Yoruba Phrases Enjoy these Yoruba expressions, but don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference.
English Greeting
Hi! Good morning! Good afternoon! Good evening! Welcome! (to greet someone) Hello my friend! How are you? (friendly) How are you? (polite) I'm fine, thank you! And you? (friendly) And you? (polite) Good Not so good Long time no see I missed you What's new? Nothing new Thank you (very much)! You're welcome! (for "thank you") My pleasure Come in! (or: enter!) Make yourself at home!
Yoruba Phrases Mo kiyin
Bawo Ek'aro Ek'asan Ek'ale Ek'abo Bawoni Oremi Bawo lowa Bawo lara Mowa dada, Ese Iwo na nko Iwo nko Oda Kofibe da Ope ti mo ti rie Mos'aro e Kini tuntun Kosi tuntun Ese gan Ko t'ope Inu midun Wole wa Ef'okan bale,Ile lewa
Farewell Expressions
Have a nice day! Good night! Good night and sweet dreams! See you later! See you soon! See you tomorrow! Good bye! Have a good trip! I have to go I will be right back!
Od'igba Od'aro od'aro kosi la ala to da mari e ni'gba mi mari e laipe mari e lola Od'abo Irin ajo ada o Moni lati malo Mon padabo
Holidays and Wishes
Good luck!
Pade orire
English
Happy birthday! Happy new year! Merry Christmas! Ei del kabir Independence day Congratulations! Enjoy! (or: bon appetit) Bless you (when sneezing) Best wishes! Cheers! (or: to your health) Accept my best wishes
Yoruba Phrases
Eku ojo ibi Eku odun tuntun Eku odun keresimesi Eku odun Ileya Eku odun ojo ominira Eku ori ire Igba dun Epele Nko rere fun e Eku araya Gba nkan rere timo fefun e
How to Introduce Yourself
What's your name? My name is (John Doe) Nice to meet you! Where are you from? I'm from (the U.S/ Nigeria) I'm (American/ Nigerian) Where do you live? I live in (the U.S/ Nigeria) Do you like it here? Nigeria is a beautiful country What do you do for a living? I'm a (teacher/ student/ engineer) Do you speak (English/ Yoruba)? Just a little I like Yoruba I'm trying to learn Yoruba It's a hard language It's an easy language Oh! That's good! Can I practice with you? I will try my best to learn How old are you? I'm (twenty one, thirty two) years old It was nice talking to you! It was nice meeting you! Mr.../ Mrs. .../ Miss... This is my wife
Kini oruko e? Oruko mi ni (john Doe) Inumidun lati ri e Ilu wo loti wa? Mowa lati ilu (America/nigeria) Omo (America/Nigeria) nimi Ibo l'ongbe? Mongbe ni(America/ nigeria) S'o feran ibi? Orile ede to rewa ni nigeria Ise wo lonse? (Oluko/akeko/ onimo ero) ni mi S'ole so ede(geesi/ yoruba)? Mole so die Moferan yoruba Mongbiyanju lati ko ede yoruba Ede t'ole ni Ede ti kole ni hehen, Iyen da se mole ko pelu e? Mase iwon ti mole se lati ko Omo odun melo ni e? Omo (ogun odun lekan,ogun odun lemeji) ni mi Mogbadun bi mose nba e soro mogbadun bi mose pade e Ogbeni…/ Iya afin…/ Omidan…. Iyawo mi niyi
English
This is my husband Say hi to Thomas for me
Yoruba Phrases
Oko mi niyi Bami ki Thomas
Romance and Love Phrases
Are you free tomorrow evening? I would like to invite you to dinner You look beautiful! (to a woman) You have a beautiful name Can you tell me more about you? Are you married? I'm single I'm married Can I have your phone number? Can I have your email? Do you have any pictures of you? Do you have children? Would you like to go for a walk? I like you I love you You're very special! You're very kind! I'm very happy Would you marry me? I'm just kidding I'm serious My heart speaks the language of love
S'o raye lati ola lo mo fe kajo jade fun ounje ale O rewa gan lobinrin Oruko re rewa Se ole so si fun mi nipa re? Se oti se igbeyawo? Mosi da wa Moti se igbeyawo Se mole gba nomba ero ibani soro re? Se mole gba iwe ateranse re? Se oni awon aworan re? Se oni awon omo? Se ole jeka nase jade Moferan e Mon'ife e! Eeyan pataki ni e! Odaa gan! Inumi dun gan Se wa femi? Mon sere ni o Mi o selere rara Okan mi nso ede ife
Solving a Misunderstanding
Sorry! (or: I beg your pardon!) Sorry (for a mistake) No problem! Can you repeat please? Can you speak slowly? Can you write it down? Did you understand what I said? I don't understand! I don't know! What's that called in Yoruba? What does that word mean in English? How do you say "thanks" in Yoruba? What is this?
Ema binu Epele Kosi'yonu Se ole tunso jo? Se ole soro didie? Se ole koosile? Se nko ti mo so ye e? Ko ye mi! Mi o mo! Kini won npe ni ede yoruba? Kini itumo oro yen ni ede geesi? Bawo lese nso pe"Ese gan" ni ede yoruba? Ki leleyi?
