🇳🇬Nigeria · Bénin · Togo
Yoruba vocabulary: 98 essential words to communicate
Learn essential Yoruba vocabulary with 98 words and phrases organized by theme. Perfect for beginners and travellers who want to communicate confidently.
98words & phrases
9themes
ENtranslations
Greetings & politeness
| Yorùbá | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ẹ káàbọ̀ | Welcome | Culture: Salutation d'accueil très chaleureuse en yoruba. |
| Ẹ káàárọ̀ | Good morning | |
| Ẹ káàsán | Good afternoon | |
| Ẹ kàlẹ́ | Good evening | |
| O dàbọ̀ | Goodbye | |
| E ṣéun | Thank you | |
| Jẹ̀ ẹ́ jẹ̀ | You're welcome | |
| Ẹ jọ̀ọ́ | Please | |
| Pẹ̀lẹ́ | Sorry | Culture: "Pẹlẹ" s'utilise aussi pour consoler quelqu'un ou exprimer de l'empathie. |
| Báwo ni? | How are you? |
Food & drinks
| Yorùbá | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Oúnjẹ | Food | |
| Omi | Water | |
| Ẹran | Meat | |
| Ẹja | Fish | |
| Ẹyin | Egg | |
| Ìyán | Pounded yam | Culture: L'ìyán est le plat festif par excellence chez les Yoruba, accompagné d'ẹ̀gúsí (soupe de graines de courge) ou d'egusi. |
| Ẹ̀gúsí | Egusi soup | |
| Àgbàdo | Corn | |
| Bẹ̀rẹ̀ | Plantain | |
| Ọtí | Drink / Alcohol |
Family
| Yorùbá | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bàbá | Father | |
| Ìyá | Mother | |
| Ọmọ | Child | |
| Ẹgbọ́n | Elder sibling | |
| Àbúrò | Younger sibling | |
| Ọkọ | Husband | |
| Ìyàwó | Wife | |
| Ìyá àgbà | Grandmother | |
| Bàbá àgbà | Grandfather | |
| Ọ̀rẹ́ | Friend |
Human body
| Yorùbá | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Orí | Head | Culture: En philosophie yoruba, "orí" est aussi l'essence personnelle et la destinée individuelle. |
| Ojú | Eye / Face | |
| Imú | Nose | |
| Ẹnu | Mouth | |
| Etí | Ear | |
| Ọwọ́ | Hand | |
| Ẹsẹ̀ | Foot | |
| Ọkàn | Heart | |
| Inú | Stomach | |
| Ara | Body |
Numbers (1-20)
| Yorùbá | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ọkan | One | |
| èjì | Two | |
| ẹta | Three | |
| ẹrin | Four | |
| àrún | Five | |
| ẹfà | Six | |
| èje | Seven | |
| ẹjọ | Eight | |
| ẹsán | Nine | |
| ẹwá | Ten | |
| ọkànlá | Eleven | |
| èjìlá | Twelve | |
| ẹtàlá | Thirteen | |
| ẹrinlá | Fourteen | |
| ẹẹ́dógún | Fifteen | |
| ẹẹ́rìndínlógún | Sixteen | |
| ẹtàdínlógún | Seventeen | |
| ẹjìdínlógún | Eighteen | |
| ọkàndínlógún | Nineteen | |
| ogún | Twenty |
Colors
| Yorùbá | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Funfun | White | |
| Dúdú | Black | |
| Pupa | Red | |
| Búlúù | Blue | |
| Àwọ̀ ewé | Green | |
| Àwọ̀ ọsan | Orange | |
| Àwọ̀ wúrà | Gold / Yellow | |
| Àwọ̀ àwọ̀ | Grey |
Animals
| Yorùbá | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Kìnnìún | Lion | |
| Erin | Elephant | |
| Ajá | Dog | |
| Adìye | Chicken | |
| Màlúù | Cow | |
| Ewúrẹ́ | Goat | |
| Ẹja | Fish | |
| Ẹyẹ | Bird | |
| Ológìní | Crocodile | |
| Ẹṣin | Horse |
Home & daily life
| Yorùbá | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ilé | House | Culture: "Ilé" signifie aussi la terre d'origine, le lieu ancestral. |
| Ẹnu-ọ̀nà | Door | |
| Yàrá | Room | |
| Àárọ̀ | Morning | |
| Ọjà | Market | |
| Iṣẹ́ | Work | |
| Ọmọ ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ | Student | |
| Owó | Money | |
| Aṣọ | Clothes | |
| Ìmọ́lẹ̀ | Light |
Time & weather
| Yorùbá | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Òní | Today | |
| Àná | Yesterday | |
| Ọ̀la | Tomorrow | |
| Òòrùn | Sun | |
| Òru | Night | |
| Òjò | Rain | |
| Òtútù | Cold | |
| Ìgbóná | Heat | |
| Afẹ́fẹ́ | Wind | |
| Àkókò ọjọ́ òjò | Rainy season |
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Cultural immersion in Yoruba
Films, TV shows, music and podcasts to practise Yoruba every day.