Beginners-Yoruba - Compress (1) W

Text and Audio Copyright© 2005 Kayode J. Fakinlede.
Ali rights reserved.
ISBN 0-7818-1069-8
Publisher: George Bl.agowidow

Editors: Robert Stanley Martin, Nicholas Williams
Yoruba copyeditor: Bode Oduntan
'Iypesetting and design: Kayode J. Fakinlede DEDICATION
Book jacket and disc label design: Ronnie McBride
Audio producers: Kayode J. Fakinlede, Robert Stanley
Martin
Audio speakers: Feyidetan Adunbi, Omolade Adunbi,
Eunice Fakinlede, Kayode J. Fakinlede, Olajide Ojolo
Recording Engineer: Yaron Aldema
Audio recorded and mastered at World Music Connections/
AM Studios, New York City.
For information, address:
Hippocrene Books, lnc.

I71 Madison Avenue I dedicate this book to my wife, Olaitan Taye, who continues
New York, NY 10016 support me in all ways.
www.hippocrenebooks.com
Cataloging-in-Publicationdata available from the Líbrary of

Congress.
Printed in the United States ofAmerica.

1
CONTENTS
Preface.................... 5
lntroduction.............................................................................. 6
LessonOrae •.•.••..•••••••••••.••• 7
1.
D1ialogue: Toe Teacher................................................... 8
1. C2o m m o n Yoruba Names. . . . . . . . . .. . . . ...............10
1.3 Yoruba Alphabet.............................................................12
1.
Y4oruba Greetings.......................................................... 16
1.5Vocabulary............................................................... 18
1. T6 oYeoruba People................................................. 19
1.7 Map ofYorubaland. . . . . . . . . . . . . .............................20
1.8 Exercise...............................................................................21
.r.esson noo.............................................................. 2 3
2.1 Dialogue: Good Afternoon...............................................24
2.2 Vocabulary..........................................................................26
2.3 Expressions........................................................................... 27
2.4 Yoruba Words.................................................................... 28
2.5 Yoruba Tone Pattems and Signs.................................... 31
2.6 Exercise............................................................................... 32
Lesson'rh. . . . . . . . . . . . .• ..•
...........................................................................................33
3.1 Dialogue: Moji and lyabo...............................................34
3.2 Vocabulary.......................................................................... 36
3.3 Expressions........................................................................ 37
3.4 Pronouns............................................................................ 38
3.5 Exercise...............................................................................43
Lesson Jluur• . . . • . • • • • • • • • • . . . • •.............45

4.1 Dialogue: Ayo traveis to Chicago......................................46
CON'IENTS
2 3
4.2 Vocabulary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 8.4 Nouns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

4.3 Expressions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 49 8.5 Exercise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
4.5 Tenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 50
4.5 Exercise. . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • . . . • . • .. 59 LessonNine • . • • . • . . . . . . .. . . . . • • .• 12 l
9.1 Dialogue: Congratulations. .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
l.ess()n FiJJe • • • • • . • • • • • • ' • • • • . . • . 61 9.2 Vocabulruy. . . . . . • • • . . • . . . . • .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
.
5.1 Dialogue: Moji and lyabo meet Ayo and Kunle. . . 62 .3 Expressions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
5.2 Vocabulary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 9.4 Elision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
5.3 Ex:pressions.• , . . .• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .•..............• 65 9.5 Yoruba Proverbs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
5.4 Tenses, continued . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 9.6 Exercise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
5.5 Yoruba Literature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
5.6 Exercise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 I.-essorl 'lerl ..........•••••....•... 133
10.1 Dialogue: Yemi and Bolalook for jobs........ 134
Six. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 10.2 Vocabulary.............................. 136
6.1 Dialogue: Dele and Bimpe talk about home. . . 76 10.3 Expressions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
6.2 Vocabulary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 10.4 Question 'fypes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
6.3 Expressions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 10.5Yoruba ldioms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
6.4 Simple Sentences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 10.6 Exercise............................................................................ 147
.
6.5 Yoruba Songs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
.
6.6 Exercise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 87 .I.-essorl Eleven.........................................................................149
11.1 Dialogue: Yemi and Bolafindjobs............ 150
Lesson Seven . • • . • • . . • • . . . . . • . • . . • 89 11.2 Vocabuiary-. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
7.1 Dialogue: Ola and Simi meet for the first time . . . 90 11.3Expressions..........................................................,. 153
7.2 Vocabulary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 92 11.4 Complex Verbs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 154
7.3 Expressions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93 11.5Yoruba Riddles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
7.6 Exercise.................................................................................. 107 Lesson n.uelve . • . . . . . . . .• .• • .• .• .• 163
12.1 Dialogue: Wale and Dupe talk about religion . .. 164
Eight.............................................................................................109 12.2 Vocabulary....................................................................... 166
8 .D1i a l o g u e : Ayo and Teni talk about sports.........110 12.3Expessions. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
8.2 Vocabulary........................................................................112 12.4 Adjectives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
8.3 Expressions.........................................................................113 12.5Yoruba Religious Beliefs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
BEGINNER'S YORUBA CONTENTS

4 5
12.6 Exercise............................................................................172 PREFACE
Lesson'I'hirteen• • . . . • • • . . . . . . •..................17 3 Yoruba is the language of more than thirty million people
who live principally in Southwestern Nigeria, parts of Benin
13.1 Dialogue: Seun retums from Nigeria.........................174
Republic, and Togo. It is also the Ianguage of worship in
13.2 Vocabulary.......................................................................176 many countries of the diaspora, including Brazil, Cuba and
13.3 Expressions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................................177 Haiti, where people ofYoruba origin settled during the slave
13.4 Adverbs.............................................................................178 trade. Recent migrations of Yoruba-speaking people into
13.5 Yoruba Religious Beliefs, continued............................184 the United States and many countries of Europe gíve the
language more international importance.
13.6 Exercise............................................................................185
I am pleased to acknowledge the assistance of Professor
Lesson Ji'orteen . . . . • • • . . . . • • • . . . . • • 18 7 Antonia Yetunde Schleicher of the University of
14.1 Dialogue: Simi goes to the hospital............................188 Wisconsin who provided me with the Yoruba fonts
14.2 Vocabulary.......................................................................190 software that was used for putting the appropriate signs on
14.3 Expressions......................................................................191 the alphabets. I am also indebted to Dr. Bode Oduntan and
Mr.Kole Ade Odutola who went through the entire
14.4 Conjunctions.................................................................192
manuscript to make corrections and helpful suggestions.
14.5 Prepositions..................................................................... 199
14.6 Exercise............................................................................. 202 I also express my appreciation to Messrs. Nicholas Williams
and Robert Stanley Martin for contributing their time and
Lesson Fijteen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................203 talent to this project.
15.1 Dialogue: Taye and Yetunde meet ata market........204 Finally, I take this opportunity to express my sincere
15.2 Vocabulary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .........................206 appreciation to my children Olabamidele, Olakunle,
15.3 Expressions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................................207 Abimbola and Ayoola for their patience and
15.4 Seasons AndTimes,.......................................................208 understanding during the time it took to prepare this work.
15.5 Weights and Measures.................................................. 211
K.J.Fakinlede
15.6 Exercise.............................................................................213
Exercise Key . . . . . . . . . . . . 215

Glossary English-Yoruba ••• ,
249
•. Glossary Yoruba-English. • 263
Audio Track List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Blbliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
11lf.WNl'Hr.H'II YORUDA BEGINNER'S YORUBA

1 1:
6 7
INTRODUCTION
Beginner's Yoruba is designed for use as both a classroom

text and as a Teach Yourself tool for beginners. Practice
dialogues, combined with grammatical explanations, will
aid the student in understanding the basics of the LESSONONE
Ianguage.
Since this is an introductory text, the Yoruba language

has been presented in an informal, conversational form.
This means that it is written in the form that a beginner
would generally hear it spoken by Yoruba people living
abroad or by college students.
Yoruba, like many others in Africa, is a tonal language.

This meáns that the meaning of a word depends not only
on the spelling but also on how it is pronounced. lt is
therefore very important to read the dialogue and other
sections aloud. Titis may present some clifficulty at first,
since a reader has to follow the spellings of each word
along with the 'doremi' signs that appear with them.
However, with some practice, one finds that this is not as
difficult as it may seem at first.
Each lesson contains a vocabulary section that highlights

important aspects of the topic discussed in the chapter.
Quizzes are integrated into the lessons to help the learner
better understand the topic of discussion. A practice
exercise is also given at the end of each lesson.
Finally, various aspects of Yoruba culture, including

religion, songs, stories, and other areas of interest are
discussed in this book.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON ONE

8 9
1.1 DIALOGUE TheTeacher
Olwq5 Good Morning.

I; káãrç> My name is Professor ..........
OníkQ mi ni Prõf SQ .... I aroyour teacher.
Emi ni ohikQ yín. I will be teaching you the Yoruba language.
Emi ni yóôkQ yin ní edê Yonibá. I hope that youwill enjoy this period.
Mo ní irêtí pé óô gbádtln àsikõ yr Toe Yoruba language is very
Ede Yorubá dun púPQ láti kQ. interestlng. It is. however, a bit difficult
Bótili:j$pé ó $Õro díi: láti m9. to learn.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONONE

10 11
1.2 COMMON YORUBA NAMES 1.2.2 Female Names:
Name Meaning
Toe name of a child in Yorubaland carries a special Wealth
meaning that depends on the circumstances surrounding
Olá
We all pet her
its birth. .t\iok Given so she may be cared for (Child) comes
A male child bom soon after the death of the father or Ãník (Qm(>)BQlâ (Olúwã)Bánk.E; (Adé)Bimpé
(The Lord) adds to mywealth
grandfather may be called Babátúndé (the father has (Olú)Büs(>lá
(1) give thanks
come back). A female child bom after the death (Mo)Dú
(Olú)Fúnk (The Lord) gave me {this) to care for
of her grandmother may be called Yétúndé. Toe
firstbom of twins is called Tãíwô. Toe other is called K
hindé.
Below is a list of common Yoruba names. Adopt one for
yourself. Leam its spelling, meaning, and pronunciation.
Also, t:ry to remember the name adopted by each of your Fúnmi(l(>lâ, lâyç,) Give me (wealth, happiness) iyãbQ Mother has c
classmates and call them by it throughout the course. (Adé)Rónk(Toe crown) has someone to care of
1.2.1 Male Names: (Olú)R mí (The Lord) comforts me Simi(s◊lá)Becontented (with we
Yêwándé(Mother) comes looking for me
Name Meaning
(Qlá)Yínká(Wealth) surrounds me
Adé Toe crown
Akin Valor
AyQ Happiness
(Adé)Bâyç, ('Toe crown) met with happiness
(Qlá)Délé (Wealth) has come home
(Olúwá)Fúnmi [111.e Lord) gave me or (Lord) gives me
(lçlâ) (wealth)
(Olúwá)F mi (Toe Lord) laves me
K(>lá(wQ lê) Bringwealth (tomy home)
Oye Chieftaincy
Olá ealth
O (y mi) Gratitude (befits me)
(Opé)Y mí (Gratitude) befits me
(Temí)TQpé (This is enough for my} gratitude
(Adé)Wálé (Toe crown) comes home
(Qlá)Yínkã (Wealth) surrounds me

12 13
1.3 YORUBA ALPHABET Toe letter gbhas no equivalent in the English Ianguage.
It does not represent a separate pronunciation of g and b
Toe Yoruba alphabet consists oftwenty-five letters: as spelled. It Js artlculated as a siroultaneous release of
A B D E ç F G GBH I J K L both, following a contraction of the lips and throat
g g]J h i j k 1 muscles.
a b d e f
Toe letter $ is pronounced as she and as sh in use.
M N o o p R s $ T u w y
m n o Q p r s $ t u w y ·
1.3.1 Consonants h
B D F G GBH J K L M N p R
b d f g g]J h j k 1 m n p r
e
s $ T wy
s $ tw y
Each consonant is pronounced with an e or ee after it:
Pronouncd as: Pronounced as:
b be m me
d dee n knee
f fee r ree
g glee (minus the 1) s see
h he $ she
j gee t tea
k key w we
l lee y ye
Almost all consonants have the sarne pronunciation as in
Below is a list of consonants and their English
English, except for p, gb and $ . equivalents:
Toe Yoruba p is pronounced by closing one's lips closed
initially and emitting a putf of air. Toepronunc.iation is g is pronounced as g in girl but never as ingi.n.
similar to a combined k and p. r is like r in run but not as in here.
w is like w in warbut notas in brown.
y is as y in yoW1gbut notas in boy.

14 15
AD other consonants are pronounced almost exactly as There are no diphthongs in the Yoruba language.
they are in Engl.ish. However, the letters w and y are
pronounced nasally when they are followed by nasal
1.3.2.2 Nasal Vowels
vowels.
A nasal vowel is indicated by writing an n after the regular
vowel equivalent. These do not have direct equivalent
1.3.2 Vowels
pronunciations in the English language. However, sounds
Toe Yoruba Ianguage has two types of vowels: the regular dose to them are given below.
or oral vowels (âbidi alámin geere), with sounds coming Pronounced: Example: íl'ranslation:
entirely from the mouth, and he nasal ones (âbidi àlâm.in an dose toan in mnwithout çran. meat
iránmún), with sounds coming simultaneouly from the pronouncing the N
mouth and nose.
n close to en in hen iyçn that one
without pronouncing the
1.3.2.1 Regular Vowels: N
A E ç I O in close to ln in din minus irin iron
M N u the N
Q
m n u QD close to on as in French they
a e ç i o Q àwçn
bon
Pronounced: Pronounced: un close to oon in boon hair
irun
a as ain Jack n as n in John minus the N
e as ayin day o as in o dome Toe nasal vowels an and Qn are often used
(;t as e as in bed Q as awinjaw interchangeably, depending on the speaker and the part of
i as ias in fee u as oo in book Yorubaland.
m as in m in dumb
Toe m (vowel) is often used as a frrst person unemphatic
singular pronoun or as a contraction of emi. For example,
Êmi ibá ti lQ {I would have gone) is often written as M bá
ti 1Q. M is articulated in the throat as a grunt with the
mouth completely closed.
Toe n (vowel) is less guttural than m. lt often appears in
front of verbs to indicate a 'progressive' tense, e.g.. I am
going is translated as Mo nlQ. Sometimes it comes after
another vowel, as in alâ-ngbá (lizard) or aláàpá-ndd
(Ethiopian swallow). At other times, it comes in front of the
nasal vowel as in Ogún-ndé. ln both cases, it is
pronounced distinctly from the preceding letters.

n
16 17
1.4 YORUBA GREETINGS 1.4.3 Quiz

Give the English equivalents for the following greetings:
Yoruba greetings, like in other languages, can range from casual Greeting Translation Engllsh
to elaborate. They can be done with utmost respect for elders or Equivalent
flippantly among colleagues or friends.
f; kú ôwúrQ Greetings for this
or I; káãrQ. tmorning
1.5.1. List of Yoruba greetings and their meanngs: I; kú osán Greetings for this
Greeting Translation English equivalent or I; káàsán aftemoon
Bãwo n1 How is everything? How areyou? f; kú irQlé or Greetings for this
nkan'? f; kúrvl . evening.
Ô d'àárQ. Unill morning. Good night. I; kú al Greetings for this night
Bãwo ni'? How is it? How areyou? or I; káalé time
Pl}l o. Hello there Hello there. I; kú àbQ or Greetings for coming
See you when Goodbye. I; káàb◊. back.
Ôdàb<).
you comeback. I; kú i$ éor Greetings for
I; rQra. Be careful. Be careful. E kúu - working hard.
I; máawol . fWatch the ground. M'atch your step. I; kú idúrô. Greetings for standing
$ é àlâfiâ ni? !Are you in good How areyou? for a while.
health? 1; kú aájõ. Greetings for your
Kini nkan'? How is everything? How areyou? concern.
ô digbâ. See you next time. Goodbye. I;: kú ir(>jú. Greetings for your
perseverance.
ô digbó$e, See you later. Farewell
I; kú isimi. Greetings for the
À simjí o. Sleep well. Sleep well. period of rest
(vacation).
1.4.2 Kú- The universal greeting prefix I; kú itQjú. Greetings for your
care.
ln many instances, Yoruba people greet others with Greetings for peparing
I;: kú
special courtesy. This is done by inserting the universal for ajourney.
ipal mç,.
greeting verb kú between the subject (person being
greeted) and the circumstance prevailing. For example: f; kú Qdún. Greetings for the
celebration.
(a) Greetings for tl1is morning or Good moming: I; kú
àárQ or I; káãrQ (upon elision) !; kú Qdún Greetings for the
kérésimesi. Christmas.
(b) Greetings for this aftemoon or Good afternoon: I; kú
Qsán or f; kã.àsán I; kú 9dún Greetings for ld-el-Fitir
iléyá. celebration.

18 19
1.5 VOCABULARY 1.6 THE YORUBA PEOPLE
Yoruba : YORÜBÂ
PRONUNCIATION Yoruba
Engllsh (yo rhu bâh) EngUsh
ayõ happiness I;.KáãrQ Good morning
·-
bàbâ father I; kâàsán Good Toe Yorubas form a Iarge group numbering about thirty
afternoon million people. They tive mainJy in Southwestern Nigeria.
lyâ mother I; kúur9l Good evening They can be seen in all walks of life in West Africa. ln the
Qlá wealth prõf SQ professor citles, they function in every occupation from day laborers
Ql{mm God (ljQgbQn Professor to professionals, engtneers, civil servants, businessmen
and businesswomen. etc. However, the chief occupation of
QmQ child ti$à teacher
the Yorubas in the rural areas is subsistence fanning.
Q gratitude olukQ teacher Toeir culture is among the most comprehensive in the
owó money olükQ-àgbà senior teacher world.
oyê title QnlQ ilé- schoolchild
iwé
lãtl bi to gtve birth ak kQ student YORUBA URBANISM:
lãtl dé to come back yunifâsíti university
The Yorubas are a highly urban people. Today, over half
lãti fún to gtve ilé- kQ gíga any school the estimated thirty million Yorubas live in towns of
beyond high
100,000 or more. Considerably more than a quarter of
school
these live in cities of one million or more. Some of the
látiji to awake êdeYoritbâ Yoruba Ianguage cities and their estimated population include:
láti ké to cry êdêÍbô Ibolanguage
láti ní tohave, to say êdêHaúsâ Hausa language Townor Population Town or Population
City (est.) City (est.)
lâti lQ togo edê Hausa language
Lârübáwá Lagos (Êkó) 13.05 million• Ilé à 396,000
láti rí to see edê Oyinbó Englisb language Íbàdàn 2.72 million ik jà 396,000
latij toeat êdêtg'bõ lbo language àgbómc;>:;;Q 763,000 Qwc;> 400,000
Ô.Y'Q 267,000 à ogbo 498,000
láti wâ to come êdê KáàrQ- Yoruba language
o-õ-jüre ÍlQrin '498,000 Ilé-lf 302,000
Ab$õkúta 446,000 1Àkúr$ . 241,000
iwó 378,000 Ondó 400,000
1993 estmates by Africa Today
* 2003 estimate by Time Almanac
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON ONE
111111
o 21
C'I
d
-iã ,o.;.r ' '

1.8 EXERCISE
Use the attached vocabulary to fill in the missing spaces in
. 8... .o
,0
3: .:/\
'
t--h- e- t- a--b·- l-e- b-e-l o- w:
..
-;'a;,.... :e, ' \ Yoruba English Yoruba English

rn i
1-,
• 'l.i,'.,---D--l-- QT friend lati tóbi to bebig
=s Cl.l
r" .a
.,,....
----- .,,,.
...
_ , ..,
<-, ..) ,./"
...
baba father lati dára to bebeautiful
,:....,,.-----../,
(.) J .,,
',, iyá mother lati jinnà to befar
1 , ,'
,
{
1
I
1
. .EE 11 ,
,,'
1
1
·- ,_.._
\
\/
0
.i.---...,....L.. -, ....
1
1
ajá
ilú
dog
town
êmi
êmini
I
Iam
] , ,' o
.
w
:,f,
.,
/
,,,...
õ.g \ skúúlu school àwa We
,,,l .0
\.. 1 .,,,. .,,-...,1_ • 0 ilé-iwé school àwa ni Weare
ro !f
_!!•
- •i -g
i''-.'..... V,.. I ... ,,
tíl?à teacher iWQ You
li
,
I;n H
.,..-...<'\., (f.l / ,
\ o ,'/ oluk(> teacher iw9 ni You are
I ',---,...,_,/ \
// =
;. CD
= \:... .\..
Clf J ',,._, /
- ...,,.- 1-, õbí parent

su a (/.). ' /, \\
u : /l 1 og, ',,
' ,/ ::i Yoruba English
- Í J =- •"
i
.,,o ,s l.' .:2\o -..,,--,,
•
'
"O
4)
Orúkç mi ni Qla.
OrúkQ...............mini
My name is Ola.
' 0 D L"'
My friend's name is Isola.
',\ Jej\, c.rr,n
0
/ ; \
_ is..olá
\
\. o
o ' 'ã
,..icv\
\ = .:a
My dog's name is Sandy.
\ \'4'.• .e_, My town's riame is Iwo.
·---- \ ''\"-: m
ilú mi tóbi. My town is big.
Êi
....
r••·• ..........J,......, JB/\1 ! h..... §" ;_.,.Õ. My ctog is beautiful.
:i,g •,
Pe :
, ',,,
'• - <,,, Skúulu wa tóbi.
i :..................................
..................................
. . •••B••• •J.
,/,.,:,
!···••4\1...........J ,:: ·-·-,Q;,-•("-: n:,••·
!
Skúulu mi jinnà.
Emi ni....................yín. I am your (pb.Jral) friend.
a : :: '
Emi ni...................r . I am your (singular) father.
Q)
Emi ni iyãÃdé. I am Ade's mother.
O)
t .ue, .tcsu J \ .... - ...,_
- Àwa ni....................BQlá. iWe are Bola's friend.
, ....
"d , 1 You are Akin's friend.
/
í
........ ( Àwani.................AyQ. We are Ayo's parents.
«I ..._
....
ê
:;! -
e,
..!:'? ,,,.,,.
...
l------- "",,
,
(/.)
=
.............................{"'-._................................. 1--
1 ··· \2 E/' _ ..
-.. . .'\. .,or-...................,t

< .......
.i:::
''
, ...... ..
li'
f/J
...,, .,,---...< ' ,,,
! .... .. ..
o .. •
,o.
...........,•· .........
'••··· ·····•"'"•··•........ ..··
Q)
r9
, .. .
r- .. LESSONONE
22 23
LESSONTWO
J11111
BEGINNER'S
YORUBA
LESSONTWO
24 25
2.1 DIALOGUE
Good Aftemoon
Each student introduces himself stating his full name, his
E; káàsán adopted Yoruba name, his major and finally, what he
likes to become.
Each student introduces himself stating his full name, his
Good Afternoon.
adopted Yoruba name, bis major, and, finally, what he
would like to become. My name is ------------
My Yoruba name is ----················--
!;káàsán.
Themeaning of my name is .................
OníkQ mini ----················
I come from New York.
OrúkQ Yorubá mini -------·······
I study Mathematics.
itúm(> orúkQ mi ni ..............
I would like to become a physician, lawyer,
NíúYQQki ni mo ti wá. teacher, engineer, etc.
I$irô ni mó nk(>. Thank youvery much.
Mo f da dókítà, l(>yà, ti$à, 1;njiníà,
I; $é púpQ.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONTWO

26 27
2.2 VOCABULARY 2.3 EXPRESSIONS

Yoruba English Yoruba English Yoruba Engllsh
ajá dog orúkQ abíSQ given name Kini orúkQ ? What is your name?
enu mouth orúkQ isàmi baptismal Orúko mi ni FQlá. My name is Fola.
mune
OrúkQ ti à npê mí ni Toe name that I am
etl ear orúkQ idilé sumame Àclisá. called is Adisa.
orl head ilé house OrúkQ àbíSQ mi ni Tólá. My bírth name is Tola.
ojú eye oko farm
OrúkQ àmút(>runwá mi ni My natural name (name
QI'Ç friend Niú YQQki NewYork idõwú. gtven by circumstances
owó money $ikãgõ Chicago of birth) is Idowu.
õwõ business LQs Ánj lüsi LosAngeles Orúkç isàmimi ni My baptlsmal name is
láti ri to see Dáláàsi Dallas Jó i:fü. Joseph.
láti sim to sleep máníjà manager OrúkQ inagije mi ni My nickname is
látif ràn tolike, dókità doctor Àdisàbabà. Adisababa.
to Wón npê mi ní People call me Adisa.baba.
love Àdisàbabà.
láti f to love oní êgun doctor Kini orúkQ bàbá re? What is your father's
látije to eat lóyà lawyer name?
láti lo togo agbejórõ.. lawyer OrúkQ bàbá mini Ôjó. My father's name is Aina.
lãtl wã tocome enjiníà engineer Orúkç iyàwó mi ni Àiná. My wife's name is Aina.
láti ni to have oní wõ businessman OrúkQ QlllQ mini JQQDÚ, My son·s name is John.
láti bé) to come oní -QWQ craftsman Iboni ó ngbé? Where do you live?
back Mõ ngbé ní Ojúlé K fà I live in No. 6 Araromi
Ôpópónà ArárQmí, Street,
Ôke Màpó, ibàdàn. OkeMapo, Ibadan.
Kini irin re? What is your gender?
Qkunrin l'êmi. I ammale.
Obinrin l'êmi. I amfemale.
Irú i WO l'ô Il!;le? What kind of work do you
do?
Mó n e is$ bíríkilà. I am a brtcklayer.
Mõ n is káf ntà. lama carpenter.
Mõ rn e é àgb . I ama fanner.

i1111w
11 1,1
28 29
11111\
2.4 YORUBA WORDS 2.4.2 Noun morphemes
1
11
Yoruba words are mainly derived from a All noun morphemes begin with a regular vowel. They are
made up of two syllables and contam three letters.
combination and elision of morphemes. Tilis means that
For example:
the meaning of a word can be derived by an accurate
analysis of the morphemes that compose it.' Yoruba English Yoruba Engllsh
A lot of words are derived from the English language. owó money QmQ child
Although there are equivalent indigenous words for crown
adé Q cloth
many of these. the borrowed words are used more often
ori head Qjà market
in conversation. It is therefore best to learn these words
initially, and the real Yoruba equivalents Iater. ojú eye iwê book
Words that areborrowed from the Arabic Ianguage have ilé house QrQ sentence,
been fully assimilated into the Ianguage. speech
11"111 2.4.I Morphemes (Ohun-c)rQ) 2.4.2.1 Quiz