English
My Yoruba is bad Don't worry! I agree with you Is that right? Is that wrong? What should I say? I just need to practice Your Yoruba is good I have an accent You don't have an accent
Yoruba Phrases
Ede yoruba mi da Mase iyonu! Mo faramo nko to so Se iyen da? Se iyen o da? Kini kinso? moni lati ko gan Ede yoruba re da Ede mi fihan pe mi owa lati ilu yi Ede re dabi tiwa
Asking for Directions
Excuse me! (before asking someone) I'm lost Can you help me? Can I help you? I'm not from here How can I get to (this place, this city)? Go straight Then Turn left Turn right Can you show me? I can show you! Come with me! How long does it take to get there? Downtown (city center) Historic center (old city) It's near here It's far from here Is it within walking distance? I'm looking for Mr. Smith One moment please! Hold on please! (when on the phone) He is not here Airport Bus station Train station Taxi Near
Ejo Mi o mona S'ele ran mi lowo? Se mole ran e lowo? Mio kinse ara ile yi Bawo ni mosele de adugbo yi? Malo lookan Tobaya Ya si apa osi ya si apa otun S'ole fihan mi? Mole fihan e Telemi kalo! Ato igbawo k'atodebe? Aarin ilu Ilu atijo Itosi ibi Ojina s'ibi Se molerin debe Mon bere Ogbeni smith Jo funmi ni iseju kan! Ejo monbo Ibi kis'ebi ( kosi nibi) Papako Ofurufu Ibudoko Ibudoko oko ojurin tansi Sunmo
English
Far
Yoruba Phrases
Jina Emergency Survival Phrases
Help! Stop! Fire! Thief! Run! Watch out! (or: be alert!) Call the police! Call a doctor! Call the ambulance! Are you okay? I feel sick I need a doctor Accident Food poisoning Where is the closest pharmacy? It hurts here It's urgent! Calm down! You will be okay! Can you help me? Can I help you?
Egbawa o! Oto! Ina! Ole! Sare! Egbara di Epe olopa! Epe dokita! Epe oko tongbeyan lo si ile iwosan S'owa daada! Ara mi oya Moferi dokita Ijamba Majele ounje Ibo ni ile oloogun oyinbo to sunmon ju? Eeyan nsese nibi? Ogba kiakia! Fara bale! Ara re aya! Se ole ranmi lowo? Se mole ran e lowo?
Hotel Restaurant Travel Phrases
I have a reservation (for a room) Do you have rooms available? With shower / With bathroom I would like a non-smoking room What is the charge per night? I'm here on business /on vacation Dirty Clean Do you accept credit cards? I'd like to rent a car How much will it cost? A table for (one / two) please! Is this seat taken? I'm vegetarian I don't eat pork
Motigba yara kan sile Se awon yara wanle? To ni baluwe Mofe yara ti won ti kin mu siga Elo ni owo re fun ale kan? Mo wasibi fun ise/ fun isinmi Idoti Mimo S'e n gba owo ni ona kaadi Mafe lati ya oko ayokele Elo lo ma na mi? Ejo tabili fun eyan (kan/meji)! Se wan ti gba aye yi ni? Ounje elewe lemi nje Mio kin je elede
English
I don't drink alcohol What's the name of this dish? Waiter / waitress! Can we have the check please? It is very delicious! I don't like it Shopping Expressions How much is this? I'm just looking I don't have change This is too expensive Expensive Cheap
Yoruba Phrases
Mio kin mu oti Ki'loruko ounje yi? Adani loun! S'ele fun mi ni iwe sowedowo na? Odun gan! Mi o feran e Ise nibi nkan rira Elo leleyi? Mo kan nwo ni Mio ni sanji Eyi ti won ju Owon Kowon
Daily Expressions
What time is it? It's 3 o'clock Give me this! Are you sure? Take this! (when giving something) It's freezing (weather) It's cold (weather) It's hot (weather) Do you like it? I really like it! I'm hungry I'm thirsty He is funny In The Morning In the evening At Night Hurry up!
Ago melo lolu? Ago meta lolu Fun mi leleyi! S'o da e loju? Gba eleyi! Otutu gan nibi gan Otutu nibi Ogbona nibi S'o feran e? Moferan gan! Ebi npa mi Orungbe ngbe mi Apani lerin ni l'owuro N'irole L'ale Se kia!
Cuss Words (polite)
This is nonsense! (or: this is craziness) My God! (to show amazement) Oh gosh! (when making a mistake) It sucks! (or: this is not good) What's wrong with you? Are you crazy? Get lost! (or: go away!) Leave me alone!
Kantan kantan leyi! Oluwa o! Mogbe! Eyi oda! Kilo ndamu e? S'onsiere ni? Kuroni'waju mi! Fimi sile!
English
I'm not interested!
Yoruba Phrases
Ko wunmi!
Writing a Letter
Dear John My trip was very nice The culture and people were very interesting I had a good time with you I would love to visit your country again Don't forget to write me back from time to time
John mi owan Irin ajo mi dara Asa ati awon eyan yi daa gan ni Mogbadun igba ti molo pelu e Mafe lati wa si orile ede re si Magbagbe lati mak'owe simi ni gbogbo igba
Short Expressions and words
Good Bad So-so (or: not bad not good) Big Small Today Now Tomorrow Yesterday Yes No Fast Slow Hot Cold This That Here There Me (ie. Who did this? - Me) You Him Her Us Them Really? Look! What? Where? Who?
Oda Koda Koda kobaje Nla Kekere Eni ni'sin Ola Ana Be'ni Be'ko yara Koyara Gbona Tutu Eyi Iyen Ibi Ibe Emi Iwo Owun (okunrin) Owun (obinrin) Awa Awon Looto? Woo! Kini? Nibo? Tani?
English
How? When? Why? Zero One Two Three Four Five Six Seven Eight Nine Ten
Yoruba Phrases
Bawo? Nigba wo? kilo fa? Odo Eni Eji Eta Erin Arun Efa Eje Ejo Esan Ewa