This is your friendly spot for practical learning tips, useful expressions, and captivating proverbs to help you navigate everyday conversations in Yoruba—let’s learn and enjoy the process together!
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We’re excited to support you on this journey, and we’d love to hear how you’re using what you learn!
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Everyday Yorùbá Expressions That Do Not Translate Directly into English
Everyday Yorùbá Expressions That Do Not Translate Directly into English When learning Yorùbá as a second language, translating every expression word for word can sometimes be confusing. Some Yorùbá expressions communicate feelings, attitudes or cultural meanings that cannot be captured by one direct English translation. To understand these expressions, you must pay attention to the…
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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…
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“Ẹ Kú” in Yorùbá: More Than Just a Greeting
“Ẹ Kú” in Yorùbá: More Than Just a Greeting If you are learning Yorùbá as a second language, you may already know greetings such as Ẹ káàárọ̀ and Ẹ káàsán. However, Yorùbá speakers do not greet people according to the time of day alone. We also greet people according to what they are doing or…
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Interrogative Markers in the Yorùbá Language.
Question words help you ask for specific information in Yorùbá. You can use them to ask about a person, object, place, time, reason, choice, or quantity. Question words at a glance Yorùbá English Kí ni? What? Ta ni? Who? Níbo? / Ibo? Where? Nígbà wo? When? Báwo? How? Kí ló dé? Why? Èwo? Which? Èló?…
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What to Say When You Don’t Understand Yorùbá
You will not understand every word when you are learning Yorùbá, and that is completely normal. Instead of becoming silent or switching immediately to English, use one of these expressions to keep the conversation going. 1. Kò yé mi Kò yé mi means: I don’t understand. Use it when you do not understand what someone…
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How to Answer Yes or No Questions in Yorùbá
Understanding a Yorùbá question is only the first step. To participate in a conversation, you must also know how to answer it. For example, you may understand: Ṣé o ti jẹun?Have you eaten? But can you answer with a complete sentence? Bẹ́ẹ̀ni, mo ti jẹun.Yes, I have eaten. In this lesson, you will learn a…