A morpheme is the smallest part of a word that has a Use the indicated rnorphemes to determine probable meanings
specific meaning. It cannot be divided further and still for the following Yoruba words:
make sense. For example, OwÓ means hand; lo. gp; ji, Word Morphemes Meaning
wake; adé, crown; ni, have. These morphemes combine SQr◊ SQ: speak;
logically into newwords. Forexample:
QrQ: sentence
Nígbàtí combination of three morphemes: ni+igbà+tí
lQsíwájú lQ: go; si: to,
Arâyé -combination of two morphemes: arã+ayé
iwájú: front
Babalãwo -of three morphemes: Baba+oní+awo
iléêwé ilé: house,
2..4.1.I Verbal morphemes iwé: books
Verbal morphemes begin with a consonant and, in most l;!ranko l;!ran: tlesh
cases, are monosyllabic and contain two letters. For oko: fann
example:
a ja pa: kill
Yoruba Engllsh Yoruba English ja:fish
jí M>ake twã come onílu ni: have;
ní have f like oni: owner of
ra buy kó collect ilit; drum
go oríire ori; head
ri see lo ire: fortune
SQ speak ní have
mi breath po mix
fl'II BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONTWO

1
111111111
11mlllll
30 31
2.4.3 Derlved words

2.5 YORUBA TONE PATTERNS AND SIGNS
Some Yoruba words are dertved from the Arabic Ianguage.
These include:
Tone is extremely important in the Yoruba language.
Yoruba English Yoruba English Words have widely different meanings despite identical
àláfià good health Jún(><) Fliday spelling. depending on their tone pattems. For example,
àlubárikà blessing W.ànúsi Thursday the word oko meansfann but õkô means projectile.
àdúrà pr yer àlubósà onion Toe Yoruba language has three distinct tone pattems: the
àlufâà priest àlumógàjí pair of scissors low (L) tone, dô, the middle (M) tone. re, and the high (H)
àlü.jç,nú ·evil spirit àlum(mi treasure tone, mi.
The low-high (LH) tone, dõmi, although not distinctive,
occurs frequently when a new word is formed by the
2.4.3.1 ManyYoruba words are derived from Engllsh.
elision of a word ending in a high tone (Hl and another
Toese include words used for professions and modem
starting with a Iow tone, followed by a high tone (LH). For
invention:
example: oní (H) and <)pá (LH) becomes Ql(>pã(H+LH); ní
Yoruba English Yoruba English (H) and <)tún (LH) becomes l'Qttin(H+LH).
dókítà doctor m()tô !motor
NAME SIGN EXAMPLES
lóyà lawyer káà car
Dó \ àdàbà dove language
dír$bà driver réhlwéê railway (train) êdê su pplication
SQfiyQ surveyor kç,mpútà computer {:b{: father elephant all
skúulü school rédíó radio baba erin gbogbo leprosy wait come
bánki bank $Íà chair Re No Sign wárápá dúrô wá for Onmmila
kóótu court tébti table f' órunmilâ
(fún Qrúnmilà)
Mí I olôf"'mô (oní õfôfô)
2.4.3.2 Quiz
Use your knowledge of English to give meanings to the
following derived words:
Dómi -
Sçmdê Bibéli
kôkó ãng li tattletaler
Sátidé SQQ$i
d(>lâ kípà
pQn-ün bià

11
32 33
2.6 EXERCISE
Use the attached vocabulary to fill in the missing spaces in the

table below.
LESSON THREE
Yoruba English Yoruba English
skúú.hl (the) school lâti ri to see
tí$à teacher láti ní to have
owó (some) money lâti kç to leam
ajâ (a) dog láti ka to read
Qjà (the) market láti IQ togo
i$író mathematics àti and
iwé (a) book sí to
ajá Ôjó Ojo's dog ní at
emi I
emi ni Iam
Yoruba English
Ayç nk9 i$írô. Ayo studies mathematics.
B(llá ..............iwê. Bola is reading a book.
B◊láníowó. Bola has (some) money.
Dêlé ....... BQlá...........ajá. Dele and Bola have a dog.
Emi ni tí$à yín. Iam your teacher.
OrúkQ mi ni KQla.
Kçlé................................ Kole is the Yoruba teacher.
Orúkç,............................. Ojo's dog's narne is Suuru.
Mo ri ajá Ojó ní Qjà.
Mo ri Délé ní Qjà. I saw Dele at the market.
Dúpé nlQ sí skúulu ní Dupe goes to school at Owo.
owo.
Délê àti Bçlá nlç sí skúú.lu.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON THREE

I
li I 34 35
3.1 DIALOGUE
Moji and Iyabo
Moji ati IyabQ
Moji: Good morning, Iya_bo.
Mojí: Káã.rQ ÍyábQ. Iyabo: Good morning, Moji. How is everything?
iyábQ: Káãr◊ Mojí. Báwo ni nkan? Moji: It is fine. Howmany subjects do you have
Dâadáa ni. SQbújé ti mélõ l'o ní l'óni: today?
Mojí:
iyábQ: SQbúj l)ti méji ni, Ingilil$i àti i$iró. Iyabo: 1\vo subjects, English and Mathematics.
Tí$à wo l'ó nkQyín ni Ingilii$i. Moji: Which teacher teaches you English?
Mojí:
lyabo: It is Doctor K.ole.
iyábQ: Dokita K(>lé ni.
$é 6 nkQ yín dáadáa. Moji: Does he teach well?
Mojí:
,1 Iyabo: He is trying.
iyáb!): ó ngbiyànjú.
Mojí: Ókêé, ó dàbQ. Moji: O.K. Goodbye.
i,· iyãbç: Ó dàb9. Màâ ri .l'çsãi. Iyabo: Goodbye. I will see you in the afternoon.
l 1'
1
, 1111111
11
36 37
Yoruba EngHsh Yoruba English Yoruba Engllsh

àârQ morning ekQDQmükisi economics Ibo l'o ti wã? Where do you come from?
QSân afternoon ekQ eto-QIQ economics Ibo ni ilú r ? Where is your town?
alé evening jQmétlrl geometry Ilé-Ife ni mo ti wá. I come from Ile-Ife.
à$álé dusk ek◊ il$-wiw◊n geometry Ondó ni ilú mi. Ondo is my town.
ir◊lé nightfall bàQlóji biology Ibo ni abúlé yin? Where is your village?
ekQ á-oníyê biology Ayétõrô ni abúlé wa. Ayetoro is our village.
dókítà doctor fisfikisi physics Ibo n'ilê-lwé re wà? Where is your school?
DQQsi nurse ekQ ectâ physics Adó ni ilé-lwé mi wà. My school is in Adó.
Qljíbirà a1gebra Ibo l'o ti nlQ si skúftlft? Where do you go to
school?
àlâfià good ekQ i$iro-a1àmi a1gebra
Ilé ek(> giga(Yunifãsítl)
health Which college (university)
ifé love Íllgilfi$i English wo l'ô nlQ? do you attend?
inú-didtln happiness irõ mathematics Ibo ni Ilé-lwé r ? Where is your school?
happiness jQgí:ráfi geography Mo nlQ skúúhi ní Ç)yQ. I attend school in Oyo.
idtln-nú
ekQ ile-ayé geography Mo nlQ Yunifásítii ti I attend the University of
SQbújéeti subject ístiri · history Ibàdàn. Ibadan.
Iléek{l giga ti ohikóni I attend a teacher's
à!?àyàn- subject ekl? itàn- history
àgbà ni mónlQ. college.
ek◊ àkQ(>l
Ilé-ek{> giga ti aw9n I attend a technical
k(> (êniyàn) teach ek(> nipa religious
ª$ I'Q ni mõnlQ. school.
(someone} igbàgbQ studies
11'11
tfi$i teach kémístiri chemistry Ilé-çkç asel'Q ti I goto Yaba College
Yâbã nimõ nlQ. of Technology.
kékl) learn ekó-eià chemistry
Iní ekó wo l'ô nk(l? What do you study?
ti$à teacher rilijionu religion
Mo nkó isé akóni. I study education.
oluk{mi teacher
Kiniméjç,re? What is your major'?
I é nó◊si ni mo ti I majored in nursing.
méjQ.

11 38
"1111'1 39
3.4 PRONOUNS
M is an abbreviated fonn of Êmi and is used mainly with
the auxiliary article ibá. I should have gane can be
lntroduction
translated as Êmiibá ti IQ or M bá ti lQ
1:
Yoruba pronouns are used in much the sarne way as

English pronouns: as a replacement for a noun. Yoruba
pronouns can be either emphatic or non-emphatic. 3.4.1.3 Non-emphatic Subjectlve Pronouns
i1il 3.4.1 Non-emphatic Pronouns

Mo
º·ç
I
you
A
ç
we
you
ó he, she, it W◊n they
Subjective Objective Possessive
Sing. 1st. Pers. Mo, N, M Mi Mi These are used llke subjective pronouns in English:
(aSQI'Q) {I) (me) (my) Wc)n mú wa lQ si oko friiey took us to the farm
Sing.2nd. Pers. o Q,1; R .ç (Ó) kô mQ ibi ti a to• !He did not know where we
(agbQQrQ) (you) (you) (your)
went
Sing. 3rd. ó Last vowel of R . í; • When kô, not, is used with the third person singular, the
Pers. (he / she / it) prececting verb (his/her/its)
pronoun Ó is omitted. Such a statement is often preceded
(QIQQI'Q)
by one where the name of the person or thing is
PI. 1st. Pers. A Wa Wa mentioned or understood. For example:
(as9rç>) (we) (us) (our)
Q: é Àjàyí mQ ibi ti a lQ? Does Ajayi know
PI. 2nd. Pers. I; Yin Yin
(you) lwhere we went?
(agbQÇ>f'Q) (you) (your)
PI. 3rd. Pers. WQn WQn WQn A: Rárá, kô mo ibi ti a lQ . No, He does not know
lwhere we went.
(QlQQrQ) (they) (them) (their}
3.4.1.4 Non-emphatic Objective Pronouns

3.4.1.1 Masculine / Feminine
Mi me Wa us
There is no gender differentiation in Yoruba pronouns. Toe o you Yin you
third person singular pronoun ó translates to he,she, or it.
ó him, her, it WQn thern
For example, Ó ti lQ translates to helshe/ü has gone.
These are also used as in English
3.4.1.2 Mo, N. M Adé mú wa lQ si oko. Ade took us to the fann.
Mo is the main first person singular pronoun. N is used B(>lâ kõ mQ w(5n. Bola does not know
with negative statements. e.g., I wiU not go translates to them.
Nô nii lQ. lt is also used with the future tense, e.g., I wiU l'ij orimiri? Have you ever met me?
go can be translated as NóôIQ . Êmi ô ri yín ri. I have never met you.

40
41
3.4.1.5 Non-Emphatic Possessive Pronouns 3.4.2.1 Emphatic pronouns are used as subjective
Mi my Wa our pronouns in the following ways:
R orç your Yín your (a} When responding to a question:
Re bis, her, WQD their Q: Tal'ó mu iwé mi? Whotook my book?
its
Examples:
1-
A: Emi 1°6 mu lwé . I took your book.
Q: Tani QkQ Àb bi? IWho is Abebi's husband?
iyãwõ mi lQ si oko. My wife went to the farm. 1-
A: Emini QkQ Ãbebi. I am Abebí's husband.
Déwá tóbi. Our house is big.
Owó re wà ni bánki. His money is in the bank.
Q: Tal'ójí owó nâà? M'bo stole the money?
A: ôun l'o jí ow6 náà He stole the money
QmQ yín lQ si skúülu. IYour child went to school.
{b) When asking a direct question:
3.4.2 Emphatic Pronouns Q: $é àwal' nbá wi? IAre you addressing us?
Emphatic A: (mi, {lyin ni. Yes, you are.
Emphatic
(Subject or Object) (Possessive) Q: $é iw9 ni QkQ Àb Are you Abebi's husband?
Enú bi?
Sing. 1st. Pers. Temi
(asçI"Q) (1, me) (mine) A: Rárá.êmik{l No, Iam not.
Sing.2nd. Pers. IWQ Tir (e)When laying emphasis on the subject noun:
(agbQQrQ) (you) (yours)
Emi l'ó b{l ◊bQ Qba. I fed the king's monkey.
Sing. 3rd. Pers. ôun Tu . T'óun
Iwç, kQ l'ó ni owó You do not own the money
(QlQQrQ) (he, him, her, she, (his, hers, its)
it, nââ.
its) ôun l'ó mu wa IQ si He took us to the farm
Pl. 1st. Pers. Àwa Tiwa oko náà
(aSQrQ) (we. (ours)
us)
PI. 2nd. Pers. çyin Tiyín Emphatic pronouns are used as object nouns in the
{agbQQrQ) (you) (yours) following ways:
PI. 3rd. Pers. ÀwQn TiwQn (a}When laying emphasis on the object noun:
(they, them} Ô fún àwa náàl'ówó. He also gave us some money.
Ô mú àw9n yrgôkê lQ . He went up the hill with
these.
Bába wa fún yin ná àOurfather also gave you
ni tiyín. 1Your own share

42
43
3.4.2.2 Emphatic possessive pronouns are usai asfollows:

(a) When emphasizing the possessive pronoun: 3.5 EXERCISE
Tire ni, Olúwa. It's yours. O Lord. Use the attached vocabulary to fi1l the missing spaces in
Tír nlgbogbo ri;. All of it is yows. the table below:
Tíwa n'tiwa, têini n'têmi. Ours is ows, mine is Yoruba English Yoruba English
mine. QrQ speech, lati f towant
Tiwon ni ori àt'Qriln rrhe head and neck of statement,
eran náà theanimal are theirs Qlç,run God lati f ran to like, to love
1---
onje ifood lati SQ to say
1---
láti mq to know lati SQ pé tosay that
1---
láti m9 pé to know that lati wipé to saythat
látijeun to eat lati SQrQ to talk
látije onje to eat (food) lati ni to say
Yoruba English
Mo f$ lQ. l want togo.
Mo f SQTQ.
Mo f$ràn (r)e.
1--
Kúnlé f ràn BQlá.
1---
Kúnlé ní ôun f ràn B(>lá.
Kúnlé sQ pé ôun f ràn
B9lá.
Kúnlé wí pé õun f lQ.
IWe love God.
Kunle and Bola said
that they love God.
Kunle says that heknows
me.
Mo mQ pé AyQ mç Kúnlé.
Kunle and Ayo said they
twere going to school.
Emi àti AyQ f$1Q jeun.
Kúnlé àtí AyQ nje onje.

44 45
LESSONFOUR
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON FOUR
1111111
46
47
4.1 DIALOGUE
Ayo traveis to Chicago
Ayç, nl9 sí $ikágà
Ayo: I am goíng to Chicago tomorrow.
Kunle: What do you plan to do there?
AyQ: Mà á lQ $ikágõ l'(>la.
Ayo: I am going shopping.
Kúnlé: Kil'o fé IQ $e níbe?
Kunle: When will you come back?
AyQ: Mo fé lQ rajà. I maybe back in three
Ayo:
Kúnlé: igbàwo l'o má a dé?
Kunle: days.
AyQ: ó $e ki n de l'(>jQ mérin l'óní ..
Ayo: When are you leaving home?
Kúnlé: Aago mélõl'o máa kúrô n'lé?
Kunle: It will be around 3:30.
Ay9: Á á tó aago méta ãbç.
Ayo: How long does it take to get there?
Kúnlé: Wákàti mélõ l'ó ma gbà láti dé 'b ?
Kunle: It takes around four hours by plane.
AyQ: Àálótówákàti mérin nínún pléeni.
Would you please buy a radio for me
Kúnlê: Jçwó, $é o le bá nú ra rédíõ níbe? Ayo: there?
AyQ: Níbo ni w(m ti ntà á? Kunle: Where is it sold?
Kúnlé: W(>n ntà à ni gbogbo st(lQ. Ayo: It is sold in every store.
Ay9: Eló ni w◊n ntà á? Kunle: How much does it cost?
Kúnlé: W(>n ntà á ní bí ogóóji d(>là. Ayo: It costs about forty dollars.
AyQ: Ókêé, t'ó bâ d'Qla, fún mi l'ówó. Kunle: O.K. give me the money tomorrow.
Kúnlé: o $é púpç. Ayo: Thank you very much.
Ay◊: O d'Qla. Good night.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
LESSONFOUR
48 49

"i;Jilll
1
,11111
Yoruba Engllsh Yoruba Engllsh Yoruba Engllsb

IllQjú dawn Qjà market ÀWQD SQbújéeti WO l'ô Which subjects are
àkókõ time rajà buy (goods) D you taking?
1il
11
1$ÍS second rajà-16:kêerê import {goods) ¼àyàn- kQ mélo l'ô How many subjects are you
minute tajà sell (goods} ll$C? taking?
i$ jú
111111
wâkàti hour tajà-sókêerê export {goods) ¼àyàn- k(> méjeni mô I am taking seven subjects.
11111111
QjQ day ilé-itajà shop n
QS week lità liter n wo l'ó nkó yín ni Which teacher teaéhes you
k mistiri (Qlgíbrà, chemistry (algebra.
oi,u month mità meter
ii,irô)? mathematics)?
Qdún year ibusc} mile
Prof KQle l'ó nkQ wa Professor Kole teaches us
Qdún-lé leap year iwc}n measurement
n1i írô. mathematics.
c}rún-dún century iwQn-àyê cubic (volume)
Kiláàsi wo l'o ní l'Qsin? Which class do you have in
nl àná yesterday iwc}n-ese feet the aftemoon?
ni ijéta twodays ago máili mile Mo ní b6}(,ji. I have biology-.
n1 lj rin three days ago Qpá yard Igbàwo re rú búréeki? When is your break time?
n1c}la tomorrow Õréré furlong Aago mêji ra ni búréeki. Our break time is at 2 o'clock.
ni Qtúnla the day after yáàdi yard Máàki wo l'o gbà ní What grade did you get on
tomorrow idãnwõ t'ó kQjá? the last exam?
niQjQ rin threedays QkQ-akérõ transport Píri(>dit wo l'o ní What period do you have
lóní fromnow vehicle sáy nsi? science?
ni QS )'Í this week QkQ-ayQk Ié sedan I have science during
Mo ni sáy nsi ní
ni 9s tó nbQ nextweek kâà car Píri(>dtl kéji. the second period.
DÍ QS tó last week QkQ•ak ru truck é o ni bàQlQji l'ónl? Doyou have biology- today?
kQjã Rárá, fisükisi ni mo ní. No, I have physics.
ni QS keta twoweeks ago QkQ-õfúrufú plane Nj o ti $C jQgú"âfi? Have you taken geography?
ni êi,in last year pléêni plane Rárá, istiri ni moi,e. No. I have taken history.
ní idúnta twoyears ago rélú.wée railway (train)
AwQn iwé wo re ló fún What books did youuse for
niQdún twoyears tréêni train rlliji(>nu? rellgion class?
ta lóní from now
Qc}bu shop QkQ ojú-irin train
StQQ store bóc)si bus
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONFOUR

50 51
4.4 TENSES 4.4.1.2 The past tense is indicated by stating the

time when the event took place. For example: I went
Introduction yesterday is written as MoIQ ní àná (Mo lç, l'ánã}.
Atense is the aspect of a verb that indicates time of action Past tense Past tense English
or state of being. Êmí lQ (ni + time Mo IQ (ni + time in I went (time)
in the past) the past)
4.4.1 Conjugation
ln general, all verbs in Yoruba are conjugated by adding an 4.4.1.3 When indicating a continuing action, llke the way I
auxiliary article or preflX to the infulitive of the verb. am going is used in English, affix an n to the beginning of
hnported verbs follow the sarne rule. There are no frregulár the verb. For example:
verbs.
Emphatic Non-emphatic English
Toe main auxiliary articles used in conjugation are: Êmi nlQ MônlQ I amgoing
Future á used with the verb infmitive to Translate the following:
indicate the future as in the English
shall or will Yoruba Engllsh
1--- -
Future yóô, used exclusively with emphatic A duM nj búr$dl.
(emphatic) ôô pronouns or nouns to lay emphasis on Ajá ngbó n'ígbó.
the verb as in the English will !We are doing mathematics.
de.finitely Lola is reading a book.
Perfective ti used with the verb infmitive to mean
have
Progressive n prefixed to the verb infinitive to indicate 4.4.1.4 The future tense is indicated by using the
present or continuing action auxiliary article á with the verb:
Negation kô, used with the verb infinitive to indicate Future tense Future tense English
ô a negation as in the English did not (emphatic) (non-emphatic)
Ênú álQ MàálQ I (will or shall) go
iw(l á lQ WàálQ IYou (will or shall) go
4.4.1.1 The infinitive form of the verb láti lo (togo):
Óún á lQ ÁálQ He(will or shall) go
Present tense Present tense English Àwá álQ À.álQ We (will or shall) go
(emphatic) (non-emphatic) l;yín â lQ !; lQ You (will or shall) go
ÊmílQ MolQ Igo Àw(ln á lQ Wçm álQ They (will or shall)
iWQ IQ OlQ Yougo go
ÔúnlQ ÓIQ He goes ln this case, the second person plural pronoun is
ÂwálQ ÂIQ Wego modified for ease of pronunciation.
l;yin IQ ç IQ You (pi.) go
ÀwQDIQ W◊nlQ They go
LESSONFOUR
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
52
53
4.4.1.5 With the general pronoun, the auxiliary article
4.4.1.7 The present perfect tense indicates an action
yóô or 6õ is sometimes substituted for â to emphasize
that is already completed at the time of speaking. It is
the situation. Thus êmiy6ôlo means I definitely wi.Ugo.
formed by adding the auxiliary article ti to the infinitive.
Yoruba Engllsh For example:
iyâ mi yóó fún mi My mother will give me some Present Perfect Present Perfect English
l'ówó. money.
(emphatic) (non-emphatic)
Emi6ô ri i l'(>la. I will (surely) see him tomorrow.
Emi tilQ Mo ti lQ I havegone
4.4.1.6Quiz
Use the attached vocabulary to fill ln the blank spaces
4.4.1.8 As with the past tense, the past perfect simply
below:
adds a time element to the present perfect. For example: I
Yoruba English Yoruba English had. left.before you arrtved translates to mo ti IQ lú o tó
láti gun toconquer sobúj ti subject dê.
láti tii$i to teach Qb stew ·- Past perfect Past perfect English
láti d $e to sin adé(Qba) (the king's) c
rown (emphatic) (non-emphatic)
láti lQ ri togo andsee ftlà cap Enú ti lQ (+ time Mo ti lQ (+ time I had gone (+ time)
element) element)
-
t--.
Yoruba
Mo wâ; mo ri; mo gun.
English
Bade wears the king's crown.

4.4.1.9 Thefuture perfect tense indicates an action or
state as completed in relation to a specified time in the
Obébu Qbe. future, e.g. I wi11 have gone or I shaU have gone. ln
Awá nlQ, ó dàbQ. Yoruba, two auxiliary articles, á and ti, are added to the
Ojo has a head. infinitive.
He also has a cap.
-- Toe personal pronouns arepronounced the sarne as in
Emiyóô 19.
the future tense above:
,-.
Emi yóólQ ri baba mi. Future perfect Future perfect English
J will tel1him. (emphatic) (non-emphatic)
Emiti d $f). Emi (y)óó ti lQ (+ Mà á ti lQ (+ time I (will ar
I have three subjects today. shall) time element) element have gone
Our professor teaches well. As with the future tense, the auxiliary article yóô or óô is
Bádé ti dé adé Qba. sometimes substituted for á to g1Ve emphasis to the
situation. Tous Êmiyóô(or óô)ti IQ means I dejlnitely will
Bade will wear the king's c
Mo ri bàbá wa l'âna. - havegone.
a p
-- 4.4.2 TheNegative Article kô ar õ
I will see our father today. ln order to express negation of the actions expressed ln the
tenses above, the auxilíary, kô or ô, is used.

