Essential Yoruba Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Yoruba words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation,
please see the Pronunciation Guide below.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...

The Top 10 ...

Hẹ̀ló.
Ẹ pẹ̀lẹ́. (polite)
Pẹ̀lẹ́ o. (informal)

Hello.
Ó dàbọ̀.
Goodbye.
Ṣé ẹ gbó èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì? (polite)
Ṣé o gbó èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì? (informal)
Do you speak English?
N kò gbọ́.
Kò yé mi.
I don't understand.
Díẹ̀.
A little.
Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni/Òo. Rárá/Bẹ́ẹ̀ kọ́/Ó tì.
Yes. No.
Eélòó ni?

How much is it?
Ó wọ́n jù. Ókèé/Ó yá/Ó dáa.
Too expensive. OK.
Ẹ jọ̀wọ́. (polite)
Jọ̀wọ́. (informal)
Please.
Ẹ ṣé (púpọ̀). (polite)
O ṣé (púpọ̀). (informal)
Mo dúpẹ́.
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ...

The Top 20 ...

Kíni orúkọ yín? (polite)
Kíni orúkọ rẹ? (informal)
What is your name?
Orúkọ mi ni ...
My name is ...
Ṣé àlàáfíà ni?
Bawo ni nǹkan?
How are you?
A dúpẹ́. Ẹ̀yin ńkọ́? (polite)
A dúpẹ́. Ìwọ ńkọ́? (informal)
Dáadáa ni. Ẹ̀yin ńkọ́? (polite)
Dáadáa ni. Ìwọ ńkọ́? (informal)
Fine. And you?
Níbo ni ... wà?
... dà?
Where is ...?
Níbo ni ilé ìgbọ̀nsẹ̀ wà? Ọkùnrin/Obìnrin
Where is the toilet? Men/Women
Ẹ pẹ̀lẹ́. Ẹ jọ̀wọ́.
Sorry. Excuse me.
Kò burú.
No problem.
Mo fẹ́ ...
I want ...
Èmi kò fẹ́ ...
N kò fẹ́ ...
I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...

The Top 30 ...

Ọmọ ìlú ibo ni ẹ́? (polite)
Ọmọ ìlú ibo ni yín? (informal)
Where are you from?
Ọmọ ìlú Oṣirélíà ni mí.*
I am from Australia.
Jọ̀wọ́, màá fẹ́ íwé owó.
The bill, please.
Mo ṣìnà ni.
I am lost.
Dúró! Dúró!
Stop! Wait!
Níbí, níbẹ̀, l'ọ́hùnún.
Here, there, over there.
Ọkọ̀ ayọ́kẹ̀lẹ̀ agbèrò. Ilé ìtura.
Taxi. Hotel.
Ibùdó ọkọ̀-òfurufú. Ibùdókọ̀.
Airport. Station.
Mo fẹ́ràn ...
I like ...
Èmi kò fẹ́ràn ...
N kò fẹ́ràn ...
I don't like ...

oókan**, eéjì, ẹẹ́ta, ẹẹ́rin, aárùnún.
one, two, three, four, five.
ẹẹ́fà, eéje, ẹẹ́jọ, ẹẹ́sànán, ẹẹ́wàá.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

**Use oókan, eéjì, etc. when counting.
Use the following forms after nouns.
kan, méjì, mẹ́ta, mẹ́rin, márùnún,
mẹ́fà, méje, mẹ́jọ, mẹ́sànán, mẹ́wàá.

*Or choose your country:
Amẹ́ríkà - America
Kánádà - Canada
Ilẹ̀ Gẹ̀ẹ́sì - England
Írẹ́lándì - Ireland
Níù Sìlándì - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...

Useful Extras ...

Ayọ̀ ni o!
Cheers!

dára / burú
good / bad
tóbi / kéré
big / small
nítòòsí / jìnnà
near / far
dín / sí i
less / more
òmíràn / tó
another / enough

Vegetarian ni mí.
Mo jẹ́ vegetarian.
I am vegetarian.
N kì í jẹ ẹran.
I don't eat meat.
... adìẹ.
... chicken.
... ẹja.
... fish.

N kò lè jẹ nọ́ọ̀tì.
I am allergic to nuts. (Literally: I can't eat nuts.)
... ẹ̀pà.
... peanuts.
... ẹja.
... fish.
... àwọn ohun jíjẹ inú òkun.
... seafood.
... ẹyin.
... eggs.

Pronunciation Guide

The accent ´ indicates a high tone, eg. á
No accent indicates a mid tone, eg. a
The accent ` indicates a low tone, eg. à

Vowels:
ẹ is pronounced as e as in pet (ɛ)
ọ is pronounced as o as in pot (ɔ)
a after n is pronounced as an, eg. na = nan (nɑ̃)
ọ after m is pronounced as on, eg. mọ = mon (mɔ̃)
an is pronounced as a nasal a (ɑ̃)
en is pronounced as a nasal ɛ (ɛ̃)
in is pronounced as a nasal i (ĩ)
on is pronounced as a nasal ɔ (ɔ̃)
un is pronounced as a nasal u (ũ)

Consonants:
gb is pronounced as g plus b together (ɡ͡b)
j is pronounced almost like dʲ (ɟ)
p is pronounced as k plus p together (k͡p)
ṣ is pronounced as sh as in shop, but with lips spread (ʃ)

Please note:
The word n is pronounced as ng as in singer (ŋ)
kò after the word n is often pronounced as ò, eg. n kò = ŋ ò