́ Ajé
2. Ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun
3. Ọjọ́ Ẹtì
4. Ọjọ́rú
5. Ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta

Choose one activity you do on each day of the week and practise saying it in Yorùbá. This will help you remember the names and use them naturally.

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