54
55
Ums, in the present tense for Awá IQ, the negative will be
4.4.2.3 When negating a sentence in the future tense,
àwa kô lQ or a ô lQ. Toe two auxiliaries kõ and ô areoften
the auxiliary article k(ô) nü are used alongwith the verb.
used interchangeably.
ln the third person singular, the pronoun ó is always Negation ofthe future tense ofláti lQ (togo) (non
ornitted and the article kõ is used almost like the subject. emphatic):
Thus, the negative of 6 lQ is kõ lQ and not 6 kõ lQ. Future Negation English
MàálQ Miô níí lç I will not go
4.4.2.1 Negation ofthe present tense ofláti lQ (togo) (non WàálQ O (k)õ níí lQ You will not go
emphatic): ÁálQ (x)Kõ níí lQ He will not go
Present Negation English ÀâlQ A(k)ó níí lQ We will not go
MolQ N ólQ Ido notgo é lQ ç (k)ô nü lQ You will not go
OlQ O(k)ô IQ You do notgo WQn álQ WQD (k)ó nü lQ They will not go
ÓlQ (x) Kó IQ He does not go
AlQ A (k)ó lQ IWe do not go 4.4.2.4 Negation of the future tense of láti lQ (to go)
ç lQ 1; (k)õ lQ You do not go {emphatic):
WQn IQ WQn (k)ó lQ ílbey do not go Future Negation English
(x) the third person singular pronoun is ornitted. Emi alQ Erni (k)ó níí 19 I will not go
Translate the following:
4.4.2.2 Negation ofthe past tense ofláti lQ (togo):
Yoruba English
Past Negation English We will not go.
(emphatic) AyQ ó níí lQ sí skúú.lu náà.
Ernilç l'àna Emi(k)ó lQl'ànã I didnotgoyesterday Emió nií ri àbúró r .
Past Negation English Taye will not buy the
(non-emphatic) radio in Chicago.
Mo lQ l'ànã N (k)ó lQ l'ànã Ididnotgp yesterday Ajá mi ó níí j búr di.
Translate the following: My cat will not eat its food.
Bádé kó dé adé çba.
Yoruba English
We do not want to eat.
Àiná kó mó pe mo ti lç.
A ní k'ô lQ, !;,ugbçm kó We did not eat.
lQ. Bádé lQ, kó padà.
We did not tel1 him to Bade will go. She will
go. not come back.
I did not tell Aina that I had
gone.
LESSON FOUR
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
56 57
4.4.2.5 ln the past perfect tense, the auxiliary article ti is

4.4.2.9 Quiz
replaced by kô it11 (or õ ib"'i) to fonn the negative: Negation of
Use the vocabulary attached to fill in the blank spaces on
the past perfect ofláti lQ(non-emphatic) the next page:
Past perfect Negation English Yoruba Englisb Yoruba nglish
Mo ti lQ Mi (or N) ó itü I have not gone láti jó to dance láti gbQ to hear
lQ láti YQ to be happy láti gbà to accept
O ti lQ O ó itií IQ IYou have not gone láti kQrin to sing látigbàgbQ to believe
Ó tilQ [Kó itíiIQ Hehasnotgone to praise
láti yin láti dúp tothank
A ti lQ IA õ itii IQ We have not gone (eniyànl (somebody)
ç tilQ ç ó itil lQ IYou have not gone láti ní to say ijó dance
WQn ti IQ IWQn õ itíi lQ ílb.ey have not gone láti SQ to say, ayç, happiness
to declare
4.4.2.6 Negation ofthe past perfect ofláti lQ (emphatic): láti sQpé to say that orin song
,
Past perfect Negation English láti topray awo or Ifapriest
Emí ti lQ Emi (k)õ itü IQ I have not gone , gbàdúrà babaláwo
láti lQ togo Qlc;>run God
f---
láti rúbQ to perform óun he,she,it
4.4.2.7 ln the future perfect, the auxiliary articles (k)ô ni a sacrifice ôun his, her, its
til are used for conveying negative ideas.
láti b r tostart, õun and, with
Negation ofthe Future perfect ofláti lQ (non-emphatic): to begin
láti b tobeg Jésú. Jesus
Future Negation English (êniyàn) (someone)
Perfect
láti dúp togive $úgbQn but
Mà á ti IQ N (k)ô ní til IQ I will not have gone thanks to
lów◊
Wà á ti lQ O (k)õ ní til IQ IYou will not have gone (êniyàn) (someone)
,-..
Ááti lQ Kõ ní til lQ He will not have gone
À á ti lQ A (k)ó ní til 19 IWe will not have gone
ti IQ ç (k)ô ní til 19 IYou will not have gone
Wçm á ti IQ 1W9n (k)ó ní til lQ They will not have
gone
4.4.2.8 Negation ofthe future perfect ofláti lQ (ernphatic):
Future Perfect Negation English
Emi á ti lQ Emi (k)õ ní til 19 I will not have gone
LESSONFOUR
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
58 59
4.5 EXERCISE
Yoruba Engllsh
Mo ri bàbá wal'ánà .
I will not
Use your dictionary to fmd the meanings seernissing
of the our father today.
words in the table undemeath. Toen use tbe vocabulary to fill in the missing
spaces.Rántí õ nü kQrin ní Q i.
Ranti did not pray to Jesus. Yoruba English Yoruba English
Ranti saíd that be will not to see ni <)túnla
prayto God. to sell goods l'ánà
Ránti õ til bere si gbàdúrà >--
tocome back ní ij ta
sí Qlçirun.
ilé ilúOyinbó
eniyàn l'é last year
Kõ nií SQ ibi t'ó lQ. traín
QkQ ay9k$l$
I have not told him where I bicycle
rwent. QkQ õfúrufú
Dúp$ nyin àwQn awo re. Yoruba English
Dupe did not praise her Ifa Mà á IQ (sí) $'1kágõ l'Qt1nla.
priests. ·1 went to Chicago last
Dúp$ ô itil yin àwQn awo tyear.
re. I want to go to New
Dúp$ SQ pe õun ô nií yin !York.
àwon awo õun. Mo WQ QkQ ayqk$1$ lQ
Babaláwo ni ki iyàndá ó (sí) Dáláàsi.
rúbQ. Délé WQ QkQ õfúrufú lQ (sí)
Iyanda said he will not Jêpáànu.
perform a sacrifice. Mo f lQ tajà ní $ikágà
Iyanda did not perlonn the l'(>la.
sacrilice. I went to Chicago by traín.
Délé kõ kQrin. I knew that T$ni took
Dele has not started to sing. the traín.
Dele says that he will 1-
Mo ti padà.
not sing. Mo ti padà láti $ikágõ. I have come back from
Mo gbQ, ú.gb(m mi ó gbà. Chicago.
Abe $ tití ugb(m kõ gbà.
e give thanks to God.
Mi à gbç,, mi ó si gbà.

l 60 61
li
LESSONFIVE
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON FIVE
111il1i'1l1
11
111
11 62
63
5.1 DIALOGUE
Moji anel Iyabo meet Ayoand Kunle
Mojí àti Iyábç, padé Ay9 àti Kúnlé

Moji: Iyabo, have you met Ayo and Kunle?
lyabo: No.
Mojí: Iyáb<), nj o ti pàdé Ay◊ati Kúnlé? Moji: Ayo, Kunle, Iyabo.
iyábc): Rárâ. Ayo: How is it going, Jyabo?
Mojí: AyQ, Kúnlé, lyáb<). Iyabo: It is fine. How is it going, Kunle?
Ay(>: Báwo ni, lyáb<)? Kunle: It's fine. Where are you goin
iyáb9:· Dáadáa ni. Báwo ni Kúnlé? Moji: We are going to the library. What about
Kúnlé:
Kó burú. Ibo l'e nlQ? you?
Mojí:
À nlQ sí láibiri; eyin nkó? Ayo: We are going to the library too.
Ayô: Àwa náà nlQ (si) láibiri. Kunle: Ah, Ayo! I tbought we said we were going
Kúnlé: Àh Ay<)! Mo $ebí a SQ pé à nlQ sinimá t l to the movies.
ni. Moji: O.K., Ayo, where are your books?
Mojí: Ókêé, Ay◊, àwQn iwé f;! dà? Kunle: Don't mind him. He is going to tbe hbrary
Kúnlé: ç má dá a Ióhim. Titorí tiyín l'ó $e f$ lQ because ofyou?
(sí) Iáibiri. Ayo: O.K. When you finish at the library, can
Ayç,: Ókêé, $é ti bá $e tán ní láibiri, $é a lê IQ we ali go to the movies?
(sí) sinimâ? Moji: Iyabo?
Mojí: Iyábç,? lyabo: O.K., but I bave anexam tomorrow.
iyáb◊: Ókêé, $itgb(m mo ní idánwõ 1'9la. igbàwo When do you want to go to the
l'!;! f 19
sinimá? Ayo: movies? It will be aroud nine o'clock.
Ayç,: Á á tó aago m$s'ãJ.. Moji: That is good. Will you come and get us
Moji: Ókêé, $e $ wá pê wâ ní'bE)? there?
Kúnlé: ó dára, à á wá títí aago m(!jQ âb9. Kunle: That is fine. We will come around eight
thirty.
Moji: À á máa retí yín.
Moji: We will be expecting you.
Ayç: Ódàbc).
Ayo: Bye.
BEGJNNER'S YORUBA LESSON FIVE

64
65
5.2 VOCABULAR.V
5.3 EXPRESSIONS
Yoruba English Yoruba Engllsh Yoruba English

mfiti meet láI.'biri hbrary Báwo ni nkan? How is everyt:hing?
bârapàdé meet ilé-ikàwé hbrary Ó dára. It is O.K.
InQra be familiar· füdi fi.eld Dáadáa ni. ltís O.K.
igbàwo when (question) o ngbádim? Areyou having fun?
Qdàn- eré field
igbàti when(statement) pâpâ-i eré field ni, e púpQ. Yes, thank youvery much.
igbànâà then ilé-onje dining hall Ilé nkQ? · How is your household?
nítorí because dQmítirl dormitory AwQn QIIlQ nk(l? How are your children?
nibo where ilé-isun Bàbâre nk(>? How is your father?
dormitory
nibi here kilâàsi class Aláfià ni w(m wà. They are ali doingfine.
WQn wà{ní àláfià}. He exists {in good health).
m'b there yàrá-ik{>wé class
l(>h'in 0 r WQil di . Heis a bitunder the
over there sinimâ cinema weather.
ugbón but ilé-iran cinema Ara WQn k(ô) dá. Heis sick.
àm(> but mtisíQmu museum I; pelé. Hello.
àti and ilé-Qnà museum P l o. Hello there.
p lú with pâàki park ó t'(>jç ta. lt's been quite a while.
õun and orwith Qgbà-i park Oj◊ kan pelu (re). Add one more day.
I; kú àtijQ. Hello, I haven't seen youin
-.--
a while.
Awa niyen. That is us (Such is life).
$é ó fáiní? Is it fme(Are you alrlght)?
ó fãini. It is fine.
àlâfià ni? Areyou (or Is everyone)
healthy?
ní, àlâfià ni. Yes, I am healthy.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
LESSON FIVE
66
67
5.4 TENSES Ctd.

5.4.2.3 Toe present subjunctive, when indicating a desire,
uses the auxiliary articles Ó y ki along with the verb to
5.4.1 Other Auxiliary Articles
mean I should:
Other auxiliary articles used in conjugating verbs include:
Present Present English
lê used with the verb infinitive to mean can I should go (it is
ormay Oye kí êmi lQ óye kí nlç•
proper that Igo)
Óy ki used in front of the noun or pronoun, Oye kí iWQ lQ óye kí o lQ You should go
along with the infmitive to mean shouJd
Oye kíôun lQ óye k' ó IQ He should go
i;;i or i used with the verb infinitive to mean sti.U
Oye kí àwa IQ óye k' álQ We should go
ibá ti used with the verb infmitive to mean
shouldhave Oye kí yin IQ ó ye kí e IQ You should go
J ki used in front of the noun along with the Oye kí àwQn IQ Ó ye k' QD lQ They should go
infmitive to mean let
• the single letter n here means I. It should not be confused
with the prefix for the present participle of the verb lQ, as
5.4.2 TheSubjunctive Mood in Mô nlQ (I am going)
Toe subjunctive mood design.ates the use of a verb to
express supposition, desire, hypothesis or possibility. 6.4.2.4. ln expressing the opposite of the above, the
auxiliary articles become kô y ki (it is not proper that):
5.4.2.1 Toe present subjunctive, when indicating a Present
possibility, uses the auxiliary article lê along with the verb: - Present English
Kõ ye kí êmi IQ Kó y kí n lç I should not go (it
Present Present English is not proper that I
(emphatic) (non-emphatic) go)
5.4.2.5 Toe present subjunctive, when expressing a regret, euch as
Emí lê 19 Mole lQ I can go or I may go the English should have, uses ibá ti along with the verb
5.4.2.2.The past subjunctive, when indicating a possibility,

uses thepast auxiliary arUcle, ti, along with lê - Present Present
Emí ibá ti IQ Mbá ti lQ
English
I should have gone
Past Past English ' iwQ ibá ti lQ Ô bá ti lQ You should have gone
(emphatic) (non-emphatic) ' àun ibá ti IQ i bá ti lQ He should have gone
Emí ti lê lç Mo ti lê lQ I might have gone Awa ibá ti IQ
À bá ti IQ !We should have gone
' yin ibátilQ I; bá ti IQ IYou should have gone
ÀwQn ibá ti IQ WQn ibá ti They should have gone
lQ

68
69
5.4.2.6. When expressing the opposite of the above, the

5.4.3.l Below is a list ofcommon sentences expressing the
auxiliary articles become lu'bá má tíi (should not have):
lmperative mood.
Present Present English Yoruba English Yoruba Engtish
Emi kibá má ili Emikibámátü I shou.ld not have Move dose
--
lQ Wá. Come. Sún mQ
lQ gone mi. to me.
Wásíbí. Come right Fémi. Loveme (or
5.4.2.7 Quiz here. Manyme).
--
Use the attached vocabulary to fill in the blank spaces in MâalQ. Go away. Gb9. Listen.
the table below: MâabQ. Cometo me. GbQmi. Hearmeout.
Yoruba English Yoruba English T lé mi. Follow me. Gbó têmi. Listen to me.
láti jó to dance àbúró IYOunger
síbling
5.4.3.1 Toe auxiliary article J kí is used in front of the
láti j un toeat egb◊n older sibling noun along with the infinitive to mean let.
Yoruba English Present Present English
Jc}w(>, jéki àbúrõ r wá. J kíêmilQ. Jéki n lQ. Letmego.
ÓW ki n j un. Jékí óun lQ. Jék'ó lQ. Lethimgo.
Please, I want togo home. Jéki àwalQ. J k'a lQ. Let usgo.
You should not have given Jéki àWQil lQ. J k'9n LQ. Let themgo.
him the money.
I still have some rnoney.
Íw9 ibá ti s9 fü.n un. 5.4.4 Still: l?i or i
iwQ kibá má ili lQ. When expressing an event happening at or up to the time
ÍWQ ibá u sç fü.n e 9n lndicated, whether past, present, or future, the adverb i
- or i is used. This is equivalent to the English word still
I can dance, you can sing.
&.4.4.1 ln the present:
5.4.3 The lmperative Tense Present Present Engtish
Toe imperative tense expresses a command. As in English, Emi (l?)i ní Mo ( )i ní I still have
it appears in sentences without a subject noun. For
example, Wá n'bí means come here. Padà means go back. 15,4.4.2 ln the past tense, the sentence is accompanied
Wlth ní and the time element:
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
LESSON FIVE
70
71
Past Past Engllsh

Emi ($)i ní (ní Mo ($)i ní (ní + I still had(time or 5.4.5. Awr:iliary Artlcles for Interrogative Sentences:
+ time or period time or period period in the past Toe Yoruba language fonns interrogative sentences by
in the past) in the past) in the past) placing certain auxiliary articles in front of the subject.
5.4.4.3 ln the future tense, the auxiliary ($)i máais used: 5.4.5.1 Toe auxiliary article of interrogation is $ é or é :
Future Future English Englisb Yoruba Yoruba
Emi $(i) maa ní Mo l?(i)máru I will or shall still have Do I have? $é or Njé mo ní? $é or Njé êmí ní?
Will I have? $émàâní? $éêmiá ní?
5.4.4.4 Quiz CanI have? $é molê nt"? $é êmí lê ru"?
Use the attached vocabulruy to fill in the blank spaces in Should I $é ó ye kí n ní? $é ó yf; kí êmi
the table below: have? ní?
láti lówó to become rich olóltifé lover 6.4.5.2 The auxiliary article of time is igbàwo ni or
láti tomake a láti to be nfgbàwo ni:
paruwo noise farabalç patient
r- English Yoruba Yoruba
JQWQ Please c)ré friend When did I (N)igbàwo ni mo (N)igbàwoni êmí ni?
Yoruba English have? ní?
I will still become rich. When will I (N)igbàwo ni (N)igbàwo ni êmí á
Letmy people go. have? mà á ní? ní?
When can I (N)igbàwo ni (N)igbàwo ni êmí lê
Olóltifé mi, gbó temi. have?
Jék'ájç jó. - mo lê ní?
When should (N)igbàwo ni ó
ní?
(N)igbàwo ni ó yf;
Máparuwo. Do not make a noise.
I have? N kínrú? kí êminí?
Please, give me some
money.
Please, go away. &.4.6. Other Auxiliary Articles
JQWQ, farabal .
English Yoruba Yoruba
Múra s'í$é, ◊ré mi. Work hard, my friend. I cannot have N ô lê ní Emi (k)ó lê ní
Múra sí kQn;i.
I will never N ô níí ní Emi (k)ô nii ní
have
I probably Bóyã orBQyá mo Bóyá orBQyá emí ní
have ní
I never had Nó ní ri Émi (k}ó ní ri
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
LESSON FIVE
72 73
5.5 YORUBA LITERATURE 5.6 EXERCISE

Use your dictionary to find the meanings of the missing
While it is true that African nations had no written
words in the table undemeath. Then use the vocabulary
literature until recent times, they devised many ways of
preserving a literary tradition. !º ftll in the missing spaces in the table below.
Toe most important literary work in Yoruba is the great Yoruba English Yoruba English
body of oracular verses called Odu Ifa - the Ifa corpus. láti gbç (wi1pé to learn that the lion
This body of work incorporates almost all of what the láti ri i (wí)pé to see that the
Yoruba value. It is passed from one generation to another elephant
through specially trained individuais called Babalawo to know that the dog
keepers of secrets.
to say that Qba
ln recent years, an increasing amount of the traditional
oral literature has been written down, recorded and to read that olórí
translated. láti kígbe ja
Wole Soyinka, the 1986 Nobel Prize winner in Literature, (wilpé
often makes use of Yoruba imagery in bis work. He has látiM tobe búbuxú
also translated works by other Yoruba writers, like D.O. ajá kan scales
Fagunwa, into English. j$j$ gentle ranko
ln subsequent chapters, examples of Yoruba poetry,
songs, and stories are used. Yoruba Englisb
Toe lion is the king of all
animais.
Mo m◊ wípé ejõ j ranko
búbuxú.
Mo gbQ pé erin j ranko
nlá.
I read that fishes have scales.
I said that I will goto
Chicago.
BQlá ní ajá kan.
BQlá sQ pé àun ní ajá kan.
I heard that Bola has a dog.
Ajáa BQláj$ ranko j j .
Iheard that Bola has a gentle
dog.
LQiá kígbe pé õun ri ejô.
Mo ri i pé ajá Ôjó j ranko
lj.

74 75
LESSONSIX
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON SIX
1111
76 77
6.1 DIALOGUE
Délé àti Bímpé ns9r9 nipa ilu w9n Dele and Bimpe talk about their hom.etowns
Délé: Bímpé, kini pláanu fún SQmà yt? Dele: What are your plans for the summer?
Bímpé: Mo npêrô_látl lQ (sí) Nàijírià. Bimpe: I am planning to go to Nigeria.
Délé: Êmi náà npláàmi láti lQ'lé sitgbón enú o Dele: L too, am planning to gp home, but I don't
me) b(>yá mo le rl OWÓ láti lQ. know whether I can get the money to go.
Bimpé: lbo ni ilu tiyín ní Nàijírià? Bimpe: Where is your town in Nigeria?
Délé: Àkúré ni. TI nk{>? Dele: It is Akure. What about yours?
Bímpé: IlQrln ni. Báwo ni a e nlQ Àkúré? Bimpe: It is 11.orin. How does one get to
Dêlé: Nàijá ni'wQ yí ? Akure? Dele: Are you sure youare Nigerlan?
Bímpé: ún-un, Am$ríkà l'emi. Bimpe: No, Iam Americanl
Délé: Ókêé. Ti o bá dé Nàijíríà, Àkúr$ tó igba Dele: O.K When you get to Nigeria, Akure is
máili sí Ekó. Báwo ni a e nlQ IlQrin? about two hundred miles from Lagos. How
does one get to Ilorin?
Bimpé: Nàijá náà ni'wQ? Tàb'ó p(! ti o ti dé
Am$ríkani? Bimpe: Are you sure you too are Nigerian? Or have
you been America for too long?
Dêlé: Emi à dé Nàijíríà rfi!
Dele: I have never been in Nigeria before!
Bimpé: Mo rí i bée. TI o bá dé Ekó. Wa á gba c)nà
Ibàdàn IQ QyQ, Io IlQrln. Bimpe: I see. When you get to Lagos, you will take
Ibadan to Oyoand then to Ilorln.
Délé: Báwo ni llQrln e ri?
Dele: How is Ilorin?
Bimpé: 11.ú nlá ni ilú IlQrln. àun si ni olú-ilú ipínle
Kwárà. Bimpe: Ilorin is a big city. It is the capital city of
Kwara State.
Délé: Àkúré náà jé ilú nlá. Ôun ni olú-ilú ipínle
Ondó. Dele: Akure is also a big city. It is the capital city
of Ondo state.
Bimpé: Kini àwQn nkan t'ó jé pàtàki ní ilú Àkúré?
Bimpe: What are the important sights in Akure?
Dêlê: Àkúré ní yunifásíti, àti àwçn ilé l;lkQ púpQ. ilú
náà si jé ibi pàtàki fún àwQn oní ôwô. Dele: Akure has a university and other institutions.
It is an important commercial city.
Bimpé: 11.c;>rin náà Jé ilú nlá. Ó si ní <)pc)l{>pc) ilé
ekç. Ó si jé ilú pàtàki fún àwon lésiin Bimpe: Ilorin is also a big city. lt also has many
Musulumi. higher institutions. It is also an important
city for Muslíms.
Dêlé: ti a bá dé Nàijirlà, é mo lê wá kí ní iIQrln.
Dele: When we get to Nigeria, may I come and
Bímpé: Inú àwon õbí miá dun Iáti rí - visit you ín Ilorin?
Bimpe: My parents will be delighted to see you.

78 79
6.2 VOCABULARY
8.3 EXPRESSIONS
Yoruba Engllsh Yoruba English
pit ilú-Oyinbõ England
hole Yúróópu Europe
land ôkun sea
well (Isa lagoon
muddy ground ÔdôQya NfgerRiver
plan t(m:> threepence
plan sísi sixpence
to plan ilê shilling
black idánwõ examination
red lâti múra to beprepared
white lâti to progress
Nigeria lQsíwâjú Africa
kôtô America Á.firikà African
ihó Asia êniyàn-dúdú Africa
lle Togo Il -Áfirikà Nigerian
kànga Nàijâ
E;}J'QÍQ London Nigerian
plãàml QmQ Nàijírià
Yoruba English
Àduk . kíl'o f n'ígbà Aduke, what will you be
Qlidé? doingduring the holldays?
Qlidéwo? Which holidays?
Igbà isimi wo? Which holidays?
Qlidé Kêrésimesi. Christmas holiday.
Qlidé Àjínde. Easter holiday.
igbà isimi Iléyá.. Id-el-Fitr holiday.
Mà ã IQ {sí) ilé. I will go home.
Mà â IQ kí àbúrô mi. I will go and visit my
younger sibling.
Mà á lQ ri àWQll óbí mi. I will go and see my parents.
Mà â lQ Níú YQQki. I will go to New York.
lbo n'U.u {ti)yín? Where is your town?
lbo l'o ti wá? Where do you come from?
íle
lbo l'E;i ti wá ní Where are you from in
Yorubâ? Yorubaland?
E;dE;l n'llú mi. Ede is my hometown.
Ikâr ni mo ti wá. Icome from Ikare.
l;gbá l'a ti wâ. We come from Egbaland.
Stéêti wo ni tiyin? Which state are youfrom?
ôgun steetl ní mo ti Icome from Ogun state.
wá.
QYQI'êmi. I am an Oyo citizen.
Ekiti steêti ni a ti wá. We come from Ekíti State.
LégQQSi ní stéetii tiwa. Lagos is our state.
Ondó steetl ni mo ti Icome from Ondo state.
wâ.
QmQ Kwárà steêtl l'àwa .lwe are Kwara state citizens.
Ql;lun ni stéêtii temi. Oshun is mystate.
Kogí stéêtli l'êmi. Kogí state is mine.

80 81
6.4 SIMPLE SENTENCES

Rules for Simple Sentences
Yoruba sentences are formed in much the sarne way as in Toearticle comes after the object:
English. For example: the house is translated as ilé náà(house the).
my d.og is translated as ajámi (dogmy).
{a) Ôgêdê-ngbê j olóri Ogedengbe was a militazy Toe numerical article comes after the object when the number is ten or less:
ogun leader {general). one child. translates as QmQ kan (child one).
{b) Bádé dé adé Qba Bade wears the king's crown. two cars is translated as kü. mêji (car two).
ln sentence (a): Ôgêdê-ngbé is the subject (QlQ$ ). Toe numerical article comes before the object when the number exceeds ten:
th1rl.y houses is translated either as QgbQD ilé.
j olóri ogun is the predicate (Q$ )
twohundred andjlve horses is translated as lgba ó lé
ln sentence {b): Bãdé is the subject (Ql()$ ).
márúne in.
dé adéQbais the predicate (Q$ ). When two nouns are combined to indicate possession, the first noun is usually th
Àbebi nb<) ç,bQ Qba (Àb bí tsfeeding the ki.ng's
(e) Ojú ajá Ôjó D$ eje Ojo's dog's eye is bleeding. monkey). Here, c}bQ (monkey) comes before Qba (king).
Ojú ajá Õjó nj(1'he eye of Qjo's dog is bleedlng}. Here, Ojo possesses the dog
(d) IÀdéhim Olúwa kií ye God's promise never fails.
Toe adjective may come before or after the noun
ln sentence {e): Ojú ajá Ôjó is the subject (QlQ$ ), Olúróunbi jéj àgüntan b IQjQ (Olúrotmbí made a promise of beautlful sheep)
n je is the predicate (9$ ). AWinún êniyàn ni Aldnwálé (Akinwale is a kind
- ln sentence (d): Àdéhun Olúwa is the subject (9l(>$ person). Here Aláanún qualifies-ê-n-i y- à-n=. ----------
).
kií ye is the predicate (Ç>$ ).
6.4.1 Quiz
Analyze the following sentences as subject and predicate:
Yoruba English
{a) IÃga baba dá. Toeoldman's chair breaks.
{b) A bá baba ni ààfm We met the old man in
Qba. the king's palace.
{e) iwà ikà kô pé. Wicked deeds are not good.
(d) BQwc) fún bàbá r . Respect your father.
(e) OI◊run dá ayé. God created the world.
(f) IÀràbà ni baba. Araba is the father.
{g) Àjànàk:ú wo $hin. Toe elephant looks back.
(h) I Olúwa kõ lê bàj . God's work cannot spoil.

