Yoruba Phrases
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Yoruba Phrases and Common Expressions
This page contains a table including the following: Yoruba phrases, expressions and words in Yoruba, conversation and idioms, Yoruba greetings, and survival phrases. It also helps if you simply want to know what to say when chatting in Yoruba!
Most of the sentences below are used for everyday life conversations, so they might come handy if you memorize them.
| English Phrases | Yoruba Phrases |
|---|---|
| English Greetings | Yoruba Greetings |
| Hello | Pẹlẹ o |
| Good morning | E kaaro |
| Good evening | Ka a ale |
| Welcome | Kaabo |
| How are you? | Bawo ni o se wa? |
| I am fine, thank you | Mo nse dada, a dupe |
| And you? | Iwo na a? |
| Good / So-So. | O dara / Nitorina-Nitorina |
| Thank you | e dupe |
| You are welcome | Ko Tope |
| Hey! Friend! | Hey! Ọrẹ! |
| I missed you so much! | Mo padanu rẹ pupọ! |
| What's new? | Kini tuntun? |
| Nothing much | Ko si nkan kan |
| Good night! | Kasun layọ o! |
| See you later! | Ma a ri e laipe! |
| Goodbye | O dabọ |
| Asking for Help and Directions | |
| I am lost | Mo ti sonu |
| Can I help you? | Iranlọwọ wo ni mo le ṣe fun ọ? |
| Can you help me? | Se o le ran me lowo? |
| Where is the (bathroom / pharmacy)? | Nibo ni (yara iwẹ / ile elegbogi) wa? |
| Go straight! Then turn left / right! | Rin taara! Lẹhinna yipada si apa osi / ọtun! |
| I am looking for John | Mo n wa John |
| One moment please! | Jọwọ ni iṣẹju kan! |
| Hold on please! | Jọwọ duro! |
| How much is this? | Eelo ni eleyi? |
| Excuse me | Mo tọrọ gafara |
| Come with me! | Tele mi kalo! |
| How to Introduce Yourself | |
|---|---|
| Do you speak (English / Yoruba)? | Ṣe o sọ (Gẹẹsi / Yoruba)? |
| Just a little | O kan diẹ |
| What is your name? | Ki 'ni oruko re? |
| My name is... | Orukọ mi ni... |
| Mr / Mrs | Ọgbẹni / Iyaafin |
| Nice to meet you! | Inu mi dun lati pade yin! |
| You are very kind | O ni aanu pupọ |
| Where are you from? | Nibo ni o ti wa? |
| I am from the United States | Orílẹ̀-èdè Amẹ́ríkà ni mí |
| I am American | Mo jẹ ọmọ ilu Amẹrika |
| Where do you live? | Nibo ni o ngbe? |
| I live in the United States | Orílẹ̀-èdè Amẹ́ríkà ni mò ń gbé |
| Did you like it here? | Ṣe o fẹran rẹ nibi? |
| What do you do for a living? | Kini o n ṣe fun iṣẹ oojọ rẹ? |
| I work as a (translator / businessman) | Mo ṣiṣẹ bi (onitumọ / oniṣowo) |
| I like Yoruba | Mo feran Yoruba |
| I have been learning the Yoruba language for one year | Odun kan ni mo ti n ko ede Yoruba |
| Oh! That's good! | Oh! Iyẹn dara! |
| How old are you? | Omo odun melo ni e? |
| I am (twenty, thirty...) years old | Omo odun ni mi ( ogun, ogbon...). |
| I have to go | Mo ni lati lọ |
| I will be right back | Emi yoo pada wa lẹsẹkẹsẹ |
| Wish Someone Something | |
| Good luck! | Orire daada! |
| Happy birthday! | O ku ojo ibi! |
| Happy new year! | E ku odun, eku iyedun! |
| Merry Christmas! | Ikini ọdun keresimesi! |
| Congratulations! | Oriire! |
| Enjoy! | Gbadun! |
| I would like to visit Nigeria one day | Emi yoo fẹ lati ṣabẹwo si Nigeria ni ọjọ kan |
| Say hello to John for me | Sọ fun John fun mi |
| Good night and sweet dreams! | Ti o dara night ati ki o dun ala! |
| Solving a Misunderstanding | |
| I am sorry | Ma binu |
| No problem | Kosi wahala |
| Can you say it again? | Ṣe o le sọ lẹẹkansi? |
| Can you speak slowly? | Ṣe o le sọrọ laiyara? |
| Write it down please | Jọwọ kọ silẹ |
| I do not understand | Ko ye mi |
| I do not know | emi ko mọ |
| I have no idea | Emi ko ni imọran |
| What is that called in Yoruba? | Kini nkan ti a npe ni ede Yoruba? |
| What is this? | Kini eyi? |
| My Yoruba is bad | Yoruba mi ko dara |
| I need to practice my Yoruba | Mo nilo lati ṣe Yoruba mi |
| Don't worry! | Maṣe yọ ara rẹ lẹnu! |
| Yoruba Expressions and Words | |
| Good / Bad / So-So | O dara / buburu / Nitorina-Nitorina |
| Big / Small | Nla / Kekere |
| Today / Now | Loni / Bayi |
| Tomorrow / Yesterday | Ọla / Lana |
| Yes / No | Bẹẹni / Rara |
| Here you go! | Ohun ni yi! |
| Do you like it? | Ṣe o fẹran rẹ? |
| I really like it! | Mo fẹran rẹ gaan! |
| I am hungry / thirsty | ebi npa mi / ongbẹ |
| In The Morning / Evening / At Night | Ni Owurọ / Alẹ / Ni Alẹ |
| This / That | Eyi / Iyẹn |
| Here / There | Nibi / Nibẹ |
| Me / You / Him / Her | Emi / Iwọ / Oun / Rẹ |
| Really? | Lootọ? |
| Look! | Wo! |
| Hurry up! | Tete mura! |
| What? Where? | Kini? Nibo? |
| What time is it? | Ogogo melo ni o lu? |
| It is 10 o'clock / 07:30pm | O jẹ aago mẹwa / 07:30 irọlẹ |
| Give me this! | Fun mi ni eyi! |
| I love you! | Mo nifẹ rẹ! |
| I feel sick | O dabi pe mo ṣ'aarẹ |
| I need a doctor | Mo nilo dokita kan |
| One, Two, Three | Ini, eji, eta |
| Four, Five, Six | Mẹrin, marun, mẹfa |
| Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten | Meje, mẹjọ, mẹsan, mẹwa |
I hope the content of this page was useful to you, and that you learned some Yoruba phrases, expressions and words. Make sure to memorize them to be able to use them in your daily conversation.