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 | Ẹ ku abọ |
| Hello (General greeting) | Ẹ n lẹ |
| How are you? | Ṣe daadaa ni o wa? |
| 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? | Ki ni orukọ rẹ? |
| My name is ... | Orukọ mi ni…… |
| 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 ku aarọ |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Ẹ ku ọsan |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Ẹ ku alẹ |
| 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 | Bẹẹ ni |
| No | Bẹẹ kọ Ó ti Ra ra |
| 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 jọwọ, ẹ gbọ mi |
| How much is this? | Eelo ni eyi? |
| Sorry | Pẹlẹ |
| Thank you | O ̣se E se |
| Reply to thank you | Ko to ọpẹ |
| 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 nifẹẹ rẹ |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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.
Information about Yoruba | Phrases | Numbers | Time | Tower of Babel | Yoruba learning materials
Other collections of Yoruba phrases
http://www.motherlandnigeria.com/languages.html
http://www.abeokuta.org/yoruba.htm
Bemba, Chichewa, Efik, Ewe, Fula, Herero, Igbo, Kikuyu, Kinyarwanda, Lingala, Lozi, Luganda, Mossi, Ndebele (Northern - South Africa), Ndebele (Northern - Zimbabwe), Ndebele (Southern) Nkore, Northern Sotho, Sesotho, Shona, Swahili, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Tumbuka, Twi, Umbundu, Venda, Wolof, Xhosa, Yorùbá, Zulu
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