82
83
6.4.2 Forming Simple Sentences

6.5 YORUBA SONGS
6.4.2.l The subject-transitive verb-object structure. These
are among the simplest sentences. For example:
lntroduction
Subject Verb Object Translation Singing is an integral part of the Yoruba cultU:re. There ae
trans. songs for nearly aU occasions, íncluding birth, marriage,
Mo ní owó I have money. death, advertising, and all festivais.
o kQ iwé IYou wrote a book. Ali music is accompanied by a drum carved from a tree
A ri ajá IWe saw a dog. trunk, hollowed and covered with hides. Toe talking drum
is shaped like an hourglass. ln the hands of a skilled
F; jE;l btirédi IYou ate bread. drummer, thís drum can be used to convey messages.
W◊n kó iwé [They studied a book. Below are a few examples ofYoruba songs:
6.5.l. Christian song:
6.4.2.2 Toe subject-intransitive verb-object structure uses IOlúwa God's worlc Cannot be spoiled God's worlc C
the directional article si or s' (both meaning to) or sinú
o be spoiled (2ce)
Cannot
Kõ lê bàj o I (l Olúwa Kõ lêbàj$
(into). Forexample: God's worlc
Kó lê bàj o(2ce) 1 $ Olúwa
Subject Verb article Object Translation Kõ le bàj(l o Cannot be spoiled
intr.
Mo lç SÍ ilê l went to my home.
o bó sínú kànga [You fell into a well.
Délê já s· il Dele fell to the ground. 6.5.2. Muslim song:
A twá si skúülü We carne to school. Báaríkà r ô ê Congratulations iD you
Wón kó sí ikõto They fell into a pit. Báaríkàrf;! CongratJ.,lations iD you
ôke Aráfà tó o gun For climbing Mount. Ararat
6.4.2.3 Toe subject-transitive verb-direct object-indirect Báarikà r Congmá1lations iD you
object structure uses the directional article fun (f) (to) in
between the direct and indirect objects. For example:
Subject Verb 6.5.3. Advertisementjingle forBean gruel (Móínm(>ín):
direct Article ind.irect !Translation
M◊ínmóín elédé !Moinmoin, fu11of sh.rirnps
trans. object object
Mo gbê e dé P nk lf;! lt's herefor sale - Penkelemesi
Adé gbé aQ fún mi IAde gave some Once seen. it is dyJicult to
m(lsi
clothes to me. leave behind.
Àrí mâ lêe lQ
A fi 9P f Ql9run IWe give Àwõ padà s(lhin Once sampled, it irwites you
thanks to God. back
Mo gbé e dé Penkel m si
W(>n e onje ,fun Bàbá It's herefor sale -
They made food
Penkelemesi
1 for (our) father.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONSIX

84 85
6.5.4. Marrlage song: 6.5.8. Another popular song:

Kil' n e ti fi PQ What occasioncalls for this Ori ló m'QlQla. Only the head k:nows who will
báw(myfo? manypeople? Ori l'ó m'Qla. be wealthy.
Iyàwó l'à ngbé o. Wearehaving a marriage Bóya mà á d'QlQla l'Qla, Ori Only the head k:nows the juture.
ló mQ.
Il k SQi,l k ceremony. Perchnnce I will bewealthy in
Beads a-plenty, beads a-plenty. thejurure.
SQWQWQ.
We are having a marriage Only the head k:nows.
iyàwó l'à ngbé o.
ceremony.
16.5.9. Funeral Song
j6.5.5. Love song: lgbà ti mo gbQ ikú Awóy le o, When I heard of
QmQ pupaó. '.-Skinned lady, l;rú bà nú, mom9 p'áyé le.woyele's death,
QIBQ pupa l'emí nf . "qht-skinned lady is who Ayê le o.I was afraid; I knew that
QmQ pupaó. l;s◊ o.life is touglL
J9w(, mo f ràn r(;! o. skinned lady. 'fe is touglL
;e, I love !JOlL :e, take ít easy.
Tí m bá dé LQndônit.
I get to London,
Mà á wá fowó Qkç> rán é. QmQ pupaô. 6.5.10. Hunter•s song - Jjala: Kiniun
send money for youto
JQwQ k'o féràn mi ô.
,.cskinned lady, 1 - translated by R.C. Abraham
;e, loveme. Kiniún a fi't◊ gba'ju; Jà-nta inú igb$ Tí ilé QmQdé gun ori ç,Qd bàràbàrà Ó
Àfeniyàn, àfigi dúdú kijan-kijan, kijan-kijan Àf Qlórun
Translation:
Uon who uri.nates round about in the scrub
6.5.6. Praise song forthe Yoruba people: You ginnt of the bush
.1. - by Hubert Ogunde W1w drives clúldren helter skelter onto their verondahs
Yonibá, yo yo yo bí iná Yoruba, shiníng brightly as a He says,·IJear no foe but elephants, men, thedenseJorest
al ;light in the dark; And the Almighty.'
Yorubá, ru ru ru bí omi Yoruba, restless as the water
ókun;ofthe sea;
Yonibá baba ni babá rn;;e. Yoruba. a leader indeed you
are!
j6.5.7. Popular song:

Qj◊ itóró. emu
When I had threepence, it wentfor
ni. Qj(> isísi, emu
ni. M bá ti
I!Pªlm wine.
When I hadsi.xpence, it wentfor
l'áyá(2ce). Keregbê almwine.
ní ó j õ e. would have been manied by now,
_ ut the gourd would notlet me.

86 87
16.5.11. Children•s song:

Bí mo ti nlç si1éewé, sí'léêwé l'ówuxv y( Bí mo tí nlç sí1éewé, mo r• tinkçrin. 6.6 EXERCISE
Ti nSQpék'á múra, k'á múra, idánwó nbç,.
Ti nSQ pé k'á múra, k'á bàá lê lçsíwájú. Use your dictionary to fmd the meanings of the missing
Translation: words in the table underneath. Then use the vocabulary to
As I was gaing to school this moming, fill in the missing spaces.
As I was going to school. I heard a bírd. singing. Yoruba English Yoruba English
It was sayin.g we should work hard. láti WQ (a Q) to wear (clothes) shoes
Itwas saying we should work hard so we rouldprogress. láti dé (filâ) to put on a cap pants
láti fQ (a Q) shirt
láti sá (a Q) filà
16.5.12 Lullaby láti lQ {a:;;Q) to iron (a cloth) õruka
BQlá nk9 o? látl WQ (bâtà) to put on (shoes) aago-çw(>
ó wàn'lé o. Ó tó àsikó láti. It is time to... agbádá
Kil'ó lll;ieO? coat gêlê
ó sim gb I'l;!gçj si yàrá o. K'ó má l;iU púpQ o. Yoruba English
K'ó má l;iâi u. Agogo mélõ ni? IWhat time is it?
K'ó má gbóná janjanjan.
K'ómá tutu ninini bi bà àná o. Agogo m rin ni. lt is four o'clock.
Transl.ati.on: lt is seven o'clock.
Where is Bola? She is at home. "W11at is she doing? Dúp wça Qr .
She is sleeping sowully in the room May her stomach rwt run Dúp$ wç
tooTTU.Leh. Mayher stomach rwtastop
Q skúulu
nmning.r May
. she not be overly hot.
May she rwt be overly rold likeyesterday's grueL Ó WQ bàtà r .
Ó dé filà r .
Ayo puts on his pants.
Heput on his shirt.
Ayo has a wristwatch.
Màma Dúp fQ a Q skúulu r .
ó sáa si oórun.
Ayo·s mother irons his
schoolclothes.
Ti àa Dúp wçaago-<;>wQ
àti õnlka.
Ayo's teacher has a coat.

88 89
LESSON SEVEN
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON SEVEN

90 91
7 .1 DIALOGUE
Qlá àti Simi $e alábapàdé ara w9n Ola and Simi meetfor theji.rst time
Ola: Pardon me. I heard you speaking Yoruba. That is
llf
Olá: I; j<;>w◊. Mo gbQ ti nsQ Yorubá l'ó j kí ndá
yin dúró. why I stopped you.
i Simi: Béf)ni. $é Yonibá náà l'f}yin? Simi: Yes. Are you a Yoruba too?
Olá: Bé mi. Olá l'orúkQ mi. Ola: Yes. Ola is my mune.
1 Simi: Simi ni temi. Sim.i: Mine is Simi.
Olá: $é itõsí ibí nâà l' ngbé? Ola: Do you live in this neighborhood?
\ Simi: Bé mi, ní ikan nínú àwQn ilé t'ó kQjú síbí Simi: Yes, in one ofthose houses across the street.
yr Ola: Ah! I also live there. Have you lived there for
1 Olá: Ah! ib nâà l'emi ngbé. ô tí ti ngbé long?
níbf)? Simi: It has been about twoyears.
1 Simi: O ti tó nkan bí Qdún méji. Ola: Andyou buy your groceries here?
Olá: lbí yfnáà re ti wá nra onj ? Simi: Yes.
1
Simi: Béf)ni. Ola: What did you come to buy?
Olá: Kil"e wá rà? Simi:1 just plan to buy a few items to take to school
1 Simi: Mo kàn ní kí n ra awQn iwçmba nkan tí tomorrow.
mà á mú lQ si skúuli.t l"óla ni. Ola: l carne to buy bread, butter and a fewother
Olá: Emi náà wá ra búr cli. bQtà àt'àwQn êlõ Qbf) items for stew. You know, we bachelors.
e lllQ, àwa bâ lQ?
1
ni. Simi:Things are too expensive here.
Simi: Ojà wQn ti w(m ju níbí yr Ola: I noticed that too. Tois little píece of meat
1
Olá: Emi náà ri i b - iwQnba eran ti morà cost seven dollars. Even this loaf ofbread
yfj d(>là méje. Búr di yfpapà, dç,là méji cost two dollars.
ni. Simi: I know a place where one can buy ingredients
1
Simi: Mo mQ ibi kan ti w(>n ti nta àwc;>n nkan-êlõ for stew cheaply.
Qb ti kõ WQil. Ola: Can you take me
1
Olá: $é e lê mú mi dé'br:? there?
Simi: Kó burú. Siml:No problem.

Ola: Thank youvery much. Can you gjve me your
Olá: I; púpQ. $é ele fún mi l"áago yin? !;é kõ
ní si wàhálà ? phone number'? I hope this is nota problem.
Simi: Ô ti ó. Slmi:No.
Olá: Kó burú, ró bá di Sátidé, mà á pe yin. Ola: O.K. I will ca11 you on Saturday.
Simi: Okeé. Mà á máa reti aago yín. Simi: O.K. l will be expecting your phone call.
Olá: O dàb<). Ola: Goodbye.

92
1 93
1 7 .2 VOCABULARY
7.3 EXPRESSIONS
1
l;jQWQ Pardonme b ni yes English Thank you very much. I thank (y
Yoruba I; i;;é púPQ. Modúpé.
1
l;dákun Please b k(> no Mo tQrQ gáfárà. Mo kâgõ. I ask permission.

õpópónà street rárá no I ask permission {to enter, to pass etc.).
Areyou a Yoruba?
1
àdúgbó neighborhood ó I; mábihú.

ti no
1
itôsí nearby bá$ 1Q bachelor
$é Yonlbâ l'eyin?
ebá closeby àpQn bachelor
1
QgbQn ward of a town wúndíá virgin
Qdún year adélébQ manied woman
1
0$1.l month búr di bread $é QIIlQ ile Yonlbá ni yín? Areyou a child {or
Qj(> day b◊tà butter citlzen) ofYorubaland?
ile
1
onJe food bisikíiti biscuit $e you a child

AreQIIlQ of Yorubaland?
KâãrQ-O-õ-
.ªQ cloth
1
àk:àrà bean calce Whereniisyín?

jüre• your own town in Yorubaland? Where do you come
bàtà shoe DQlà Dollar fromn'ilu
lbo in Nigeria?
tiyín n'ile Yonlbâ?
1
aago timepiece, time Náírà Naira Oríle-edê
Ibo l'e ti wá tiyín n'il Which country are you aláwQ-dtldú {or Afiríkà)
woniniNàijírià?
telifóõnu telephone $é êrià ibire ti wá?Do you come from around
111
1
P(>un Pound
telifi$Qnu television kçbc} penny this neighborhood?
!11111111
$é eba ibi re ngbé?Do you come from near
1
here?
$é ilé yin k{ô) jinnà s'ibí? Is your house nearby?
Kíl'e wâ tà n'ibi?What do you come here to sell?
1
Kil'e wã $e n'ibí?What do you come here to do?
1
1 •Kãarc}-O-õ- jiire: Praise name for Yoruba people
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
LESSON SEVEN
l
li
94
1111 li 95
7.4 NUMERALS Thus, the nwnber 87 is expressed as three less ten, lessflve
times twenty or ta dín láàdQrim.
11
Traditional Yoruba numerais become veiy complicated in
the higher numbers. Efforts have been made in recent 7.4.1.2 For large numbers, the base changes to 200, igba.
years to move to a simpler way of counting.
11 Very large numbers have a base of 2000, egb wã
7.4.1 Basic Numerals:
Engllsh Yoruba
The basic numerais from zero to ten are:
11 Breakdown Translatlon 0n elision
Basic Adjectlve Basic Adjective 200 two hundred 10X20 ogún m wã igba
o õdo, õfo õdo. ôfo
300 three 400-100 i)rún dín óQdúnnin
11 1 eni. kan 6 efà méfà hundred irínwó
Qkan
111i. 11 2
3
êji
eta
méji
lméta
7
8
êje
ejQ
méje
m jQ
400 four hundred
500 five hundred
400 irínwó
3X200-100 9rún dín
irínwó
e gbeta
1
igba m ta
erin
1il 1,·1 li 4
5 àrún
m rin
márlm
9 esân
10 ewá
m sm
m wã
600 sixhundred 3X200 igba m ta egb ta
700 seven 4X200-100 ç,rún dín $gb rin
,Ili illi Ail other numbers are based on these. It is therefore hundred igbamérin
essentlal that they are memorized. 800 eight 4X200 igbam rtn egberin
Toe adjectival form only adds an m to the basic numeral. hundred
li Thus I have four dogs is Mo ní ajá m rin. 900 nine
hundred
5X200-100 ç,rún dín
igba márun
(lgberun
7.4.1.1 Traditional Yoruba numbers have a duodecimal
base. That is, all numbers are counted with a base of twenty, ogun: 1000 one 5X200 igba márun egb run
11
thousand
2000 two 10X200 igbam wa egb ã
English Yoruba thousand
li 20 twenty ogún 3000 three 15X200 igbamánn egb ógún
"' 11 30 thirty QgbQn thousand dínlógún
40 lforty 2X20 ogún méji ogóji 4000 four 2X2000 egb wã egbàaji
50 fifty (3X20)-10 wá dín ogún m ta àádQta thousand méji
li 60 sixty
70 seventy
3X20 ogún m ta
(4X20)-10 wá din ogún m rin
Qg(>ta
àádQrin
6000 six thousand 3X2000 egbewa
m$ta
egbàata
11
80 eighty 14X20 ogún m rin QgQrin Thus, the number 4423 is expressed as (2 x 2000) + 400 +
90 nínety (5X20)-10 wá din ogún már un àádQrln (3 + 20) or egbàaJilêrlnwo lê m tàlêlógún.
1
100 One 5X20 ogún má.iln Qg(>rln
hundred
'lll l!111
·li
Ili
11I!111 96 97
11I
7 .4.2 Modem Yoruba Numerals: 7.4.3 Larger Denominations
10,000 ten thousand di oké
Modem Yoruba numerais have a decimal base, as in
English. All numbers have ten (idi) as a reference 20,000 twenty thousand idi"méji oké or icli
number. Thus Qké méji
Ili :i: ten IXIO idi kan one hundred
10 100,000 àpõ ◊ké
20 twenty 2Xl0 idiméji thousand
30 thirty 3Xl0 idi m ta three hundred àpõméta Qké or
tfü1::
300,000
40 íorty 4Xl0 idimérin lthousand àpõ◊ké méta
50 fifty 5X10 idimárun 1,000,000 one million õdü kan
60 sixty 6Xl0 idi m fà 10,000,000 ten million idi ôdu
1, 11 11111
70 seventy 7Xl0 idiméje 20,000,000 twenty million idiméji õdü.
80 eighty 8Xl0 idiméjQ idi õdü méji
l111111
90 ninety 9Xl0 idimésãt 1,000,000,000 one billion êêrú kan
100 leme hundred lXIOO àpõ kan
10,000,000,000 ten billion idi-êêrú
1 200 two hundred 2Xl00 àpóméji
100.000.000,000 one hundred àpõ êêrú
,1111l:I1 1: 300 three hundred 3Xl00 àpóméta billion
500 lfive hundred 5Xl00 àpômárun
1000.000.000.000 one trillion (>ké êêrú kan
700 seven hundred 7Xl00 àpõméje
111111 800 eight hundred 8Xl00 àpóméJQ
11 1, 900 nine hundred 9Xl00 àpõ més'ál Tous, 10,203,047, or ten million, two hunclred and three
1000 one thousand lXlOOO ◊ké kan thousand, and forty seven is idi õdü kan, àpô méji l' ta
1 2000 two thousand 2Xl000 Qké méji oké, idi mérin l'éje.
4000 three thousand 4Xl000 ◊ké rin 100,456,710,908, is àpô êêru kan, àpõ mérin at' idi
i'
60(X) six thousand 6Xl000 Qké méfà márü n l'éfà ôdü, àpõ méje at' idi kan ()ké, àpõmésiln
8000 eight thousand 8Xl000 Qké jQ l'éJQ
1 9000 nine thousand 9Xl000 ◊ké més'ál
..11
·1
1
11111 Toe number 87 above can now be written as ten times eight
plus seven or idi méjQ l'éje or idi méjQ l'éYQ méje.
The nurnber 4,423 above is written as four thousand, four
11111 hundred and twenty-three, ◊ké mérin. àpõ mérin,
àt'idi, méji l'éta.
11l1
11

1
,;;,::1i'i1Í //11
98 99
l 1 · 111
7 .4.4 Class Exercise 7.4.5 Numerais as Adjectives
l
\
1 1111 Fill in the spaces in the table As adjectives, Yoruba numbers maycome before or after
, 1. .li below. the nouns they modify. For example:
1111 Number English Yoruba
67 sixty-seven idi m fa l'éje 1have seven books translates to Mo,ní iwé méje. However, I
11111111:1111 1111
73 have fine hundred. books can be translated as follows:
mo ní idimárln iwê I have twen1y times jwe books
171 one hundred and àpó kan, at' idi
11111 seventy-one mo ní idi iwé mârm I have twenty boooks túnes jwe
méje lé kan
782 mo ní iwe idi márm I have books twenty times.five
lii
1
1 When the nwnber being expressed is between one and ten, lt is
1,890 one thousand, eight ◊k kan. àpó m jQ customary to put the number after the noun. However, for
111111 1
hundred and ninety àt' idi m sm large nwnbers, the second of the three possibilities is preferred.
1111 3,583 For extrernely large numbers, it is best to keep the numbers
together:
1 12,748 fifteen thousand, seven idikan l'éji Qk . âpõ
111 11 I bought three cars. Mora mQtô m ta.
hundred and forty-eight méje at'idi m$rin l' jQ
, 1\ 73,457 Ade purchased twenty Adé ra idiméji l' fàa
sixmangoes. m(,ngõrõ or Adé ra idü
100,045 one hundred thousand àpô-kan Qk . afidi m{>ngõrõ méji l' fà.
1\
m rin l'árun
1
and forty-five
747,698
1\ 7.4.6 Ordinal Numbers:
12,345,678 twelve million, three idikanl'eji ódü, âpõ Ordinal numbers are those like 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 24th, 100th,
111 124th (first, second, third, twenty-fourth, used in
hundred and forty tive m ta at'idi m rin
designating síze, rank, position etc,
thousand, six hundred l'arun çik . âpôm fa
111 ln the Yoruba language. the ordinal nouns are formed by
and seventy-eight at'idi méje l' jQ
taking ikó (the taking or possessing), reducing it to the
'li 69,111,597
contraction ik and attaching it to cardinal numbers as a
pefix. For example:
11 i11
Heis theflrst translates to Ôunni ikini.
li
''"\11111
He is flrst among fús equals translates to Ôunni ikíní
nínún àWQn egbé e r
11111 7.4.6.1 Ordinal adjectives are forrned by using (iJk.as a
prefix with cardinal numbers. Heis in.first place translates
,11111
to Ounl'ó $e ipõ (i)kiní.
1
111,
,111111 BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON SEVEN

101
100
Below is a table of ordinal numbers : 7.4.7 Numerais in hpressing Number of Times:

ln expressing the number of times a gtven incident
Nouns Adjectives
happens, the numeral adverbs are fonned by prefixing r
1st ikíní ikíní or kíní
-usually contracted to • before the cardinal number
2nd ikéji (i)kéji
when used as an adjective. Tous:
4th ikçrin (i)kérin It hnppened thrice translates to mé ta1'6 1 .
5th ikárun (i)kárun
6th ikéfà (i)kéfà Toe numeral adverbs are formed by prefixing ní r -
9th lk:ésm (i)késãl elíded to - before the cardinal numbers. Thus for the
10th ikçwã (i)kéwã. question: r mélo 1'6 1 ? (how many timeS did it
11th ikç,kànlâ or ikódi kan (i)kQkànlâ ar (i)kódi happen?), the response would be 6 1 lé méta (it
lé kan kan lê kan happened thrice). However. for larger numbers, the word
14th ikçrindínlógún or {i)kérindinlôgún or lereis merely used with the cardinal nu.mber:
ikócli kan l'érin (i)kódi kan l'érin
20th ikócli méji (i)kódi méji
30th ikódi méta {i)kódi méta
100th ikápó kan (i)kápõ kan
1001th ikQ kanlékan (i)kQkanlékan
·-
1234th ik(> kan, àpó méji (i)kQ kan, àpó méji
àt'idi m ta l'erin àt'idi méta l'çrln
7.4.6.2 Quiz
Translate the following to Yoruba:
Basic Noun adverb
il i - once eekan 1$ kan
-
1
twice eeméji 1$eméji
111
thrice eeméta 1$e ta
four times eem rin l i:m$rin
ten times éeméwã, or1$re idi
ee méwão kan
111 e r
r
idi kan
1 ahundred er àpõkan 1$rr: àpó kan
1 111 times
11 English Yoruba
sixth place íbi.........
1 seventh number êêkà .......
11 eighth person ni kéjQ
fifteenth position ipõ ......
111 seventieth man Qkimrin .....
onehundred and forty-first QIIlQ ikápó kan, àt'idi mérin
child lékan
111
onethousand and fifteenth máill......
'I mile
!!\ ninety-seventh time re ......
11
1
1·11

1··1
\I
I!
1
Ili
!'1'111111'1 1
1
11 1111
102
103
1111 111 11!
1
7.5 YORUBA POETRY 7.5.1 Characterisücs of Yoruba Poetry
1II111j1
Yoruba poetry is characterized by the following:
Yoruba poems are collectively called ewi. They can be
l\1 classified as follows :
!Ca)Hyperbole:
l A hyperbole exaggerates for effect and is not meant to be taken litera
Na.me Descripüon
1111.111
(a) Ori1d Bí erin bâ lQ ní'bi kan, ní'jQ kan,
11 Poems recited in praise of people, towns, lb ád'9nà.
11\1 (Praise gods, etc. EveryYoruba household has its
Bíiyâ r bá k9já ní'b ni'jç, kéji,
poetry) own oriki, shared by all its members.
1
111 lb á d'õde gba-ngba.
(b) Rárà Poems, recited mainly during burial Tmnsla.üon
(Eulogy, ceremonies, composed of a man's oriki lf W1 elephant passes through a place once,
11111111
Panegyric) and bis achievements while on earth. Sucha p"face becomes a road.
(e) iki A poem usually in praise of a person of And if his mother later goes through there,
(Ode) importance. It becomes an extended plain.
!l111/ :111 (d) isúre Poem in the fonn of a blessing, usually
(Bard) rendered by a masquerader, an egúngún.
11 (e) Ôgêdê. Poetry recited by native medicine men
111' :11 Qf9 (QIQsínyin) and others. lt is claimed to
(lncanta- possess magica! powers. (b)Wordplay:
1 1\/ tion) This is a distinguishing feature of the literary style common in Ifa re
(f) Odüifá Poetry of the Yoruba divination, generally Ori l'ó mQ 9l9là. Orí l'ó mQ'la.
(lfa Corpus) recited by the babalâwo. Bóyá mà á d'QIQlà l'óla, Ori l'ó me}.
111 11\1
(g) ijálá Poetry recited mainly by hunters in the Translation:
(Hunting form of songs. They can be about the Only ori knows who wiU become wealthy. Only ori knows what thej
1 11 ditty) bravery of past hunters or of the animals lf I wil1 become a wealthy man m the Juiure, Only ori knows.
being hunted.
111 :!: 7.5.1 Vocabuary of Yoruba Poetry
Yoruba English
11\ láti kéwi to sing or recite a poem
jlil'li111111 láti pe ç,tQ, õgede to recite incantations
lâti sun rârà to intone a eulogy {about someone)
· 1111111 The wordplay here is with 1à (to be wealthy).
láti pe (orsun) to sing a hunting ditty
ijálá Qlã means wealth;
ll\111111111
láti súre <)la means tomorrow or the future;
torecite a poem as a blessing
Iáti ki {eniyàn) QlQ1à means a wealthy person.
to address (someone) by his oriki
111:11 láti pe Ifá, láti ki to recite some verses in the Ifa
Ifá corpus
111\I

·11 1
!I li !
\1 1 J1il
flll
1' 11/1
11/ 104
105
li íl 11111/1
1
li 11 11 1
other poem stressing word_play:
I 1 1
11111
Aràbà ni baba. Àrábá ni baba. Símile:
l;ni a há l'ábà ni baba. A simile is a figure of speech in which one thing is likened to anoth
,i'
1 1 1
11
Tmnslaüon:
Araba is the father.
Ifá ó ràtà b'QmQ .
Bi igún igemc).
11111/11111 The kapok tree is father. nwtslation:
1 Whoever we jind in the bam is faJhet. Ija wil1shield. his children,
I 1 1111'
111 Like the uulture of /gemo

i'ill1 Toe wordplay here is with bá (to encounter)
1
1'1111
Aràbà is head of the babalawo
Àràbà is the kapok tree
1"1111 baba is father Personification:
11111 abàis abarn This is a poem in which a thing, quality, or ideais
11
1
1
11111
represented as a person. This is most prevalent in
.
1
1111 Odü•Ifá.
!(e) _!i'!p.res of Speech:
1
.1 1111 il11i itaphor: Werêpê - '!lted byWande Abimbola
. li l;ni t'ó
A metaphor is a figure of speech in which one Ithing is likened to another. So, different things lQ, Ju'Fáa 'lê E;lli lQ. A dífá fún wêrêpê,
ju niare spoken of as if they were the srune:
Tí nfojú $ógbérê 9m9.
111111 Nj re bá bi mi léere. W9nní kí ó rúbQ....
M11,l1l1 TI e ru kíni mol?e IQ f$ 'lepo. Mà l'epo ni'rc;>jú 9b . çnif$'lepo l'áya, n-ansl.ation:
l;rç á w9lée r$. He who is greater tha.n oneself,
1111li 1\111111111 Tmnslaüon: Is greater than thelfa divi.nation instnmlents of one's household.
If I were asked, lfa divination was perforrnedfor cow-itch. W1w was crying, in tea
· 1111111 'll\
Why I decid.ed to marry an oil seller. She was asked toperform a sacri.fice....
11111111111 I will say thntoil is the soother of stew. Whoever taJces an. oil seller for wife, Peace will enter hi.s household.
There is no doubt that this balladeer is not in
111:1
1
11 111111 Here, werepe, cow-itch, is treated as if it is a
person.
11,111
11111
111
1111
search for a palm oil seller to
1
marry.
,1111 11111
'11111
1
1 1
11

11111
, 1 1'1'111
111111 1\\
1 11111 106
107
1111:1/1 !Onomatopeia: 7.6 EXERCISE

1 Toe formation of a word by imitating the natural sound associated with it is common in Yoruba fverses.
i 1111111
[
Use your dictionary to find the meanings of the missing
11 Il 11 Gburitgudu ayé f{>. Ayéf{>.
words in the table undemeath. Then use the vocabulaiy
to fill in the missing spaces in the table below.
i Tronslation:
1
li' The earth has broken fnto pieces, sounding
gburugudu.
Theearth breaks tnto pteces.
-··
l Yoruba English Yoruba English
111111 soup iu
11
1
11 ili 1
àltibçsà
meat láti gún il?u
iyán
ata àmàlà
111111111
epo láti ro àmàlà
11111
iyQ iresi
11111111111
omi lati se ir si
i}f(> gaàri
1
1 1111 111111 ilá bà
1
1
111 11
láti se Qb to make stew láti ro i:bà
}1 Yoruba
Màma B(>lá nse Qbe.
Màma B{>lá nse 9b fQ.
English
1111 B{llá nse i u. Of$gúni!?U.

