A collection of useful phrases in Yoruba, a Niger-Congo language spoken in Nigeria, Benin, Togo and a number of other countries.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
| English | Yorùbá |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Káàbọ̀ Ẹ káàbọ̀ |
| Hello (General greeting) | Ẹ n lẹ Báwo ni?/ Kilo n ṣẹlẹ? (What's happening?) |
| How are you? | Ṣe daadaa ni o wa? (Are you good?) Ṣe o wa dada? (Are you ok?) Bawo ni? (How are things?) Ṣálàáfíà ni? (Is it peace?) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Mo wa daadaa, o ̣se. Iwọ naa n kọ? |
| Long time no see | O to ọjọ mẹta o O pẹ ti a ri ara wa o |
| What's your name? | Kí ni orúkọ ẹ? (inf) Kí ni orúkọ yín? (frm/pl) Kí lorúkọ ọ̀ ẹ? (inf) Kí lorúkọ yín? (frm/pl) |
| My name is ... | Orúkọ mi ni … ... ni orúkọ mi |
| Where are you from? | Nibo ni o ti wa? |
| I'm from ... | Mo wa lati ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Inu mi dun lati mọ ọ |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Ẹ káàárọ̀ Káàárọ̀ |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Ẹ ká àsán Ká àsán |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Ẹ kú rọ̀lẹ́ Ẹ ká alẹ́ |
| Good night | O da aarọ |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
O da abọ |
| Good luck! | Yoo dara o Yoo bọ si o |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Ayọ ni o Kara o le |
| Have a nice day | Oni a dara o |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Ounjẹ ajẹye o Yoo gba ibi re |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
O da abọ Ka sọ layọ o |
| Yes | Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni (That's how it is) |
| No | Bẹ́ẹ̀ kọ́ (That's not how it is) Rárá (It is not) Irọ́ (It is not (the case)) |
| Maybe | Boya |
| I don't know | N ko mo |
| Do you understand? | Ṣé ó yé ọ? |
| I understand | O ye mi |
| I don't understand | Ko ye emi |
| Please speak more slowly | Jọwọ, rọra maa sọrọ |
| Please say that again | Jọwọ, tun un sọ |
| Please write it down | Jọwọ, kọ ọ silẹ |
| Do you speak English? | Ṣe o le sọ èdè oyinbo? |
| Do you speak Yoruba? | Ṣe o n sọ Yorùbá? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Bẹẹ ni, diẹ |
| How do you say ... in Yoruba? | Bawo ni o se le sọ …... ni Yorùbá? |
| Excuse me | Ẹ ̣se fun mi Ẹ jọ̀wọ́ Ẹ gbọ mi |
| How much is this? | Èló ni? |
| Sorry | Ẹ má bínú (Don't be angry) Ẹ má bínú sí mi (Don't be angry with me) Ẹ má bínú sí wa (Don't be angry with us) Ẹ pẹ̀lẹ́ (Be gentle) Ẹ pẹ̀lẹ́ o |
| Please | Ẹ jọ̀wọ́ Ẹ jọ̀ọ́ Ẹ dákun |
| Thank you | O ṣé (inf) O ṣéun (inf) Ẹ ṣé (frm/pl) Ẹ ṣéun (frm/pl) Mo dúpẹ́ (I’m grateful) A dúpẹ́ (We’re grateful) |
| Reply to thank you | Kò tó ọpẹ́ (It's not much to give thanks for) Kò tọ́pẹ́ A ò kí n dúpẹ́ ara ẹni (One doesn't thank oneself) |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Nibo ni ile igbọnsẹ wa? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Alagba yii yoo sanwo fun gbogbo rẹ |
| This lady will pay for everything | Iyaafin yii yoo sanwo fun gbogbo rẹ |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Ṣe iwọ maa ba mi jo? |
| I miss you | Aro re so mi |
| I love you | Mo ní ìfẹ́ ẹ (I have your love) - inf Mo ní ìfẹ́ yín (I have your love) - frm/pl |
| Get well soon | Da ara ya o |
| Leave me alone! | Fi mi silẹ |
| Help! | Ẹ gba mi o! |
| Fire! | Ina o! |
| Stop! | Duro nbẹ! |
| Call the police! | Pe awọn ọlọpaa |
| Christmas greetings | Ẹ ku Ayọ Keresimesi ati Ọdun Tuntun |
| New Year greetings | A kúu ọdún tuntun o |
| Easter greetings | Ẹ ku Ayọ Ajinde |
| Birthday greetings | Ẹ ku Ayọ Ọjọ Ibi |
| Congratulations! | Oriire! |
| One language is never enough | Ede kan ko to ri rara |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Ọkọ afategun-sare mi kun fun ẹja arọ |
Note: according to the Yoruba calendar, the New Year starts on 3rd June.
Yoruba phrases provided by Adedamola Olofa
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Hear some Yoruba phrases:
Information about Yoruba | Phrases | Numbers | Time | Tower of Babel | Books about Yoruba on: Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk [affilate links]
Other collections of Yoruba phrases
http://www.motherlandnigeria.com/languages.html
http://www.abeokuta.org/yoruba.htm
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