Bola's mother bought
1111 ingredients for soup.
lljllll
Màma B(>lá ra eran, ata, àti
l àlub(>sà.
11 Bola's mother has oil and
salt at home.
1 1 Bàba Bçlá f$ran çbe efó.
111 11 / Bola likes rice and meat.
Màma B{>lá nro ebà fún Bç,lá.
li11 /1
Bola's sister is cooking some
rice.
1'1111:11 Bola·s mother loves amala.
1
1 1/
11111111 111111
B EGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON SEVEN
11,111;11:
108
111111 11
109
111\1111:11
l
1 1 illi l 11111111
11
LESSON EIGHT
1 l 11111111
11111111
11111111
il1 111\
l!I111111'1 i'111ll11
I, i111ll11
1111111
1
1
11111
111
1:111111111 11
1 l1i1'1
lI
I
1
111i111
lil!llll.11
ll1i'l 1
1
1111
1111111
1
1111
l 111111111111
1
,11111
1111111
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON EIGHT
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 (1!1!
1
. 11111
111
! 110
1111 11
11 8.1 DIALOGUE
Ayo and Teni talk about sports
Ay,) àti T ni ns9r9 nípa e idárayá
Ayo: Teni, where have you been? You are sweating.
AyQ: ní. n'íbo l'o ti nbc)? O nlàágun.
Teni: I went to play tennis.
Téni: Mo lQ gbá ténilsi ni.
Ayo: Do you play tennis well?
AyQ: $é o ngbá téníisi dáadáa?
Teni: Oh yes. lt is one of the games that weplay in
Téni: Béeni, ikan nínú àwçn eré-idárayá ti a n$e
Nigeria.
I ní Nàijiríà niy n.
AyQ: ÀwQn eré-idârayá mitàn wo l'ó gbajúm◊ ní
Ayo: What other games are popular in Nigerta?
Tenl: We women play soccer and tennis.
M Nàijírià?
Téni: Àwa obiruin á máa gbá sQkà àti t$níisi.
Ayo: What about the men?
Teni: Men also play these games. Toey also box
AyQ: ÀwQn Qkftnrin wá nkQ? and wrestle.
1
1
Téni: ÀwQn Qkftnrin nâà á máa $e gbogbo àwQn
eré WQDyí. WQn si tún nje$é àti k .
Ayo: What about basketball?
Teni: It is becoming very popular in Nigeria. I am sure
AyQ: Eré básík$tibr;>Qlti nkQ? youknow that Hakeem Olajuwon is a Nigerian.
Téni: O ti ngbil gaan ní Nàijíríà. $ebí o mQ pé Ayo: No, I did not know that!
I
Nàijá ni Hàkilmu QlájtiwQn. Teni: Ah! Ayo, you are ajokester.
AyQ: Ún-Ün, êmi ô mQ.
Ayo: O.K. What about football?
Téní:Ah! AyQ, oníy !
i
Teni: Are you talking about American football? Oh no.
AyQ: Okéê, eré futub(>Qhi nk(>? What Americans call soccer is called football.
Téni:$é eré futubQQlti ti Amértkà? ó ti. Eré ti Ayo: When are you going to play tennis again?
1 Améríkà Teni: lt wlll be about three days from today. A friend
6 npe ní s(>kà ni à npê ní futub{,Qlu.

AyQ: igbàwo l'o tún máa lQ gbá téníisi?
Têní: Á á tó QjQ m(!rin l'óm Q mi kan fé mú mi
of mine i.nvited me to a baseball game.
Ayo: Is baseball played in Nigeria?
Teni: No, but 1 bave been leaming how to play
111, lQ wo bésibQQlti.
AyQ: $é w(>n ngbá bésibo<}Iu ní Nàijiría náà?
it since I carne to America. I am beginning
to like it. What kind of sports do you play?
Ayo: I like to swim.
Téní: Rárá, $ttgb{,n mo ti nkQ Q lát'igbà ti mo ti dé
I Am(!rikà. Mo si ti nféràn r . lrú eré-idárayá Teni: Ah! Ah! Can you swim?
1: wo ni'wQ féràn láti máa $e?
AyQ: Mo f(!ràn láti máa lú .
Ayo: Yes. like a fish. Wben you you goto play
tennis, call me so we can both go.
/1 T(!ní: Ah! Ahl $é iwQ }i'le lúw(í?
AYQ: Bé ni, bi ja. lgbà ti o bá tún fé IQ gbá t(!
Teni: Alright. I will call you.
1 nüsi, kí o pê mi, k'ájQ IQ.

T(!ní: Ó dára. Mà á pê$.

1
,1
;1i 11l\li
1
1 1111111
112
1
['II i1/1i11 li 113
8.2 VOCABULARY
1111111111111111
i 11111111 8.3 EXPRESSIONS

1
l ili!
1
1 1//111 1
Yoruba EngUsh Yoruba I Engli Yoruba Engllsh
li i'111111111 t níisi tennls eré-idárayá ls,eorts Teni. wbere have you
1
Téni, n'ibo l'o ti nbõ?
111111 kà soccer leré-ije jcompetition been?
11111111
111111
b9Qlu ball eré orí-i jstaged plax nm. n'ibo l'o nlQ? Teni, where are you going?
ijeke !wrestling leré-orin jmusic Mó nbQ lát'ilé. Iam coming from home.
li gidígbó wrestling leré-ipá Mó nlQ si ófilsi. I am going to the office.
1111111111
Jhorseplay
ifõ highjump Mó nlQ (s'}óko. I am going to the farm.
leré-líle lhorseplay
1111!11 11 õkõ-Jiju shotput Mõnreàjõ. I am traveling.
lerékéré 1unwanted
1
1 Mõ nr'Qjà. I am going to the market.
l 111/1 111111
play
AwQn irú eré wo l'awQn What kindsofgames do
1 QkQ-síSQ üavelin leré-sisá lnmning QmQdé n n1 Nàijíríà? children play in Nigeria?
1 11j11llll1
é-Jijà lboxin_g le ré-ayô jgameofayo
1
: 11111111111 futub{,Qlülfootball -ó upáje vening play AwQn QmQdé a máa Chlldren play soccer, They
gbâ sQkà. WQn a si also run.
i'1 11l1ll1
1 básíkétibó9lüjbasketball leJa jfish máasâre.
11111111 nu lswimmin_g ie lbtrd AwQn àgbàlagbà f ran Older peop1e like to
1
_!{ ké-gígün jcyc1in_g láti máata play ayo-olopon.
11i\i,l111 leranko janimal ayóQl(>pçn.
gQQfü jgolf kókõró jcrawling bug Irú eré wo ni ayó What kind of game is ayo-
Ql{>J)Õn? olopon?
Ayô Ql(>p{m Jé eré Ayo-olopon is an important
pàtàki t'ó pil niil game created by Yoruba
Yorubâ. people.
Bâwo ni a e nta ayõ How is ayo-olopon played?
9l(>J)Õn?
Eniyàn mêji l'ó nta 1\vo people are needed to
ayõ play ayo-olopon
QlQPQD,
$é má ngbâ s(>kà ní Do you play soccer in
Nàijúià? Nigeria?
ni, angbâ SQkà Yes, we play soccer in
ni Nàijiríà. Nigeria
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
LESSON EIGHT
114
115
1
8.4 NOUNS
8.4.2 Titular Nouns: (OrúkQ ipê)
11
Yoruba nouns generally begin With a vowel and contain 8.4.2.1 To fonn titular nouns from verbs, the
1
two or more syllables. For example: ajâ {dog), ori {head), following prefixes are added to the corresponding verbs. For
1 1
apá (arm). example, from the verb, látl lQta, (to grind pepper):
11
(a) A lQt One who is grinding pepper
111
8.4.1 Possesive Nouns: (OníkQ oni-nkan) (b) Qa Onewhose profession is pepper grinding
1 (d) I lota Toe profession of pepper grinding
8.4.l.l To fonn possessive nouns from other nouns, the
li 11111 1 folloWing prefixes are added: lQta
111 l1'11li1ll\
(e) IAlái lota Onewhois notgrinding pepper
(a)jAZ látalone who owns or sells _at.a.(pepper) 8.4.2.2 Titular nouns are also formed by duplicating
1
1 (b) IEl léwé jone who owns or sells ewé(leaves) the inftnitive verbs:
(d) lf l lému lone who owns or sells f;mun (Wine)
111 111111111
1
(a) láti k9lé to build a house
(e) On ílé ne who owns ilé - a landlord
I ! kQlékQlé one who builds houses - bricklayer
1 •1!1
1
1
1111111111'
(t) Ol ówó (de:house) ne who owns owó - a rich
man
(owó: mnney)
(b) láti lQta to grind peppers
IQtalQta one who grinds pepper
(g) l9l IQgbQn/one who own.s Qgbón -a Wise person
1
(d) láti f9lé to rob a house
I
11iJlll1II' (Qgb(m: wisdom) 1---
fQléfç,lé one who robs houses; a burglar
With nouns that do not begin with a vowel, possessive
(e) látijagun to ftght a war
'I
nouns are formed by attaching the prefix ..Oni.. to the 1---
noun: agunjagun one who fights wars; a warrior, a
soldier
(a) IOníl m◊tõ lone who owns mçro- a vehicle
owner ora drl.ver (mQtõ: vehicle) 8.4.2.3 Naming a tool from a corresponding verb:
{b) jOnilbúrédijone who owns bread ora baker
(e) IOníjg bese lone who owns gbesê - a debtor
(a) r9 ilQta pepper grinding machine
(gbese: a debt) (b) r9 lmachine used forwashing clothes
if0$0 (láti.fQ{;Q: to wash clothesJ
8.4.1.2 The combination oftwo or more nouns is also used

to indicate possession: 8.4.3 Descriptive nouns: (OrúkQ $Í$e):
(a) IFilà Ójó IOjo's cap These are nouns that describe the act of doing something.
(b) 1Adé Q bá fking's crown 8.4.3.1 To form positive descriptive nouns, an i is
(e) IOjú ajáÔjô ! jo's dog's eye or the eye of the combined with the first consonant of a verb to form a
O tog of Ojo preftx for the corresponding verb. From the verb lota (to
[c grind pepper) andjáde (togo out):

,, '111
117
1 116
11ir1
(a) Li lQtaorata the act ofpepper grinding 8.4.5 Compound Nouns
11111 i1,11 lilp
Compound nouns are fonned by:
(b) Ji jâde lthe act of going out
(1) combining two or more nouns:
11 ·
1
1,lljl 8.4.3.3 Descriptíve nouns are also formed by adding àti as
aprefix: (a) aráyé is a combination of two nouns: aráand ayé
(inhabitant and world), i.e. a human being.
(a) àti lota the act of pepper grtnding
li 1 11 1
(b) àti jâde the act of going out·
(b) eranko is a combination of two nouns: eran
andoko (flesh and farm). i.e. an animal.
1l[I 1l1il 8.4.3.4 Toe negative is formed by adding ài as a prefix to the (2) the combination and elision of a phrase, clause, or
verb: · sentence that describe the function, appearance,
'I1}
1
circumstance, or other characteristicsof an object.

(a) Ai lQta the act ofnotgrinding pepper
l (b) Ai de theactofnotgoing out (a) \alupüpü. a macbine that sounds pu. pu. pu
when in motion, i.e. a motorcycle
á
(b)laf àyàfà. an arumal that crawls on íts
li !
1 J 8.4.4 Imported Nouns stomach. i.e. a reptile, particularly a snake
Many nouns have their roots in English or Arabic. (e) olóriburúkú, someone with a bad head, i.e. an
8.4.4.1. Some of the cornmonly used nouns derived from Arabic \ unlucky person
'1111 include: (d)\ilé àwÕ$Üdà. a house that makes one lose one's
1cap when admiring its height, i.e. a skyscraper--
congratulations Jím{I Q
li/
àbibárikà Friday -
rQ imóhunmáwôrán, a device that

àdúrà prayer Àlàmísi ITTmrsday
1 l captures the voice and image, i.e. a television
àlüfáà priest àlub{lsà onion
-
lI àliajQDÚ evil spirit
(e) \ i;rQ asQrQmá.gbêsi, a device that talks

_
l 1l11l11II
1
8.4.4.2 Nouns dertved from English are too numerous to

1"11111'1\ list as new ones come into use every day. However, some of 8.4.6 Names
the more cornmon ones are given below. 8.4.6.l Toe names of people are derived from the
1 1 circumstances in which parents find themselves or wish
1 1i for their tives. They are alsosentences combined and elided
to form a single word.
1111 (a) mie name Olúwákáyc}dê js a sentence
meaning God has brought happiness to us.
(b) Fãgbêmi means Ifá supports my aspírations.
lj 1 11
•
11
1
(e) Ogúnniyi means Ôgún (god of iron) has respect.
11l
skúülu school rédíõ radio
BEGINN LESSON EIGHT

ER'S
YORUBA
118
119
8.4.7 Singular/Plural: (l;YQ àti QpQ) 8.5 EXERCISE

Yoruba nouns do not use prefIXes or suffixes to
distinguish singular from plural. When indicating plurals, Ose your dictionary to find the meanings of the missing
the following pronouns are used with the nouns to be words in the table undemeath. Then use the vocabulary
made plural; àwa iS placed in front of the noun that to fi1l in the blanks below.
includes the speaker: Yoruba English Yoruba English
(a} làwa ol6wó lwe, rich men ilé láti kólé
(b) làwa QdQ we, youngones yàrá ààfin
pálQ parlar Qba
Theword yin iSplaced in front of the group addressed: bé di iléolókê méta three-story house
(a) /tyin àgbààgbà >u, elders ibusim láti dàbí toresemble
(b) Jcyin ODÍ$ÕWÕ rou, traders table kü?ini kitchen
chair
Toe word àWQn is for the noun being mentioned: television
sofa
(a) làw9n ilú il e oruba towns radio
YonibájY English
Yoruba
(b) làwQn oni$ é-QWQ jthe artisans
Qré mi ní ilé.
Qré mi ní ilé kan si ilu
WQil.
ílbe house is very beautiful.
It has many rooms.
Ilé nâà ní pálQ nlâ àti
kísini t'ó tóbi.
Myfriend's room has a big bed.
pálQ r si ní telifi $Qnu
àti rédíô.
IThere are two sofas in the
parlor.
Kçlá nkQlé kan si Ekó.
It is a four-story house.
Ilé náà dàbi ààfin Qba.
My father's house is in
Lagos.
LESSON EIGHT
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
120 121
LESSONNINE
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON NINE

l11lllilll 122
123
t' 9.1 DIALOGUE
1
11\
Congratulationst
Kole: Good aftemoon, Busola.
O kú Oriiret
Busola: Good aftemoon, Sir.
K(>lé: Busçilá, káàsán o.
1
1 Kole: I heard that youhave finished
Bus()lá: I; káàsán Sà. I; kuujó ta Sà. your coursework.
11
1
1! 1
K(>lé: Mó gbó pé o ti àwQn i$(!skúuhi (r)e Busota: Yes, sir.
tán.
11
Kole: Congratulattons. Greetings for your good
Büs(>lá: eni Sà. luck.
1
Kçlé: · KQngratulé Qn. O kú oriire! Busola: Thank you very much, sir.
l I Büs(>lá: I; é púpç, Sà.
Kçlé: Igbà WO nio máa gradUé$Qn?
Kole: When is graduation?
Busola: It is not until June, sir.
' BusQlá: ó di Júunu Sà. Kole: Are your Dad and Mom coming from
,lfI 1
KQlé:
Nàijíríà?
$é àwç>n Dádi àti Mómi nbç, láti Nigeria?
Busola: I hope so, str. I have written a letter to
i11i1 the ernbassy, but Ido not know ifthey
BüsQlá: Mo rô b$e Sà. Mo ti kQ Iétà si (!mbási
ugbçin êmi õ m(> bçiyá w(>n á ri fisà gbà. will be given visas.
K(>lé: L'ágbára Olórun, wçin á ri i gbà. Kole: By God's grace, they will obtain visas.
I Büs{>lá: f; $é púpQ Sà.
illl Kólé:
Bus(>lá:
Kil'o fé $e léhin eyí? Busola: Thank you very much, sir.
Kole: What are your plans after thls?
Mo f lo kQ i é dôkítà n.i Sà.
Kólé: $é o ti àplái? Busola: I plan to pursue a degree in medicine.
Bus(>lá: Kole: Have you applied?
B(leni Sà. $ugb(>n emi ó til gbó êsi.
KQlé: Busola: Yes, sir. but I have not received a replyyet.
QI(>run a jé kí ó bç,sí i.
Büs(>Já: Amín. Kole: God will make it possible.
K(>lé: TI M◊mi àti Dádi bá dé. jé kí n Busola: Amen.
gb(>. Kole: When your Mom and Dad arrive, please
Bus(>Já: YE;lsà. letme know.
Kólé: Ókeé. Ó dàb9. Busola: Yes, Sir.
Bus(>lá: Ó dàb<) Sà. Kole: 0.K. Good-bye.
Busola: Good-bye, siT.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
LESSON NINE
124
12
9.2 VOCABULARY
1
1 11 1! 9.3 EXPRESSIONS
Engllsh Yoruba Engllsh
j lêtà letter émbási embassy
iwé letter, book ilé-a jú embassy
rlplái repJy
1i esi
àmbásêd◊ ambassador
repJyi answer, a jú ambassador
response
àpôõwé envelope fisâ visa
stámpu stamp iwé-iwQlé visa
õót -létà stamp pásíp◊◊tu passport
pos(>füsl post office iwé- passport
lrõkêere
Qfiisi- post office yesà yes, Sir
onilêtà
apinl tà postman yesimà yes,madame
ni .sír
sà
àplái apply enimà yes. madame
$e ib apply agbára energy
apliké$Qn application ipá force
iwé-ib we appllcation igbóra power
11\ \
11 \
Yoruba English
BuSQlâ, káà!V o. Busola, good moming.
BtisQlâ kú irQl o. Busola, good evening.
ç kâàrQ Sà. Good moming, Sir.
ç kúir◊lé Sà. Good evening. Sir.
KQngratulé$QD! ConJtratulations!
Báríkà! Congratulations!
O kú oríire. Greetings for your good
luck.
ç kú lpalem{l. Greetings for getting ready
to take ajourney.
f; púpÕSà. Thank youvery much. Sir.
Mo gbQ pé o yege nínú I heard that youdidwell
idánwô (r) . on your exams.
Mo gbQ pé o pâàsi I heard that youpassed
idánwô (r) . your examinations.
Mo gbQ pé o ti $etán 1heard that youfinished
ní iléêwé (r . with your schooling.
$é o ti $Ctán ninú ek(> Have you flnished with
(r) ? your schooling?
eni Sà. Yes, Sir.
Óót(> ni Mà. lt is true. madame.
Rárá Mà, ó ku 0$U No, madame. I have three
ta. more months togo.
Rárá Ma. ó ku Qdún No, madame. I bave one
kan ló n tó $elán. more year before I fmísh.
A dúpé l'ów(> Ql◊run. Thanks be to God.
A fQpé f QlQrun. We give thanks to God.
A yin QlQrun l'ógo. We Jl}orify God.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
LESSON NINE
126 127
9.4 ELISION
(4) When elision occurs between the verb ní (to have) and
a noun beginning with a vowel, ni becomes 1.
ln Chapter 2, we learned that Yornba words are usually (a) IMo ni ow6 (1 have morny) becomes mo 16wô.
combinations of morphemes. This means that the original
meanings attached to the morphemes are preseIVed in the (b) !Mo ni ú (I have eyes) becomes mo lôjú.
new word formed. However, elision makes the analysis of
(5) When ellsion occurs between the verb ni (to be)
compound words more difficult.
anda noun or pronoun begin.ning with a voweI. ni
becomes l'.
9.4.1 Definition
(a) Olúwa ni oi 9-àguntàn mi fThe Lord is my
Elision is the 'omission or slurring of a vowel or a syllable shepherd) becomes Olúwa l'olü.$ 9-àgüntàn mi.
in pronunciation. For example: (b) Kiniún ni Qba r:ranko fThe lion is the king of
Ní igbà ti is elided and becomes nígbàti. anima.Is) becomes Kiniún l'Qba ranko.
Ará ayé is elided and becomes aráyê.
Baba oní awo is elided and becomes Babaláwo. (6)When elision occurs between the verb ni (to say) and a
subsequent word beginning with a vowel. ni becomes l'.
Elisions occur frequently in the Yoruba language. While
their occurrence is not easy to explain. some common (a):W(>n ni bí mi ni (111.ey said she was my relatível
roles apply. lbecomes W{>n l' bi mini.
(b) W{>n ni abc}ri à ni mi (They said that I am an idol
worshipper) becomes Wç>n l'ábçri$à ni mi.
Ru.les of Elision
However, when the next word begins with the vowel i, ni
(1) Elision between the preposition ni (at) and a noun
beginning with a letter other than i reduces ní to 1': becomesn'
(a) WQn ni iyekan mini (1wastold she is matemally
(a) jni QWQ Qtún (atthe right hand) becomes l'çw(;,
related to me) becomes W(>n n'iyekan mini.
(b) Otún.
lni ojú ai (at dusk) becomes l'ojú al . (b) Awo nií gbé awo ni igbQnw(> lThe priest of Ifa
usually depends on his colleagues intimes of trouble)
(2) Elision between the preposition si (to, towards} anda lbecomes Awo nü gbé awo n'igbQDWQ.
noun beginning with a letter other than i reduces si tos•:
{a) si QWQ çtún (tolhertght hand) becomes s'QWQ çtún.
(7) When elision occurs between the verb fún (to give} and
(b}si QdQ (towards) becomes s'9dçi. a word beginning with a vowel, fún becomes f'.
{a) Mo fún Qrúnmilà O sacrificed or gave it to Orunmila}
(3)Elision between the preposition ni (at) or si (to) anda becomes Mo f'Óriinm.ilà.
noun beginning with i eliminates one of the i's. (b) A difá fún Ori kú. QmQ Ôgún (Ifa divi.nation
iwas performed for Oriseeku, otfspring of Ogun)
(a)lni igbà ti {at the time thatJ becomes nigbàti (when).
becomes A difá f'Óri$ kú, QmQ Ôgún.
(b)lsi isàl (tothebottom 01) becomes s'isàl .

128
129
(8) When elision occurs between the verb fi (to take) anda
9.5 YORUBA PROVERBS
subsequent word beginning with a vowel, f1 becomes f'.
(a) fl QW fún QlQnm (We take thanks and gíve to 'lhe Yorubas have quite a large number of proverbs.
God or We g1ve thanks to God) becomes A f'Q}>é Knowledge of these is regarded as proof of great wisdom.
f'QlQrun. As a matter of fact, a conversation is not considered
{b)EQn 6 QrQ náà lQ àWQn àgbàãgbà Obey took the lnteresting unless it is sprinkled with a copious amount of
problem and announced it to the elders ar They proverbs. A proverb is said to be "the horse of a
sought the advice of elders} becomes WQn f'QrQ nâà conversation. When a conversation wilts, a proverb is used
IQàWQnàgbààgbà. to revive it."
Below is a list of some Yoruba proverbs, their English

translations, and equivalents:
1 Proverb Àgbà t'ó wewü ejü. etniyóõfiri.
rrranslation An elder who clothes himself in pride
will surely be visited by humiliation.
Equivalent Pride goes before afalL
2 Proverb Àidúrô ni ijô.
íl'ranslation One is said to be dancing as long as one
does not stand still when the music is
playing.
Equivalent Slow and steady wins the ruce.
3 Proverb Ohun ti ajá yóõ j , ê$Ü á $e é.
rrranslation What the dog will eat, the devil will
provide.
Equivalent God will provide.
4 Proverb Bí baba ti ri, b e ni QmQ ri.
ITranslation lAs the father is, so is the son.
Equivalent iUke father, líke soTL
5 Proverb Êso ti a bá gbin ni à nká.
Translation IWe can only reap the seeds we planted.
Equivalent lAs a man .sows, so shallhereap.

i1l 1m
;1 131
130
1
Proverb Ogun àgbQt l kiip'arQ.

5 IProverb jif l"àkójá õfin. 5
'ranslation ► ve is the ultimate of all laws. Translation A previously announced battle does not
kill the Iame person.
111 lEquivalent ve conquers all things.
Equivalent
9.5.1 Quiz
Use
11,11,11 Provi.de an English equivalent for each of the Yoruba
proverbs below and gJ.ve a circumstance in whích it can be 6 Proverb lsüúrü ni baba iwà.
applied. Translation Patience is the father ofcharacter.
11'1111 \I
1 IProverb igi bá wô lu ig:l, t'õke nl à nk◊ gé Equivalent
11, 111 1'
·anslation l lfone tree falls on another, the one on Use
top is the first removed.
-···-------
IEquivalent
r 11
[11 !Use
2 ]Proverb jiJáfara l'éwu.
'ranslation !Procrastination can be dangerous.
uivalent
1 \Use
1iljj
1
1
3 )Proverb ljó_ t'ó bâ burú ni à nmQ ni t'ó f
l •n_i_. -- ---
,111 -- ---
ranslatlon person knows who bis friends are on
the day misfortune befalls lúm.
- -
-·
·---- -- -- -
,Ir l i
IEquivalent
\Use
14 IProverb kií t'ojú ogun w• fQn.
'ranslation One does not begín to search for arrows
.pon gettlng to the battlefield.
jl IEquivalent,
\Use

,1;1 1·11
133
132
1,
1111\111 11, 9.6 EXERCISE
Use your dictionary to find the meanings of the missJng

1111 1
words in the table undemeath. Toen use the vocabulary LESSONTEN
1il1 to flll in the missing spaces ln_the table below.
I' Yoruba English Yoruba Engllsh examination failure
1orüre to fail
olóríire
1
prayer
to pray láti yege
tuntun Q
miràn láti $QM
láti YQ (ayQ} inúdídun
láti gb(l esi to receive a reply
blessing
Yoruba English
IBusola took an examination.
IBúsólá gb9 esi idánwõ r .
Busola passed her
!examination.
jDapo failed bis examination.
IInúun Bus{>Iá dun.
IBi1s9lá nyc}.
lülóriire ni àwQn óbi Bus(>lá.
Busola's parents thanked
IGod.
IDàpQ gbàdúrà sí Ql{>run.
dheard Dapo's prayers.
I-DàpQ- $e idá- nwó miràn.
[Dapo received God's blessing.
Dapo passed the new examination.
IIDapo and Busola are happy.
LESSONTEN
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
134
135
10.1 DIALOGUE
Yemi and Bola lookfor jobs

Y mi àti B(>lá nwá i$ Yemi: Bola, How are you? It's been a long
YE;Imi: BQiá, báwo ni nkan? O t'ójó méta.
time. Bola: Everythíng is OK. You haven't
BQiã: Dáadáa ni. Báwo ni? O ó til pe called roe.
mi.
Yemi: Pardon me. My Job hunting has
Yemi: Má bihún. 1$$ ti mo nwá kó j$ kí nráyê. Njé o ti occupied my time. Have you gota job?
rí$é?
Bola: Oh no. I too am looking for employment.
BQlá: Rárá. Emi náà nwá$$ kiri ni.
Yemi: What did you major in?
Yemi: Kini méjç e ná?
Bola: [I did] Computer Science. What about
you?
BQiã: Kompútà ni mo - iwQ nkó? Yemi: (1did] Business. Which places d.id you apply to?
Yemí: Bísíné si ni mo$e.AwQn ibo l'o wá$$ si? Bola: I applied to many places [of employment] in
BQiá: Mo aplâi si àwç>n QpQlÇ>pQ ilée$$ ní $ikâgó, Chicago, but I was never called for an interview.
$Ugb(>n WQil ó pe mi fún intafiu. Yemi: Many of those places are laying off people
YE;?mi: ÔPQIQPQ àw9n ilée$é yiTó ndá àWQD at this time.
Ô$i$ dúró l'ásikõ y[
Bola: What about you? Where did you apply?
BQJâ: lw9 nkó, ibo l'o àplâi si? Yemi: I too applied to a lot of places in Chicago
YE;lmi: Emi náà aplâi sí aw9n ilée$$ ni $ikágà àti and New York. But if I do not get a job by
Níú YQQki. $iigb(>n ti n à bá rí i$(!k'ó tó di December, I will go and teach.
Disémbà, ma â lQ $e i$$ tí$à. Bola: I, too, am thinking about teaching, but I
BQlá: Emi náà ti nronú nípa i$é tí$à $úgb(>n ó wu would love to work with my major.
mí kí nfi méjQ mi $i$$. Yemi: Many schools nowoffer computer studies. It
Yemi: ÔP◊Iópc) àwc;m skúulu ni wón ti nkQ kompúta. is better than looking for ajob indefmitely.
O bétà ju kí Olúwa n} má a rln kiri. Bola: I agree with you.
BQlá: O ri bé -
Yemi: I have applied to some schools.
Yemí: Mo ti àplâi sí àw9n skúulu kan. Bola: Please. if I write an application, will you
BQlâ: Jc;>wó. $é ti nbá kQ apliké$◊n, $é o lê bá mi help me submit it?
fún w9n? Yemi: I will submit it.
Yemí: Mà á fún WQD.
Bola: When will I see you again?
BQlá: Igbà wo ni mo tún máa ri e. Yemi: Once you write the application, call me. Of
YE;lmi: Tí o bá ti kQ aplike$çm náà, kí o pê mi. O course, you know my telephone number.
kúkú mQ aago mi. Bola: O.K. I will call you. Bye.
BQlâ: Okêé Mà á pê - ódàbc).
Yemi: Bye, Bola.
Yemi: Ó dàb9, B◊lá.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
LESSONTEN
Yoruba
136
137
10.2 VOCABULARY
10.3 EXPRESSIONS
English
kc}mpútà computer
I'Q-i irô lcomputer
QPOlQ-k(>mpútà jcentral processing unit
ika-kc}mpútà !computer keybooard
agbõji-kc}mpútà lcomputer screen
ikin•k(>mpútà jbyte
êdêe-kc}mpútà [computer language
awo-kc)mpútà lcomputer disc
SQbuJé ti isubject
! àyàn- kQ lsubj t
!>_ísíné si lbusiness
kó i wõ; k{l nípa jbusiness studies
õwõ _gagirlg in business
i wô
e
êtõ-owó laccounting
etõ-Qr◊ jeconomics
al?iró-owó [accountant
jkQ i$iró-owó ja ccountancy
itàwin elling on creclit
[s
iràwin lbuying on credit
igbese ldebt
lati bétà UuJ !to be betterJthan)
láti sàn iju) o be better (than)
'
t
mtafiu in terview
Yoruba Engllsh
BQlá, O kú QjQ méta. Bola, it's been a while.
BQiá, mo gbQ pé o nwá$é. Bola, I learned that
youwere job hunting.
BQlá, o ti rl$é? Bola, Have you found
ajob?
Ibol'oti Wâ$é dé? Mi.ere have you gone in
your search for a job?
Mo wá$é lQ sí ilé i$é àwQn I Iooked for a job in
apQnti. the breweries.
Mo Wâ$é titi. N {k)õ rl$é- I looked for job for a
long time. I could not
find one.
Mo fé $C i$é olük(mi. I want to be a teacher.
ÀWQll SQbuJéi:tl wo l'o $e Kvhat subjects did you
niskúülu? take in school?
AwQn à$àyàn-tllk{> wo l'o What subjects did you
kQ ru ilé-iwé rfl? take at your school?
Irú i$éwo l'o k{l ní ilé- kQ What kindof trade didyou
re? learn in your school?
Aw9n àl?àyàn-f)k(> ti mo kQ The subjects I took in
ní ilé-ek{> ni: ek◊ ilf)- my school were
WÍWQD, (j{lgirâft): i:k(> itàn- geography, history,
àkQQle, (istlrl) àtl f)k(> dá- andbiology.
oníye, (bà(>l(>ji).
Nj o e ek(>-edá, (fisíikisi) Did you take physics
ni ilé-iwé re? at your school?
eni, mo $C fisükisi pi:lli. Yes, I also took physics.
Prôf SQ wo l'ó k(> yin ru Which professor
ek◊-elà, (k rrústirt)? taught youchemistry?
Ohik(>-àgbà KQlé ni. It was Professor Kole.
TI à wo l'o k(> yin ní i írõ? Which teacher taught
you mathematics?
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONTEN

111 IW
'.J'll\11[1
,ii\1
,1 1 139
138
1,11\11
1
,11,r",:11
10.4 QUESTION TYPES 10.4.2 'Altemative Answer' guestlons
Where a questioner asks for a choice between two
,111'11
When a question is asked, the purpose ofthe questioner is altemattve statements, the two are joined by àbi (or tàbi)
11,,1111 1 and may be preceded with $é or Njé
.11,füilll one of many. He may be t:rying to solicita response to a
lji\ condition or confinn bis own doubt. On the other hand. For the statement above, the followibg questlons may
,111(1lt1I he maybe testing the person to whom the question is
directed. Toe Yoruba language has different ways of arlse· Has he left or has he
.111(i'1 dealing with each of these cases. Question: $é (or Njé) ó ti lQ (t)abl
kbi tíi lQ? notleft?
11'11
Possible Answers:
d1 10.4.1 Yesand No Questions Hehas left.
111I (a) Ó ti lQ.
Questions that demanda definite answer (yes orno) are He has not lejt.
(b) Kõi tíi IQ.
formed by beginning the statement with either $ é or Njé.
For the statement Ó ti IQ / He has left, the following ln this case, the response is often given by repeating the
dialogue may arise: part of tbe statement that is pertinent.
IAuestion: $é (or Nj ) óti 'ah/
1Q7 sitseeleft? 10.4.3 Wbo, Wbat, Wbere, How, Wby and Wben
IPossible Answers:
10.4.3.1 Wbo
!(a) IBéni (or E;n). ó ti lQ. jnue. helshe has left?
Whena questioner asks who did something or to/forwhDm
(b) Jl;n•é·n (or Rárá), kôi tü No, helshe has notleft? something is done, the word tani or tal'ó replaces the
IQ.\ subject/object in the statement to forro the interrogatlve.
[9u stion:_$é _kôi_til _!9 Has he/she notleft:?
With tbe statement Ojo went tD Ibadan I ÔjólQ si ibàdàn.
IPossible Answers: the interrogative is formed by replacing Ôjó with tanl or
(a) IRárá, ó ti lQ. INot true, he/she has left.
Tal'6·
(b) \ (or E;D), kõ itü IQ. ., he/she hasnotleft.
Béni Question: Taní (or Tal'ó) Who went to Jbadan?
lQ
Bé ni or E;D
A positive response to any of these questions, aí ibàdàD'?
indicates an agreement with the statement made. Toey do Possible Answers:
not directly correspond to the English word yes, which in (a) Ôjó l'ó IQ si ibàdàn.
It was Ojo who went to Jbadan.
this case would mean he has left, regardless of how the l do not know (the personJ who
question was asked. (b) Emi (k)ô mQ Qni t'ó
lQ went to Ibadan.
Similarly, l;n-én or Rârá indicates a disagreement with ln the statements above, Tani (Tal'ó) replaces Õj6 (subject)
tbe statement as made. ln which case. the positive answer to fonn the interrogative.
to {b), Bé ni. kói Ui lQ. translates as Th.e statement iS
correct. he has not left.Whereas the negative answer,
Rárá, ó ti IQ• translates as Th.e stntement fs n::t rorrect.
he has gone.
LESSONTEN
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
140
141
Statement: You saw Qjo in lbadnn translates as O ri Ôjõ

ni ibâdân. Question: Àbf)bi nbó kini? Abebi is feeding what?
Possible Answers:
!Question: O ri tani ni ibàdân? jYou saw who in Ibadan? (a) Àb bi nbó QbQ Qba. Abebi isfeeding the king's
IPossible Answers:
(a) !M o ri Õjó ní ibâdân. 1=tsaw Ojo in Ibadan.
rronkey?
1 mi
(b) Awa kô mQ ohun ti Wedonot know what (or the
Àbf;bi nb9. thing that) Abebi is feeding.
,(b) (k)ô ri nik ni ní
see anybody in Toe sarne question can be framed as:
Ibàdàn.
The sarne question can be framed as: IKini Àb bi nbQ? l'Whatis Abebifeedtng?
Tal'o ri ni ibàdân? ]You saw who in Ibadan? Here, only Kini can replace the object QbQ Qba
And the answerwould be:
1 Õjõ ni mo ri ni ibâdân. µt was Qjo who I saw in Ibadan. j 10.4.3.3 Where
ln the questions above, tani (tal'ó) replaces Ôjó (object} to When the question pertains to where (pronoun, adverb or
form the interrogative. preposition) or to/from where, ibo, moo, sibo or látibo is
substituted for the subject or object in the statement to
form the interrogative as above.
10.4.3.2. What
(1) Statement: Akure is the capital of OndoState I Àkúr(!
When a questioner asks what did something or to/for what ni olú-ilú ipinl Ondó.
something is dane, the word kini orkil'o is used in much
the sarne way as above: estion: Ibo ni olú-ilú ipinl
Qu Ondó? What is the capital of
Statement: A dog is barking in the forest translates as Ajâ
.-.suv n•1·...t.u...,t.
6
IIPossible Answers: IOndo state? - pronmm
l(a) l,Ãkúr ni olú-ilú ipinlq is the capital of

IQuestion: Kíni (kil'õ) ngbó fl.Vhat is barking in theforest?
l0ndó. ,tate.
'igbó?
!Possible Answers: líbl IEmi (k)õ mQ olú-ilú ipinl do not know the capitnl
(a) /Ajâ l'ó ngbó n'igbó. ft was a dog that was Ondó. Jºf Ondo state.
bCJ.Tking in the forest.
1
(2) Statement: Iam gomg to Akure. I Mõ nlQ si Àk .
(b) IAwa kô mo ohun t'ó We do not know what(or the
ngbó n'ígbó. Itheforest
thing that) was barking in Question: lbo ni o nlQ? are yougoing?-
Possible Answers:
Statement: Ãb bi nbó ◊bQ Qba. / Abebi is feeding the
king's monkey. Emi
(a) Mo nlQ si Àkúr(! . I amgomg toAkure.
(b) (k)ô IQ si ibi kànkan. Iam not going anywhere.

j\l1IIWI
1/iil'j1I
143
!11 142
1
li l(b}Questi on: Bawo ni ojú QjQ?_ IHow is the weather?

(3} Statement: I putit on top of the table. / Mo gbé e si orii
tâbili. IAnswer: ú QjQ dára. 1111weeather is
1 [Ruestion: O gbé e síbo? You.put it where?
beau.tifW.
Some questions may ask about a certain
1il1U! IPossible Answer: II
ll_Jl'fij \ Question: Báwo
procedure: I ni a $C nse Qbe !How do we cook egusi
11 IMo gbé e s'ori tábili. put it on topof the table. êgú$Í? \soup?
,\,1111
11r;11!1
Toe sarne question can be framed as: Astatement would then follow, describing the procedure.
Ilho ro gbé e si? !Where did you put it?
(d) Statement: I was ln my room. I Mo wà ni yàrâ 10.4.3.5 Why
mi. Wherea questioner asks why an event took place. the various words
Question: O wà môo? You were where? or Where Ki16dé ti, Kíní$e ti, Kilô$C ti, Kinídé ti, Eé$e ti are used almost
I or Níbo l'o wà?

IPossible Answer:
wereyou?
I interchangeably:
Question: Kí16dé ti aruw6 fi PQ ni
Why is there a 1ot of
IMõ wà ni .yàrâmi. II was ín my room. - prep. noise in the market?
Qjà?
(e) Statement: I was coming fromLagos / Mo nb láti Ekô.
Astatement would then follow explaining the reason for
Question: O nbQ látibo? or You were comingfrom
I Látibo l'o ti nbQ? where or Where were you
comíng ? • adv.
the noise.
IPossible Answer: 10.4.3.6 Explanation

IMo nb(> láti Ekô. [I was comingfromLagos.
When a explanation is required from a person, llke in an
examination or a court of law, the words $e àlàyé
(expla.in) precedes the intended unknown condition.
10.4.3.4 How
When the question pertains to how something is done, Question: $e àlàyé nkan t'ó \Explainwhat
.
the situation of something, or the circumstances
$ _..happened.
•e.
1\1111
surrounding an individual, Bâwo nl is used. Toe question Astatement then follows. explaining what happened.
1!1 is then followed by an explanation or procedure.
',\l I Some questions asked as a matter of courtesy include:
1
,'111\11
111;11
(a)Question: IBáwo ni? IHow are you?
IAnswers: ló dára. IIt is be<1U.tyiLL
-'-adáa ni rt's alríght
ló táini. IIt is fine.
BEGJNNER'S YORUBA LESSONTEN
144
145
10.5 YORUBA IDIOMS Idiom láti gbe lénkan

7
i:l'ranslation to put one's foot down about
An idiom is an accepted phrase or expression havinga something
meaning that is dilferent from the literal. The Yoruba Equivalent to puta stop to something
people use idioms, even more than proverbs, to
emphasize or clarify a point during a conversation. Toe 8 Idiom Iáti f(> ilé adün
language is therefore rich in idioms and lends itself i:l'ranslation to destroy the house of sweetness
easily, in the Equivalent to maliciously destroy the source of
hands of a person versed in the language, to limitless another's incarne or livelihood
idiomatlc improvisations.
9 Idiom láti f$ ojú fún êniyàn
Below is a list of some Yoruba idioms with their English i:l'ranslation to blow another's eye
translations and equivalents.
Equivalent to render help to another in time of
l [Idiom lláti jálé agbón need
·ranslation Ito tamper with a hornet's nest 10 Idiom látij ka
IEquivalent !to bring trouble upon one·s own head íl'ranslation to eat one's fingers
12 jláti bá kün ní ibüba Equivalent to regret
Jto encounter a leopard in its lair 11 Idlom láti i ilé WQ
Jto stumble unexpectedly on danger r:rranslation to enter the wrong house
Equivalent for a woman to enter an unhappy
13 jláti baojúj$ marriage
'ranslation e_despoil one's facial appearance
12 Idiom láti finú haneniyàn
1Equivalent /to become sad
íl'ranslation to expose one's insides to another
1 4 IIdiom [!âti b «?Jô lóri Equivalent to tel1 a person the truth in one's mind
ITranslation to cut offthe head of a snake
Equivalent to solve an intractable problem instantly 13 ldiom láti k ran
rfranslation to steal meat
5 /Idiom /lâti.tapo si àlà Equivalent to be in trouble
1 ranslation Jto stain a completely white cloth
14 Idiom láti kõ QrQ j
jEquivalent jto spoil the beauty or elegance in a thing
or person r:rranslation to eat one's words
1
• Equivalent to retract a previously made statement
6 jláti ti owç, bo enu
·anslation lto put one's hand into the mouth
Equivalent [to eat

146
147
15 IIdiom láti najú 10.6 EXERCISE

to stretch one's eyes Provide English equivalents to the following Yoruba idioms
and explain the circumstances in which they may be used:
to relax by strolling or sitting in an
16 l
open place 1 Idiom
Translation
láti wàní âârQ QjQ
to be in the morning
ranslation jlátithrow pebbles
pakúta into a conversation
si ç,rQ
Equivalent
!Equivalent /to introduce irrelevances into a
conversation Circumstance
2 Idiom láti !;;e àyà gbààgbà

íl'ranslation to expand one's chest
Equivalent
Circumstance
3 Idiom láti fúnika m◊ nkan

rrranslation to hold tightly onto something
Equivalent
Circumstance
4 1
Idiom láti kQ hin si êniyàn
íl'ranslation to tum one's back to a person
Equivalent
Circumstance
5 Idiom láti j l nu méji
Translation to have two mouths
Equivalent
Circumstance

1ii\1I
148
149
111t
1l\•i" 6 lcliom látl gbé idi fún eniyàn
Translation to lift the buttocks (from a chair) for
1 someone
lli\.,1111
1\,11\
LESSON ELEVEN
Equivalent
Circumstance
7 Idiom láti ta ipá si (nkan)
íl'ranslation to k:ick against (an issue)
11il . Equivalent
Circurnstance
8 Idiom láti nas

!Translation to stretch the legs
Equivalent
Circumstance
9 Icliom lâtl fi ogun di ogun

Translation to fight a war in retaliation for a war
Equivalent
Circumstance
10 Idiom lâti fi ojú si (nkan)

íl)-anslation to put one's eyes into (something)
Equivalent
Circumstance
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON ELEVEN

150
151
11.1 DIALOGUE
Yemi and Bolafindjobs
Ycmi àti Bólá b(Jrf! i$
Bola: Ron.ke, congratulations. I heard that you
Dó Yemí, K9ngratulé$c)n, mo gbç, pé o ti rí$ gotajob.
$. Yemi: O $é, Bç,lá. Mo gb(> pé iwQ náa ti ri$(!. Yemi:Thank you, Bola. I heard that
BQlá: B ni. Mo $ ($ } ríi ní<)s k ta youtoogota job.
ni.Ibol'o Bola: Yes. Ijust gotit twoweeks ago. Where are
ri$(! sf? you employed?
Yemi: Kónpini àw9n olóôgú.n ni. lwQ nk(>?
B(>Jã: Qdçi ijQba ni mo ri$$si. Mo nbá àwQn t'ó Yemi:lt is with a drug company. What about you?
ngba owó-orí $i$(!.
Bola: I work with the government. I work with
Yemí: Eh-eh, yin ní agbowó-ôde! those whocollect taxes.
B()lá: Rárá o. Óftlsi I'êmí wà. Mo nbá WQn $e Yemi: Eh-eh, you are a tax collectorl
êtó kQmpútà wç,n. Kil'o n$en'íbi i$ (r)e? Bola: No. I work in the office. I work with the
Yemi: A n ày wó àwQn oógú.n bóyá wçn D$i$ computer. What do you do at your workplace?
g g(!bí 6 ti ye.
Yemi:We test drugs for their efficacy. Whether
B(>Já: Báwo l'e $e m;;e é? they work as they are supposed to work.
Yemi: A nkó ríjQ lat'QdQ àwçm tí wón ti lo Bola: How do you do that? ,
oógun náà. A nbêêrê bóya ó j fún w9n. Yemi:We collect data from those who have already
B()Já: O kúkúf(!ràn irú i$ b $. Ogbádtin láti used the drug. We ask them if the drugworked
máà SQI"Q lórí fôônti. for them.
Yemi: $e o ngbádú.n i$ (rJe? Bola: Of course, you like that kind of job. You like
B(>lá: Mo $i wà ní tíréni. $tigbón àwQn tí mo nbá talking on the phone.
$i$(!f ràn mi. Yemi:Do you like your job?
Yemi: Trréni náà ni mo wà. çgá mi náà ngbiyànjú Bola: I am still in training. But I get along with my
láti ri i wípé ó $e àlàyé fún mi dáradára. co-workers.
BQlá: igbàwo ni o máa paríi tíréni (r)e? Yemi: I, too, am in training. My boss also makes
Yemi: ó ma ngba bí O$ú. m fa. an effort to explain the job to me well.
BQJá: $é wón nsan sálárl tó jQjú? Bola: When will you finish your traning?
Yemi: ó dára. gbçn ô cli'gbà ti mo bá pari tíréni Yemi: lt takes about six months.
ki w(>n tô fún mini sálári tó jQjú. Bola: Do they paya reasonably good salary?
B()Já: B(! náal'àwa. ó dàbQ. Yemi: It's OK.But it is when I finish the traíning
Yemi: Bá mí kí àbúrô (r)e. ó dàb<) that I will be given a good salary.
o. Bola: lt is the sarne with us. Good-bye.
Yemi:Say Hello to your sister. Good-bye.

! ,li
152
11.3 EXPRESSIONS 153
1
! 11.2 VOCABULARY
Engllsh
t
11 Yoruba
-- rorub a -
- · -·-- KQngratul õnl Congratulations!
. kómpini-l oomp y- Greetings for your good
O kú oríire.
ilée$ jbusiriess pla e. éoinpa,ny- luck.
fâktlri jfàctócyr o ni r Õl9run. Thanks be to God.
ilê- QpQ . ! factocy $é iwQ naa ti ri$é? Have you too found a job?
11)
Qfiisi lofflce lbo l'o ri$é Sl'? !W here did you find a job?
111 111
owó-or.i Jtax· K{>mpini WO l' O ri$é SlÍ' IWhlch company did you
owó-ôde ltax find employment with?
ôwó-õwõ ! capital for business Skúulu (orilé-iwe or ln which school do you
!
age ilé-ekQ) wo l'o ti ntil$i? teach?
ow:ó-i$é Jw
Iteach in a prtmary
sálári 1sa1axy· Ilé- kQ alák()ber ni
mo ti nk{>ni. school.
OWÓ-0$U 1sa1ary
Ilé-ekQ girama ni mo 1 found work in a grammar
owó- hin l bribe school.
rí$é si.
n'bá lbribe Mo l wà ni tiréni. I am still in training.
owó-ilé l bouse rent
i
1 OWÓ-WÍWQlé l income
Mo ti pari i$é-kikó. I have finisbed training.
$é w{>n nsan sálâri (or Areyou being paid a good
owó-jijáde lexpencliture owó-o u) tó jQjú? saiary?
Qyà l fees paid_for a service. $é wQn nsan owó-i$ Areyou being paid a good
i$ákQI !fees paid fórrentof lànd tó jQjú? wage?
tiréni l trainirifgor a craft,_appreriti hi.P Eló l'owó- u (r) ? How much is your salary?
It is sixhundred naira per
ikQ$ ltraining for a craft, apprenticeship ÀpõNâirà m fà ni
r u. month.
firíi ! to_be free after a period of pprenticeship - -
lcli-m fà Qk Nâirà ni It is sixty thousand naira
l'(>dún. peryear.
firído9mü freedoin after a period of
Náírà méje ni ní wákàti It is seven naira per hour.
I apprentlceshi_i>
k9c)kan.
õminira 1 freedom, independence It is seven naira hourly.
Náírà méje ni
látl gbaõminirajto become free; to attain ni wákàtl-
independence wákàti.
1
154 155
11.4 COMPLEX VERBS 11.4.1.3 Special Category 2: pa (enabling verb) +

direct object:
ln Chapter 2, we learned that Yoruba verb morphemes
generally begln wíth a consonant and contain one When used asa verb by itself, pa means to kill:mo paejõ/
syllable. More complex verbs are made by linking two or 1killed a snake. However, as part ofa verb, it becomes an
more words to form a new verb. enabling verb, allowing many nouns to be converted to
verbs.
Below is a list of such verbs :
11.4.1 Forming Comple:z: Verbs Meanlng
pa + direct object Newverb
'
11.4.1.1 Verb + Direct Object pa+ ara (body) para to flght
The most coinmon way of forming verbs is by combining a pa+ itàn (story} pitàn to tell a story
transitive verb with its direct object. For example:
pa+ ire) (lie) pur(>,par to lie
{a) mú(take} and ara(body) are combined to form the pa+ôwe (proverb) põwe to tel1 a proverb
new verb múra {to be prepared). pa+ ariwo (noise} pariwo to make a noise
(b) SQ (to throw} and QrQ (sentences) are combined to to tel1riddles
pa+ ilQ {riddle) pàlQ
form the new verb sç,rç, (to spea.k}. pa+ààrQ (exchange) pààrQ to make an
Verb Meaning Object Meaning New Meaning exchange
verb pa+ oko (forest) pa.ko to clear a forest
,! u
'
eat iyà suffering jiyà suffer pa+àl? (command) piu; to rule, to command
$e do msãn illness $àisàn to be sick
'
pa+àt (wares) pàt toexhibit wares for
'Il'li 1
bí
pa
lbear
kill
QmQ
ja
child
fish
bímQ
ja
to give hirth
to fish 11.4.1.4 Whole predicate as verb:
sale
ln many instances, the whole predicate in a sentence is

li sun flow kún tears sukún toweep
rán send etí ears rántí toremember combined to form a verb. For example: ronún pa iwà dà, tn
have money cronsider anel change behavior is combined to forro the
ní owó lowó to be rich
verb ronúpiwàdà, 1D repent, dàgbà si õkê, togrow in
11.4.1.2 Special category 1: ní (1) + direct object theupward dtrection. is combined to form the verb
the verb ní (to have) is combined with a variety of direct dàgbàsókê, tn
objects: Improve.
Predicate NewVerb
ní + direct object NewVerb Meaning
ní + owó(money) lówõ to be rich ní ori rere 16rilre (to be lucky)
(to have a good head)
ní + Qlá{wealth) IQla to be wealthy
dá QWQ dúró (to stop the daWQdúró (to stop
ní + irêtí (hope) nírêti to be hopeful
hands from moving} an activity briefly}
ft ara ba il (to rest the farabal (to calm
body on the ground) down)
156 157
11.4.1.5 Combination of two or moreverbs 11.4.3 The Enabling Verb pa as Part of a Spllt Verb
ln some instances, two verbs combine to form a new verb.
For example, the verbsfô, to jwnp, and lQ. togo, combine Pa can also function as the frrst part ofa spllt verb, where
to form the new verb fõl<;>, to j1y away. Ji, to wake, and its function is to enable the other part of the verb to take
on a different meaning.
-
elide, to stand up combine to form the new verb jínde, to
resurrect. pa+verb Meaning
(a) pa (nkan) ti to set (something l aside
Verb IMeaning jVerb IMeaning jNew jMeaning
Verb (b) pa (nkan) to erase something
sã 1nm lgo sálQ jto escape (c) pa (êniyàn) l rib to make a person laugh
padàlt urn IQ come lpadâbQ !to retum , (d) pa (nkan) mora to claim something falsely
já ldetach IQ jescape Uáb◊ lto fali down (e) pa (êniyàn) Iara to cause someone to face
danger
gbà laccept 9 hear lg bàgb◊ !to believe
l
11.4.4. Verbs from Imported Nouns
11.4.2 Split or Irregular Verbs 11.4.4.1 ln chapter 2, wecrune across nouns which
Split verbs are those which contain a direct object in the have their roots in the Arabic or English language.
middle when in use in a sentence. Many of these can be converted into verbs.
Examples: Verbs derived from Arabic include:
Split Verb[ Use English Imported ITranslation Verb Translation
mú ... wá mú Qjó wá jHe brought Ojo Noun
àdúrà prayer gbàdúrà to pray
IÕ ànfàní benefit l?ànfàní to become beneficial
mú..•19 Jó
mú mi lQ
Jó e took me away à$íri secret bà$íri to protect
mú...padà mú mi padà me
/He brought me back
11.4.4.2 English verbs or even non-verbs are sometimes
mú...dání ló mú mi dání e held on to adapted to the Yoruba language and used with the sarne
meaning as in its original form:
IH
Other examples:
rán... léti !to remind someone EnglishYorubaEnglishYoruba verbadaptatonverbadaptation
rán ... ni Jto send someone on an errand teach tfi$itraintréêni major méjQ need nildi save (money}séêfü post (le
gbé... kàyà to monopolize something (an issue)
jbé ... kal to lay the foundation of something
gbé ...gbóná jto heat something up
dá......l{>nà jto waylay (someone)
dá ••• lágara ! o exhaust (someone's) patíence
t jto be certain about something
dâ ...Jôjú
158 159
11.4.4.3 Toeverb "to be" 11.5 YORUBA RIDDLES

Toe verb "to be" mainly takes twofonns in the Yoruba
language: An àl(> (riddle) is used as a form of light family
cntertainment at evening time, especially when there is a
pie !English Equivlent full moon. Like proverbs and idioms, riddles and their
n Jêmini II am (identified as or I exist as ) solutions derive from cultural, natural, and environmental
i scenes.
j jêmij / mo j [Iam (called or answer to) Below is a list of some Yoruba riddles, their English
translations, and solutions.
1 IRiddle Kil'õ bá Qbajeun ti kô k'éwé?
Translation What eats with the king but does not
clear the dishes?
Solution Ajly.
2 Riddle Kil'ó nkQja l'ójúde Qba tí kõ k•Qba?
Translation M'hat g::>es in front of the king's palace
lwithout greeting the king?
Solution IA tommt thatflows qfter a heavy rain
3 Riddle Kil'ó kân Qba ni ikó?
Translation IWbat gives a king a rap on the head?
Solution IA shaving razor.
4 Riddle Kil'ó bQ s'ómi tí a kõ ri kó?
Translation What falls into water and cannot be
retrieved?
Solution &llt.
5 Riddle Q baba mi kan láilái, eti l'ó ti ngbó,
ki'1 gbó l 'a· -a.nn. K0i1".?
Translation My father's old cloth is always wom at
the edges and not in the middle. What is
it?
!Solution A ri.ver, since it dries upfirst atthesides.

l"ll
1
111, 1\.\
161
160
1qll
1
1 111
6 Riddle Igbá n1á r k tr:, ó tõbi àm{> kô 11.6
ní EXERCISE
ibôji.
1/1\ 11 Use the vocabulary undemeath to translate the sentences
Translation What is a calabash that is very vast bul
I
does not cast a shadow? below to English --
Solution The slcy. English Yoruba English
'1 Yoruba
7 Ridclle Qpá té r kan ili:, ó kàn(}run. ànijti excessive (wealth) igbéraga pride
Translation A long stick reaches the earth from the aláiní poorperson ir etí hope
sky. n íní owning (wealth)
látijékí to let
Solution Rain. láti ní to have or to say
8 Ridclle · Igi baba mi kan láílái, Igi baba mi kan Yoruba Engllsh
làilài, àár◊ ní í rúwé, al ní i WQwé Kini mo ní ti wç,n ní mo ní àníju?
!1 11 1 rrtanslation My father's old tree, my father's very old
1 tree, it sprouts leaves every morning, it Ninún níní ni a nní kí ni ti
11111.1
sheds leaves every evening. kõ ní ní.
1\ Solution Themarket. Mo ni. "mo ní Jésu. KõníJékí n di alâiní.
9 Ridclle Igi baba mi kan láiláí, Igi baba mi kan
làilài. orí ni WQn ti í gün ún, WQn ki i Aláini l'ó ni eni t'ó ní kõ ni
ti idi gün ún. Jékí oun ní.
:11 1
rrranslation My father's old tree, my father's very Jésit ní "ni QWQ eni ti (k)õ ni
old l'a ti máa gbà fún ni t'ó ni."
tree, it is climbed from the top down and çni ti ó ní, Ql◊run j kí óní.
not from lhe bottom up. !;ni t'ó ní, k'ó máa ní sí i.
Solution Apit. Ní igbà tí mo bá ni. ma a fi
níni mi yin QI◊run.
11 çni t'o ní, k'ó má fi l?e igbéraga.
ti
çni tí kõ ní, k'ó má $e SQ iretí
111
nu.
1 lgbàti ó níbQ tán, ni ó wá
b r süní.
1\\1 1
Ó ní tí õun bá ní, õun á fi níní óun yin Qlqrun.
i11r
Bí mo bá ní, Qlç,run l'ó ní ki n
11\ 1 ní.
11
l[\i
BEGlNNER'S YORUBA LESSON ELEVEN

111
162
163
I,
:I LESSON TWELVE
l\ I
i\111
,1111
111
1
111
11
11
1 \I
i 11
\
1\1
,\
lJ BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON TWELVE
164
165
12.1 DIALOGUE
Wale and Dupe talk about religion
Wálé àti Dúp ns9r9 nípa sin Dupe: Wale, what will you be doing on Sunday?
Dúp : Wálé, kil'o ll$e ní Sçmdê? Wale: I plan to go to church with myparents in the
Wálé: Mà á bâ àwQn àbí mi lQ $QQ$i l'áãrQ. morning. But in the aftemoon, I have made no
$tlgbQn t'ó há di QSân, êmi ô ní pláànti plans. What about you?
kànkan. iwQ nkç? Dupe: I too have no plans. Can we goto the museum?
Dú : E mni áaóníplâàntl kànkan. $é a lê lQ sí Wale: Is that what you intend? Don't you go to
mtlsiQmtl? church? Or are youa pagan?
Wálé: Wâ, iwQ à kil lQ $ÓQ$i ni? Tàbí kêferí ni $? Dupe: No. l am not a pagan. I am a Muslim. Or do
Dú : Rárá o. Emi õ kií kêfêri. Mtlsulumí l'êmi. you have somethíng against Muslíms?
Tàbí o ní nkankan p lú àwQn Mtlsültlmí? Wale: No. Many ofmy family members are Muslims.
Wálé: Rárá o. QpQlQPQ nínu àwQn E;lbi mi l'ó ll$e There are even some of them that are traditional
Müstlltlmí. A rí nínún WQD papàá t'ó ll$e believers
AbQri$à. Dupe: It is the sarne with my family. But we do
Dú : náàniàwçn f;!bi temi. $ú.gbQn àwa kiíj kí not let religion separate us. Aliofus
QrQ E}sin tú wa ká. ikankan náà ni gbogbo wa. arethesarne.
Wálé: Fún àp rl;!, bàba bàbá mi, abQri$à ni. Wale: My grandfather, for example, was a traditional
$úgb{m ó f ran gbogbo wa gidigidi gan. believer. But he loved all of us very much. He
Êniyàn Qlçmm si ni. was a man of God.
Dú : Ní ilé tiwa, E}gb9n Dádi mi, onígbàgbç ni. Dupe: ln our household, my uncle is a Christian.
ôun náa f ràn wapúpQ. He also laves us very much.
Wálé: lbo ni ti má njQsin ní Jún◊? Wale: Where do you worship on Fridays?
Dúp : Amá nlQ M(>$álásí ní MókQlá. lbo ni $çlC;>$i Dupe: We go to a mosque ín Mokola. Where is
tiyín wà? your church?
Wálé: Ó wà ní Dú.gbE}. Emi nrõ ó pé ró bá di QjQ Wale: It is in Dugbe. Iam already thinking about the
iwájú, sin woni a nf kí àw<;>n QmQ wá $e? future. What religion would you want our
Dúp : lwQ p lu tani? children to practice?
Wálé: O dé niy n. Mo síriósi o. Dupe: You and who?
Dú : Ókée. $tigbçn j$k' á lQ sí mtisíomü. l'óní Wale: Let's stop kidding. I am very serious.
ná. Tó bá di QjQ iwájú, à á máa SQ. Dupe: O.K. But let us go to the museum today. We
Wálê: Ígbàwo ni o nf kí nwá gbé f;!? will talk about that in the future.
Dú : J kí ótóaago m$rín. Wale: When do you want me to pick you up?
Wálé: Ókeé, màá rí nígbà n. Dupe: Let it be around four o'clock.

Wale: O.K. I will see you then.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON TWELVE

166 167
12.2 VOCABULARY
12.3 EXPRESSIONS
Yoruba Yoruba English

English Wale, what will you be
búburú Wálé, kil'ô Il$C ni S{,ndê?
evil, bad doing on Sunday?
burúkú evil, bad lbo l'õ nlQ ruMQndê? Where are you goingon
dáradára beautiful Monday?
dúdú dark, What will yoube doing
Kíl'ô n$C r<,tmla?
[1
funfun black the day after
1 gbogbo . white tomorrow?.
gQbQyi all Kil'õ npêrô láti$C ní QjQ What is your plan for
rin l'óni? three days from today?
enonnous
Mà â lQ (si) $QQ$i l'á'ár • will go to church in the
I
moming.
11 kékerê small
nlá important, big Mà â lQ skúulu l'Qsm. I will go to school in the
aftemoon.
J> ◊kú cheap I will go to work in the
1111i Mà á IQ ibi-i$e n'Ir(}l .
pupa red evening.
púpQ much,many é kêfêri nl ? Are you a non-believer?
titun new Musultimi l'êml. Iam a Muslim.
tuntun new Abórl$à ni àwQn aráalé My family members are
tútti cold mi. traclitlonal believers.
Onífá ni bàbâ mi. My father is an Ifa adherent.
li'
bí$QQbu bishop
àltifáà priest Bàbàiyâ mi, onimçle ni. My grandmother (on my
father's side) is a
$QQ$i church
worshipper of ímOle.
kâtídráàli cathedral
E.gbQn M{,mi mi. My uncle (senior sibling to
póópu pope oní$àngó ní. my mother) worships Sango.
Jésu Jesus lbo nl ti mâ nj{>siil ní Where do you worship on
Màrfà Mary Jfmc}? Fridays?
MQQ dft Mohammed lbo ni ti nkirun ní Where do you say your
MQnmQn Mohammed Jimc}? prayers on Fridays?
kéú,kéwú Arabic scrtpt Igba wo ni Qdún Iléyâ? When i the Greater
Bairam Festival?
sààri pre-dawn meal eaten
during Ramadan
BE
GIN
NE
R'S
YO
RU
BA
LE
SS
ON
TW
ELV
E
168 169
12.4 ADJECTIVES 12.4.2.1 Arninor extension ofthis role is to use the first two
letters of a polysyllabic verb as a prefix:
Toe main sources of derivation of adjectives in the Verb Translation Adjective translation
Yoruba language are nouns and verbs. Phonaesthetic
(a) kúrú to be short kúkúrú short
adjectives
are derived from conveying audible ideas of object·s that (b) lbürú to be evil ro bad búburú evil, bad
canbeperceived only by sight, smell, or feeling. (e) kéré to be small kékeré small, llttle
(d) fún to be white funfun to bewhite
12.4.1 Possessive Nouns as Adjectives
All possessive nouns can be used as adjectives. For example,
in the following sentences: 12.4.3. Phonaesthetic Adjectives
(a) Qkimrin olów6 kan wà ní l'There once was a rich
maninOyo.
Many Yoruba adjectives convey ideas of objects that can be
perceived only by sight. smell, or feeling. Even an
QyQ
lnanimate object can be treated as if it was able to produce
Olówó (rich) is the adjective in the sentence; a sound. For example, ara r ri girigiri, his body has a gritty
Qkünrin
look. Here gírigiri is a sound that would be assôciated with
(man) is the noun it qualifies.
something being scratched. Qnà tààrà l'õ gbâ IQ1é, he took a
(b) Aláini êniyàn ní baba r . IH'TS father is an dtrect route home. Here tààrà represents the sound of something
unemployed persorL
direct or healthy
Aláini (jobless) is the adjective qualifying êniyàn.
12.4.2 Adjectives from Verbs Adjective ITranslatlon Adjective Translation
Adjectives can be derived from all verb roots. Toe general {a} l áki âld rough rebete small and
rule is to take the first letter of the verb (always a symmetrical
consonant), add an i to it, and use this as a prefix to the (b) tààrà direct ribiti round
verb to form the adjective. For example: For the verb ga, (e) rabata enormous pí-npin small,
to be tall, add i to the consonant g to form gi. Md this dirninutive
as a prefix to ga, and form the adjective, giga (tall): (d) QbQtQ huge and fiofio lofty, tall
Verb Translation Adjective Translation round
(a} lati ga (e) gbQ QrQ long and thin kQlQkQlQ circuitous
to be tall giga tall
(b) lati me) to be clean mim(> holy, clean
(e) lati mú to be sharp mimú sharp
(d) lati WQ to be crooked WQ crooked (line)
(e) lati rQ towither rírç rwithered
(f) lati dân to shine dídán shiny

170 171
12.4.5 Comparatlve/Superlatlve Forms: ju/ju ... (IQ) 12.5 YORUBA RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Toe Yoruba language does not have anything
corresponding to the comparatlve or superlative fomis of Like the ancient Greeks, the Yorubas belleve that most
adjecttves in the English language. To make a comparison, human affairs are controlled by supernatural powers.
the word ju -· (lo) is used along with the verb from which Along with Qlórun, the alrnighty God, it is believed that
the adjective is derived. For example. he is tal.Ler than me there are 401 lesser gods - õ à - who are responsible for
can be translated as6 gaju mi or 6 gaju mi lQ. the daily affairs of mankind.
For the superlative, the object of comparison is simply
omitted. He is lhe tanest is translated as õun 1'6 ga jwç.
Jwo can also be used as an adjective to express a 12.5.1 Yoruba Gods
superlative. For example, the most powerful would be 12.5.1.1 QlQrun - The Sky God
translated as alágbára jwç Yorubas believe that there is a great god known as
Olódiimarê (the owner of the universe) or QIQrun (the
owner of the heavens). This god is equally addressed by
the following names: 1!2 dà(creator); Arinú-róde (ali
knowing); Ãt rere-káyé (omnipresent): Õyigiylgi (great
beyond understanding), etc. This god, however, is not easily
approachable. It is therefore necessary to have lesser gods
(orishas) who intercede with lhe great one.
12. 5.1.2 The Orishas or Lesser Gods
Ori$a Duty
(a) Ori$à-nlá or Qbàtálá Chief god of the Yorubas
(b) Odudúà. Oduduwà Progenitor of the Yoruba race
(e) Qrúnmilà or Uá Chief counsellor of the gods
(d) u. l;l gbà god of mischief
(e) Ogún god of iron, war, hunters, and
smiths
(f) $àngó godof thunder
(g) Ori$à-oko god of agrtculture
(h) Olókun god of the sea
(i} $Qp«)nná god of smallpox
U) Qya goddess of the River Níger
(k) Qsányin god of medicine

172 173
12.6 EXERCISE
Translate into Yoruba
Yorubâ English
LESSON THIRTEEN
ílb.e elephant is a very huge
animal.
If an elephant passes through
a place one day, such a place
becomes a road.
--
lf his mother!ater passes
through there the second day,
it becomes a boulevard.
mie elephant has a head but
no neck.
ílb.e head of the elephant is
too lbig a load for a child to
carry.
IThe elephant has one hand
and uses it to fell a palm tree.
·
lf it had two hands, he would
tear down the sky like a cloth.
Toe hunter whosays he wants
to kill an elephant is toying
with death.
Toeelephant says (tothe
hunter), "Ifyou know what
death befalls goats, leave me
alone."
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON TffiRTEEN

174
175
13.1 DIALOGUE
Seun retumsfrom Nigeria
$eun padà d.é láti NàiJíríà Ayo: Ah! Seun, Where have you been?
AyQ: Ah, $eun, rúbo l'o ti gbà IQ? Seun: I went to Nigeria.
$eun: Mo IQ Nàijá ni. Ayo: lt is no wonder. It's been quite a while si,nce I
Ay9: AbájQ, ó p ti mo ti ri e mc;i. mélõ l'o Iô saw you last. How many weeks did you spend at
n1é? home?
$eun: O,e m$rin ni. Seun: It was four weeks.
Ay◊: ÀwQn obí e nk{I? $é àláfià ni w{ln wà? Ayo: How are your parents? Are they feeling fme?
$eun: Àláfià rú. Mo tie ri àbúrõ E;' l'Ékõ . O ní kí Seun:Yes, they are alright. I even saw your brother in
n Lagos. He said I should say hello to you.
AYQ: máakí e. Ayo: Which places did you visit at home?
$eun: Àwçn ibo l'o dé ní1é? Seun: I went to our village. I went to Oyoto see
Mo dê abúlé wa. Mo IQ sí QyQ láti 19 wo my younger brother. I also went to Kano
àbúrõ mi. Mo tún lQ Kánõ ruõití egb(m nú where myolder brother lives.
Ay◊: wà. Ayo: Ah, Ah! you must have really enjoyed home.
$eun: Ah! Ah! O gbádun ilé gaan. Seun:Yes, I really did. Of course, you know that it
Mo gbádun e. $ébio mç, pé ó $e díe ti has been quite a while since I visited home
Ay9: mo ti lQ ilé kêhin. last.
$eun: Êrrú pâpàá nperõ láti19l'{>dún t'ó nbQ. Ayo: I too am planning to visit home next year.
Ay◊: lbo n'ilu tiyin nbe? Seun: Where is your hometown?
Ô$u l'orúkQ abúlé wa. O wà I'éba Ilé$à, ní Ayo: Toe name of our village is Oshu. It is near
$eun: ipínll} 0$Ull. llesha, in Oshun state.
Ay9: Mo mQ Ô$ú. Níbe ni w{>n tinta àkàrà. Seun: I know Oshu. That is where bean-cakes are
sold.
$eun: Kíni wçm n$e l'âbúlé tiyin?
Ayo: What do they do in your village?
Wçm nfin igbá l'ábúlé wa. Mo tie mú àw9n
Ay◊: igbâ QlQnà t'ó dára wá. Seun:They carve calabashes in our village. I even
brought some beautifully carved ones.
Jçiw(>, $é o lê fún mi l' yQ kan nínún WQn.
$eun: Mo fé fún e) mi Améríkà kan. Ayo: Please, can you give me one ofthem? I want
to give it to an American fiiend ofmine.
AyQ: Kõ burú. Mà á fün e.
Seun:.Alright. I will give it to you.
$eun: o $é. JQWQ bá mi kí àbúrõ e. ó dàbQ.
Ayo: Thank you. Please say hello to your síster.
Ódàb<) o.
Seun: Bye.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON THIRTEEN

176
1a.2 voe.
r,oruba y
Engllsh Yoruba English
village abúlé $eun. níbo l'o ti gbà Seun, where haveyou
iletô lQ? gone?
small village, fann settlement
llú Mo lQ Qludé. I went on holiday.
town
ilú-nlá OJ{> mélõ ni Qludé r ? How many days waas your
city
9ba holiday?
king
ijôyê, óó y e O u mélõ ro Iõ n'lé? How many months did
chief youspend at home?
oll Qba- dé
a crowned king Qs rinni. lt wasfour months.
alá.
village head ÀWQil ôbí nk(>? How are your parents?
Ql{>jà ww .à
His Highness $é àlá.f'J.à ni WQD Wà? Are they in good health?
àlâyélú -Ôri à
Orisha's deputy{on earth) W{>n n déédé. Toey are doingjust fine.
igbákejl
carver A:ra iyá mi (k)ó dá. My mother is not well.
Ql{mà
carver of calabashes A:ra bàbâ mi (k)õ Ie. My father is not in good
afingbá health.
leather merchant
aláwQ WQn ngbâdim. Toey are having ftm.
brass worker
onid
sculptor AwQn ibo l'o dé n'ilê? Which places did you visit
agb re at home?
AwQn ilú wo ro lQ nílé? Which towns did you go
to back home?
Mo dé iletà kan. I went to one farm-
settlement.
Mo dé abúlê wa. I got to our village.
Ibo n'ilu tiyín nbi)? Which one there is your
town?
AwQn aimgbá PQ Toere are many calabash
ní abúlé wa.
carvers in our village.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON TIURTEEN

178
179
13.4 ADVERBS
Adverb Translation Adverb ITranslation
ráúráú utterly, dáadáa IVecywell
An adverb may come before or after the verb or adjective it completely
modifies: ln the sentence, ó sün fonfon (He slept gleaming excessively,
lâúláú púJ>◊púPQ
soundly), sün (sleep) is the verb, while fonfon (soundly} is exceedingly
the adverb modifying siin. ln the sentence Mo f?f} gb(>
nipa QrQ náà (1 have just heard about the issue), gb(, is dájúdájú clearly, dif)dif) gradually,
certainly little by little
the verb while i: is the adverb modi:fyinggb.Q
pátápátá completely IQPQIQPQ vecymuch
fiofío lofty yínginyíngin utterly
13.4.1 Adverbs in Time or Space
Many adverbs that express time or space are fonned by Use ITranslation
eliding ni with the respective noun: ni àná (yesterday) (a) ÓIQ ráúráú. He left (without coming
beoomes lânã; ni igbà ti (when} becomes nigbàti; ní ibí back).
(here) becomes níbí, ní ri} kan (once) becomes lt} kan, (b) /The cloth is gleaming
etc. Q nãà funfun
láúláú !White.
Adverb Elision English (e) Mo ri i dájúdájú. I saw him clearly.
(a) ní /:hin l hin f---
ehind (d) ó j pátápátá ni. He ate ali of it.
(b) ni ib{: nibl} ornbl) 1---
IThe house is veiy lofty.
there {e) Dê náà ga fíofío.
(e) ní ibi: n níbf}y-E;!n 1---
Pay very good attention
(d) ni ibi
that very {0 Gl>Q mi dáadáa tome.
níbi or nbi place here
(e) ní ibí yr nibiyi (g) ó gbónâ púPQpúpQ . It is exceedíngly hot.
this very place
(f) ni ibi ti (h} Àiná n$e i$e náâ Aina is doíng the job
níbiti at the very place, where
(g) ni oke
díem?:. gradually.
lôkê at the top (i) Àwo náàfQ rrhe plate is broken to
(h) ni9Un Qtln at the right side yínginyingin. pieces.
(i) ni õsi lósi at the left side ij) ÓlówólQ' Heisexcessively rich.
P Q ' l . óP Q . .
13.4.2 Reduplication
Adverbs used to make verbs or adjectives more speci:fic
are often derived by word duplication: ô DSQr◊ (heis
talking), Ó nsl)rçi k l k l$ (heis whispering); ó IQ (he
left), ó IQ ráúráú (he left without coming back).
Below is a list of these adverbs and their uses:
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
LESSON TBIRTEEN
181
180
13.4.3. Onomatopeic Adverbs 13.4.5. Phonaesthetic Adverbs

Many adverbs are fonned by imitating the natural sound Although similar to onomatopeias, phonaesthetlc words
associated with a gíven actlon. For example; o dún gbàu (it convey audible ideas of situations that can be perceived
exploded, souncUng gbàu). Below is a list of such only by sight, smell. or feeling. For example, 6 fufun
adverbs and the sounds being imitated: láúláú, it is intensely white. láúláú is a phonaestheitc
adverb.
Adverb Imitatlon of sound of: Below is a list of these adverbs, the verbs they usually
(a) gbi something hitting the ground qualify, and the idea being portrayed.
(b) ramúramii a lion roaring Adverb iVerb ldea about
(e) yéê a multitude in a marketplace something arranged in a zigzag
ségesêge ri
(d) gêê a crowd cheering manner
(e) ÍQDÍQD a person snoring báláú funfun the white haziness of the cloud
(0 m n an almost inaudible, pleasant laugh tónitóni JllQ something clean and crisp
(g) gbàu agun bàlubàlii jô an unsteady tlame
(h) fiin a manbreathing deeply bárabàra e something done superficially
(i) kéêkéê a loud laugh of a child binõiri. dúdú intense darkness
(j) gooro a cricket
13.4.6. Words Functioning as At\jectives and Adverbs
Depending on how they areused, some words can be used
13.4.4. Quiz both as an adjective or as an adverb. For example:
Use the attached vocabulazy to fill in the missing spaces
Word Adjective Adverb
in the table below:
(a) áki àki shaggy shaggily
Yoruba English Yoruba Engllsh {b) tààrà klirect directly
àpõ sack láti rénn to laugh (e) rabata enormous enormously
kiniún lion láti mi to breath (d) lrQbQtQ spherical spherically
ibQn gun Játi ró to sound (e) gbQ Ql'Q ong lengthily
Yoruba English (t) rebete symmetrical symmetrtcally
ÀpówàjábQ. órógbin'il . (g) kélekêle zigzag zigzag
Kiniún náà bú ramúramu. (hl tribiti ifound oundly
li ibc;m kékeré náà dún (i) pí-npin small. puny small
gbàu. iyawó r r$rlb (j) fiofio lofty \loftily
mús$n. (k) k(llQkQIQ winding, crooked crookedly
1 QmQ náà r rlb kéekéê.
Bàbâ Ójó nmi fiin.
LESSON TIURTEEN
1,1 BEGINNER'S YORUBA
\1,\
183
182
13.4.7. Other Adverbs Adverb Use Meaning

Other words that function as adverbs include: rárâ (at aU - rárá N õ m◊ rárâ. I did notknow at all.
used with a verb in the negative sense), (de_finitely), $á sáà osáà ri i wípe emi Of course, you see
(merely), púp◊ (very, too). See tables below: ni mo rúé Àb bí. that l amdating Abebi.
$â Mo SQ QI"Q kan $á. I just said something.
Adverb Translation Adverb Translation
Mo ní ôun ni sé. I say he is definitely
dêdé suddenly sãà ofcourse the person.
f r almost $á merely
Mo $ $ Ijust said I should
$ $
jàjà. with much effort definitely n ík ín w á call you.
jiam.Q together $ $1) recently pê ni:
kàn merely $i still $i Mo $i máa lówó. I will still get rich.
kQkQ first $ôki concise $ÔkÍ ÓSQTQ náà DÍ $6kí. He stated it briefly.
kúkú really, anyway têtê early têtê ó têtê sun k'o bàá He went tosleep early
even lê têtê jí. so he could wake up
mQQmQ deliberately til
early.
púpQ lverymuch túbQ increasingly
I did not even know
rárá at ali .w even til Nótil mQ pé o
nbQ. that youwere coming.
túbQ 1übQ múra s'íl? - Work harder.
Adverb Use Meaning wul Máwull} $C Do not even bother.
dédé ó dédé kigbe. He suddenly screamed. lwàhálà.
'---
fér Àisan $e é, ó féri; kú. Hewas so sick, he
almost died.
jàjà Mo jàjà páàsi idánwô I barely passeei the
náà ní. examination.
jüm◊ l;j k'ájumc> gbé e r Let us all support it.
ãruge.
kan Mo kàn ní ki nso fún I merely want to tel1
tyin ni. you.
kQ(k(>) Emi1'ó kQ(k(>) ri i. I saw him first.
kúkú Jé k'á kúkú máalQ. Let us go anyway.
m◊ (>me) Taye mc)çmo fó àwo Taye deliberately broke
náà ni. the plate.
púPQ I; púpQ. !fhank you very much.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON TIDRTEEN

184 185
13.5 YORUBA RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ctd.

13.6 EXERCISE
It is believed that there are 401 gods in the Yoruba
13.6.1 Translate into English.*
pantheon. How does a man contact any of these god.s?
How do they affect the existence of man? And how does Yoruba English
one appease whichever of these may be feel ag,grieved, Wàãgbó. ·-
or show appreciation for the one that has shown his Wà â t(>.
favor? O ô níí j gb:ígbóná.
This is where lf4, the godof divination- becomes relevant. llé kô níí lé Q.
lfa, through bis priests, is the intennediary between man Aàfm re kõ níí kQ{>.
and these gods. He translates·the wishes of the other
<)ià kõ nü nà Q.
gods to man and ma.kes known what offertng would
ma.ke a man's position in life as good as he may want it Eyí ti õ nrô â fm.
to be. Ikú kõ níí fi ilé r s'Qnà.
Anin kõ nil gbé Q dê.
13.5.1. lfa - The God of Divination•
Eléêgbé Qntn ko níí gbé
Oril;õà Duty Q
(a) Ifáor Godofwisdom. Chief counsellor ofthe l'QmQ lQ.
Orúnmilà gods. All the other gods can be O kõ nil ri ibi '"wâ gbà'j .
contacted through him. bí ran.
(b) Awo The corpus in which Ifa secrets are Ojúkõ niíf◊ mó Q l'óri.
inscribed to be translated by the Qmç kó ní kú mQ Q
Babaláwo. l'ójú.
(e) Babaláwo Toe elder who has mastery of Awo. Ayãkõ ní yà Q.
Also referred to as Priest of lfa. Àlõgbó, àlõtQ ni ológbõ
(d) Odüifá Oneof the 256 volumes of the Ifa n1o a$Q.
corpus to which the Babalawo refers. Àlôgbô, àlótQ ni iwQ yóõ
From these, he figures out which of lo ori re.
the orishas is interested in the
suplicant and what the orisha wants - -·
• Adapted from 'Dictionary of Modem Yoruba' by R.C.
him to do.
(e) I; Abraham.
lfá A subdivision or chapter within each odu
(0 Q nlfá lfadivination tray.
(g) Q I Ifa's divining chain.
(h) lkin ifa's sacred palm nuts. Toere are
sixteen in number. Toey serve as one of
the ritual symbols of lfa.
* For more information, contact 'Ifa-An E:xposition of
Ifa Literary Corpus" byWande Abimbola.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON THIRTEEN

186 187
LESSON FOURTEEN
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON FOURTEEN

188
189
14.1 DIALOGUE
Simi goes to the hospital
Simí l9 sí Jlé..iwàsàn
Tolu: Hello, Simi. I carne as soon as I
Tolú: Simi, pelé o. Bimo $egbQ ni mó nb◊ }
heard.
{
Simi: Ah,Tolu. Thank you.
Simi: Ah, Tolú. O!;leun. Tolu: Your brother came and told my father that you
Tolú: Abúrõ 1;! ló wá sQ fún Dádi mi pé o wà were in the hospital. I hope it is not serious.
l'l)sipítu. kõ Ie púp()? Simi: No. I have been feeling tired. I went to the
Simi: Rárá. O pé t'ó ti má nre mi. MoIQ s'ódô doctor. He gave me some medicatíon. I have
dókítà. ó fún mi l'áwQn oõgtin kan. Mod ti finished taking them but I did not feel better.
ló w(m tán, tigb(m àisàn náà ó IQ. Tolu: I see that youare receiving an N. Have they
Tolú: Pl)lé. Mo ri i wípé WQD nfa omi sí 1;t lára. $é determined the problem?
w(>n ti mQ icli àisàn náà ni?
Simi: No.They have just started running tests. They
Simi: Rárá. WQn $e$e be sü $e àwQn tésti ni. carne for some blood recently. They think I
WQn wá gba eje lára mi láipé. W◊nró pé mo have an infection.
ní
Tolu: What kind of infection?
inf$k$QD ni.
Simi: I don't k.now. They cannot tel1me until they
Tolú: Irú infék$on wo niyl;!n?
get the results ofthe tests.
Simi: Emi õ me}. Ó digbà tí àwQn êsi tésti bâ dé kí
Tolu: You stress yourselftoo much. I have told
w(mtó lê s9.
you many times but you never listen.
Tolú: tigb◊n o ti má n$e wàhálà púpô Ju. Mo s9
fún ç títi, o ó gb(>.
Simi: It is not my fault. I have a strenuous job.
Plus I have to go to school everyday.
Simi: bi mi kç,. li;, mile púpc) ni. Mo tún níláti
Tolu: I k.now. However, you need to fmd time to rest.
lQ sí skútihi l'ójojúm(>.
Tolú: Mo me). tigbçm o níláti wá àyeláti simi. Simi: You are right.
Slmi: Oótç, l'QI'Q ç. Tolu: Our friends in school say hello.
Tolú: Pel$. AwQn ◊ wa ni skúitlti ní kí n máa kí ç. Simi: Thank you. What did you do in school today?
Simi: O !;lé. Kí r i;,e ní skútilti l'óní? Tolu: Our math teacher gave some notes. I
brought it for you. I told him you were in
Tolú: Ti$à i!;lírô fún wa ní àwQn i$é kan. Mo kô the hospital. He also sends his greetings.
wQn wá fún 1;t. Mo SQ fún un pé o wà ní
Simi: What did the biology teacher cover?
Qsipítti. Ôun náà ní kí n máa kí -
Simi: Kíni tí!;là bàól(>ji k(> yín? Tolu: He talked a bit about our last test.
Tolú: Ó SQrQ díe nipa idánwô ti a $e séhin. Simi: Please get the homework assignments for me.
Simi: JQw(l máa bá mi kó àwQn ómúWQQki yl;!n jQ. Tolu: O.K. I will be back to see you.
Tolú: Ôkêé, Mà á tún padà wá wà . Simi: Bye.
Simi: à dàbç.
LESSON FOURTEEN
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
190
191

Yoruba Engllsh
QSipítu hospital
ilé-iwôsàn hospital
àgQ-iwõsàn clinic
dókítà doctor, medical practitioner
oní gun doctor
llQQSi nurse
olutQjú-aláisàn nurse
agb$bí midwife
oôgun medicine
aláwo natlve medicine man
babaláwo natlve medicine man
◊sányin god of healing
infé ◊n infection
iká.nin infection
yà-afàisàn geimS
ànin arQn-ni infectlous dísease
j funj fun typhoid fever
j dQj Q tuberculosis
onígbáméji cholera
jàgbàyà hookworm
àt◊si gonorrhea
$QPQilá smallpox
t)tt) leprosy
ajira vitamin
ikQ cough
ibà fever
Engllsh
Simi, lé o. Hello, Simi.
0 $CUll. Thankyou.
Abúro ló SQ pé o wà It was your brother who said
l'(>sipitü. you were in the hospital.
Irú àisàn (orànin) wo What kind of illness is it?
ni?
Kil'ó nyQ é lénun? What is troubling you?
Irú infék$õn wo niy n? What kind of infection is it?
Àrun ibà ni. It is rever.
Àrim alâmQ ni. It is a bactertal disease.
Àrün QlQj ni. It is a víral illness.
Àrün alákàn ni. It is cancer.
Nj $C té sti (or Didyouhave a test?
idánwõ)?
Rárá, a ô $C idânwõ. No, we did not have an
exam.
A ní i!? -à tilêwá (or We have a homework
ÓffiÚWQQki). assignment.
Inúun sQbúj ti wol'a ln which subject do we
ti IlÍ ÓffiÚWQQki? have a homework
assignment?
Inún à yàn- k(> wol'a ln wbich subject do we
ti ní i$ -à$etilewá? have a homework
assignment?
ó ní kí a múra fún Hesaid we should prepare
idánwõ t'ó nbQ. for a forthcoming exam.
Ó s<)iv di nípa idánwo He talked a bit about the
ti a e s bin. past exaJil.

192 193
14.4 CONJUNCTIONS
14.4.1.2 (à)ti ...(à)ti (both ...and)
The most frequently used coajunctions in the Yoruba As is indicated below, a repetition of (à)ti, gives the
language, such as àti (and), ugbón (but), and nitori meaning of both ...and:
(because), are used almost identically as in the English (l} Àt'êmi, àt'ilé mi, Qba Both myfamily and I, we will
language. ln this chapter, these and other conjunctions of Olúwa l'a óô ma sin. contiue to worship God.
importance are discussed.
(2) IT'êmi, t'aya mi, ni a Both my wife and I, we will
óô enjoy life.
14.4.1. Àti. at•(and) ma gbádii.n.
Toe word àti can be used to connect nouns, emphatic 14.4.2 ôun (and)
pronouns, or a combination of these. They can also be
Toe word õun also means and. However, it connotes the
used to connect phrases and clauses:
surbordination of the second object to the first:
(1) Ôjó àti Dàda njà. lüjo and Dada arefighting.
(1) Qd aperln õun àjá r an elephant hunter and bis
Here àti connects two nouns, Ôjó and Dàda. dog
(2) Êmi àti Qlâ l'ó ni í. jSola and I own it. (2) lbàbá kan õun Q mQ re an old man and bis child
Àti connects an emphatic pronoun and a noun. 14.4.2.1 Quiz
(3) yin àt'àWQn l'e jQ nlQ . You and they are all Use the attached vocabulary to fill in the missing spaces
going. in the table below:
Àti connects two emphatic pronouns. Non- Yoruba English Yoruba English
emphatic pronouns are never connected by àti. láti SQ pé jto say that lati f$ ltowant
(4) WQnjókol'ôri àga àt'ori They sat on the chair and Qkàn lheart lati f$ràn to like, to
tábili. at the table. love
Àti connects a clause and a phrase. Yoruba English
ILola has two children,
(5) IMo f mQ àwQn t'ó nlQ si I want to know who is 'ayo and Kike_. _
loko àt'àWQn t'ó nlQ s"ódõ. going to the farm and [Arori re, àt' se r , êminimo
rwho is goingto the river. [nigbogbo re.
Here àti connects two clauses. ITQkàn, t'ara ni mofif$ràn re.
14.4.1.1 Noun sequence Kunle and Bola saíd that
When more than two nouns occur, àti is used as in I they love God.
English, to join the final two nouns or pronouns: Kunle and Ayo said that
;ó \ they were going to school.
ra ran. ata, iy<) àt'epo. IShe bought pepper, meat,
IÊmiàti AyQ f lQ wo sinimá.
salt, and palm oil.

194
195
14.4.3 Bí...bâ(lf)
(1)Bí mo $e ni ki n máa IAs I was about to leave,
Toe word bí iS often used to express a condition. IQ, IAjadi arrived.
supposition, or hypothesis. ln these cases, bi iS often bé ê ni Àjàdí dé.
accompnied by bá
(2) B'6 ti g'bQ igbe omo re. IAs she heard her child
Exam..._p_le_s_: béêniônsâbõ. crymg; she started coming.
(1) Bimo báwâ. màárii. If (oronthecondition that)
I
come, I will see him. 14.4.6 Yâlà...tàbi (Whether.•.or not)
(2) Bi mo bá ni, mà á fi yin If {or on the condition that) This connective iS used as in 14.4.4 above. Examples
I have (money), I would use given can be written as follows:
Olúwa 1'6go.
it to show the glory of God. 1(1) IYâlà ó kú ni, tàbi 6 yê ni, tether he died or lived,
(3) B'óbá $e'mi n'iWQ ni, If (or supposíng that) I were a waô m'Q.
1 . •e do not know.
êmi ô nü gbà. jyou, I would not agree.
1
1(2) IYâlà ó gbQ. tàbi kô gbQ. tether he hears or not,

(4) Bí mo bá ni iyq bí If I had wings like a dove, I kô kàn mi. I
àdàbà, êmi yóô fô lç . would fly away. Ido not care.
14.4.6.1 Quiz:
Use the attached vocabulary to fi1l in the blank spaces in the
14.4.4 Bí...bi (Whether...or) table below:
A repetition of the word bi iS used to introduce Yoruba English Yoruba English
alternatives. Examples: láti nídí to have a reason látijiyà to be punished
(1) B'ó kú ni, b'ó yê ni, àwa ô Whether he died or lived, láti binú to be angry látijáde to leave (home)
mõ. lwe do not know.
(2) B'ó gbQ, bí ô gbQ, kô kàn M'hether he hears or not, Yoruba English
mi. I do not care. Bí kô bá nídi;" iyàwó n) kõ ní
bínú.
14.4.5 Bi...(bé ) ni (As ...as, As ...so ) Bimo$é, bí mi õ $é. õgá mi á
bámiwí.
14.4.5.1 Bí accompanied with bé ê ni iS used to make Bía $ewo$QQ$i, ní a ri
comparisons between two circumstances. Examples: àlufá.
(1) Bí baba $e \As the father is, sois Bímo$edé ilé ni mogbQ ikú
r i , ênQim Q ri. thescm. bàbá Àjàní.
(2) Bí o $e ri mi, 1>$ê ni mo mQ. IAs you see me, so Iam. Whether or not he goes, he
will be punished.
14.4.5.2 Bi accompanied with béê ni iS also used to As I was leaving my house,
establish the chronology of events. I met one beautiful lady.
Examples:
If Godwills, I shall be

196
197
14.4.7 Sügb9n (but)

14.4.9 Nitorí (Because)
SugbQn is used to connect two sentences, clauses, or Toe word nítori and its variations are used exactly as is in
phrases that contradict each other to some degree. the English Ianguage. It means: for the reason that: on
(1) K'ô kú, $Ügbón k'ô He is not dead, but he is not account ofthe fact that; since; so that, etc.
gbâdun in good health.
14.4.9.1 Variations of nitorí include:
(2) Ôjõ kô lejà $Ügbón Ojo will not fight but he has a
Variation Engllsh Equivalent
ô ounger brother who is bold.
ni àbúrõ t'ó gb6jú. (1) nítori because
(2) (t)itorü or toríi on whose account?
14.4.7.1 Variations of $ÜgbQn include: tani?
(3) (i)torí or titorí on account of
(4) nítorí iyE;in because of that
(5) nítorí nâà therefore, because of that
(6) nítoríi kini? because ofwhat?, for what reason?
(7) nítorí kí so that
Variation Engllsh
(1) àmó but
(2) àmó$á nevertheless
(3) béeré ironically, although
(4) lbéeré+ bée(si)ni neither...nor
(5) ekó not really
(6) Bótilf)j pé although
Word Use and English translation
(1) àmó Mo nlQ, àmç, mà á padâ wá.
I am leaving, but I wUl comebacJc.
(2) àmQ$á Mo ri ◊pc)l{>pc) i$ôro, âmó$á. Olúwa nb .
I faced a lot of difficulties. Nevertheless, God
exists.
(3) lbéere Igbá nl'áwun, bé eré lgbâ ô l'és .
Thegowu is pursuing the tmtoise, although
the aourd has no legs.
(4) bé re Igbá nl'áwun, bê eré igbá õ l'QWQ, bê (si) ni
and kõ l'ês .
Déeni The gowu is pursuing the rortoise, but the gourd.
ironically, has neither hands norlegs.
(5) lb ekQ Wón SQ pé a kêrê, bé ekó, ir(> ni WQn
npa. IJt was rumored that we areof no
consequence; however, this is a üe.
(6) bótill} Bótilejépé a õ lówõ, a l'Ólúwa Qba.
jépé Although we are not rich, we have theLord.
Word Use and English translation

(1) nítorí Wón ni ki 6 rúbQ nitorí ajé.
He was asked tnpeifo,m a sacriJice
"because of business.
(2) (t)itoril tani? (T)itorii tal'o $e wá?
or toríi tani? 0n whose accowtt d1d you come?
(3) (t)itoril (T)itorii mi l'ó $C wá.
He carne on my account.
(4) Nitori iy n nimo$Ckúrõ ní ilé.
nitorí iy
left.home"because of that (reason).
(5) Nitorínáà ni QPÇ,1(> $e gbé QkQ r
n pc;>n.
Because of this, thefrog decld.ed to cany
nítorínáà herhusband on her back.
(6) Nítoríi kiJ.•ó $e dá wa?
Why did He create us?
(7) ó dá wa nítorí k'á baà yin ín.
nítoríi kíni He created us so we may glorify Hún.
nitori kí
198
199
14.4.9.2 Quiz
Use the attached vocabulary to flll in the missing spaces in 14.5 PREPOSITIONS
the table below:
In English, the prepositions in. by, for, with, to, etc.
Yoruba English Yoruba Engllsh
connect a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to another
aditi deafperson láti kit to rumble element in the sentence, such as a verb. ln the Yoruba
afçjú lblind person ôjó $Ú rain threatens language, a preposition functions in a similar manner.
Yoruba English
Nítorí aditi ni ójó Il$Ú. 14.5.1 Prepositional Prefixes:
Nítori afQjú ni ójó nkti. A prepositional prefix combines with a sentence object to
I will go, but I will come indicate the position of interest. For example, n'ínú (ní
back. inú) ilé means insi<le the house, whereas s'inú (si inú) ilé
Mo gbQ, $ÍlgbQn mi ó gbà. means towards the house. Toe list below has the most
frequently encountered prepositional prefixes and their
You have eyes, but you
English equivalents.
cannot see.
Although you have eyes. Prefbc English Equivalents
you cannot see. ní, n', l' by. in, at, as
sí, s' to, towards
14.5.2. Prepositional Words

Below is a list of some prepositional words and phrases
fonned using the articles above
Word English Word Englisb
l'á'árín between s'á'árín between, in the míddle of
l'ójú at (the spot) s'ójú to (the spot)
l'órí (ní on (the top) s'órí to (the top)
orí)
l'áb$ underneath s'áb$ under
l'ápá ;beside s'ápá beside, by the side of
-
l'éti near s'éti near, close to
l'ára on (the body) s'ára to (the body)
- l'$bã near s'$ba to the neighborbood of
1--
l' gb beside s'$gb beside, to the side of

200 201
14.5.2. Prepositional Words ctd.

14.5.3.1 Quiz
Word English Word English Fill in the missing spaces in the table
l' nu in (the s'$nu to (the mouth of) below:
mouth of) Yoruba English
l'óde outside s'óde outside, to the Ó gb(ln bí Ifá
outer side of MQ ál ü WQll wà l'Qnà
l'ódó under s'ódó under, to the Aké
inside of Helives near a river
1'9d9 with s'(>dç, towards He passes outside the
l'ójú amidst s'ójú into the middle of king's palace
l'ójúú.de outside (of s'ójúú.de to the outside (of a He goes to school in
a house) house) our towh
l'QWQ with, in s'qw(l into orfrom the Ó wá láti ipínl Ondó
hands of Kanô wà l'óke Odô Qya
n'íbi near s'ibi near, in the area of
n'ídf beneath s'ídf to the underneath of
n'il in (the s'íl to(the land of}
n'ínú ºº
land i n , s'ínú into
n'ísàl$ among s'ísàl$ into the bottom of
under
14.5.3. Other Prepositional Words

Other words used as prepositions which do not have the
prefixes indicated above include:
Preposition English Equivalents
p lú lwith, alongside of
g$g$bí as, like, ia the role of, in the sense of
bí like, as, in the capacity of
tó about, near to
nípà about, concerned with

202 203
14.8 EXERCISE
Use the attached vocabulary to translate the passage that

1 follows into English. Compare your translation with the
author's, (seeExerctse Key). LESSON FIFTEEN
l Yoruba
àk(>kúnt ni
Engtish
learned in addition to one's own
(as a second Janguage)
iwQnba afew
akitiyan effort
11 lákõtán ln conclusion
Q pQIQPQ many
1
j õnt wé
láti rç>n.1n
publisber
to be easy
láti $QW'Qn to be scarce
Yorübá g g$bi êdêàk(>kúnt1;1ni
ÀWQD i$6ro t'ó wà nínún kíkQ êdê Yonibá g$g$bí edê

àk(>kúnt ni pQ dí .
Íkínní. Bótil j pé ní báyi-; àwQn ti o gba oyê n.ínú êdê
Yonibá àti bí a $e nkó 9 ti pQ, síb . ó jé ohun i:;;ôro láti ri
àwQn olükó látl k(> êdê Yorubá ní àWQD ilú õkeêrê.
ikéji. Iwonba iwé dí() ló $i wà lóri àt fún kík{> edê
Yonibá g bí êdêàkQkúnt1;1ni.
ikE!lta. OPQlQpQ àwçn olükQ ni ó ní if sí kíkQ iwé Ióriêdê
Yonibá, $il.gb(>n WQn kõ ri õnt wé láti bá w9n gbé e jáde.
ik rtn. Q)ç>lQpQ ohun êlõ ti àwQn olük(> lê lô láti mú
kík(l êdê yirQrün fún àwQn a.k(lkl) ni ó :;;c)wç,n ní àwQn
ile- k(> ti w(>n nk◊ o bí edê àkçkúnt ni.
Lákõtan, Àwa ti a ní ninún kik(> êdê Yorübá g bíêd
ê
àk(lkúnt ni ní il Amérikà àti Yúróõpü níláti $e akitiyan
láti ri i pé a bori âwQn i:;;óro wçmyi:
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON FIFTEEN

204 205
15.1 DIALOGUE
Taye and Yetunde meet at a local market
Táyé. àti Yétúndé pàdé ní 9jà Yetunde, It's been a while. What did
Taye:
Táyé: Yétúndé, kú QjQ m$ta. Kil'o wá rà l'ójà. you come to tlle market to buy?
Yétúndê: Tâyé, ojú t'ó ri e tQ. Mo ní kí n wá ra Yetunde: Taye, It's been quite a long time. I carne to
àwçn nkan patí wa ni. buy some things forour party.
Táyé: Ó dára b e. Morii péo tira iresi Taye: That's good. I see tllat you've bought
àt'elubçi. Àwçn nkan wo l'o tún f$ rà? rice and yam-flour. What otller thíngs
Yétúndé: Mo $i máa ra i$U, ewà, epo, ata, eran do you want to buy?
àt'àwon nkan p miràn. Àh! Yetunde: I still need to buy yams, beans, oil, meat,
Àwçn
· nkan mà wón l'◊Ja yfo. and other little thíngs. Ah!Thíngs are very
Táyê: Eló l'o ra àpõ iresi y1;m? expensive ín this market.
Yétúndé: Àpõ nrurà m$rín. Dàji àpõ elubó tó o ri Taye: How much did you payfor that bagofrice?
yen, àpõ naifa kanabQ ni mo ra a. Yetunde: Four hundred naira. That half a bag ofyam
Táyé: Ah! Dâdi kúkú l'ówó. Igbà yen lo ó lç flour cost one hundred and fúty naira.
Dugb$. lb$ ni mo ti ra àwçn nkan ti mo Taye: Ah! Of course your husband is very rich.
ló nígbà ikómo wa. Whydon't you goto Dugbe? That was where
Yétúndé: Ah, BQyâ ib ni mo $i ma padà lo. I bought all I used forour naming ceremony.
Táyé: Gbogbo i$u ti mo ló, àpõ nrurà m fà ni Yetunde: Ah, perhaps I will end up going there.
moràw(m. Taye: All the yams I used, I bought them for
Yétúndé: n, n. Êló ni w9n nta iwc)n eran níb ? six hundred naira.
Táyé: Màa muelos'QdQ oníbãrà mi. Ole ri Yetunde: En, en. How much is a pound ofmeat there?
eran t'ó dâra rà ní nkan bí àâd(>ta Taye: I will take you to myvendor. You can buy
nâírà iwçn kan. good meat for around fifty naifa per
pound.
Yétúndé: Àh, Táyé, Jçiw() mú mi lçbe. Owómi Yetunde: Ah, Taye, please. take me there. I am almost
ti f$r$ tán. out of money.
Táyé: Àh, Yétúndé, ibo l'o tira léesi tó o Taye: Ah, Yetunde, where did you buy the lace
ló fún ikómQ yen? that youused for the namíng ceremony?
Yétúndé: St(>Q kan ní Jànkara ni mo ti rà a. Yetunde: I bought it ín a store in Jankara.
Táyê: Ó mà dára o. Élôl'o ra Qpá Taye: It was really beautiful, How much was it?
k99kan? Yétúndé: Àpó m tam ta Qpá ni mo Yetunde: I paid three hundred naifa for each
san. yard. Taye: Please, I want to buy that kind.
Táyé: J!)w(l mo f ra'rú r$. Yetunde: That's alríght. When we finish at Dugbe, I
Yétúndê: Kõ burú. TIa bâ ti kúrõ ní Dugbe, a will take you to Jankara to buyit.
á
lQ Jànkara láti 19 rà á.
206
207
15.2 VOCABULARY
15.3 EXPRESSIONS
Yoruba Engllsh Yoru.ba English

pati party gaàrl cassava
à celebratlon dôdô fried ripe plantain
Qdún celebration bià beer
orô custom Qti beer, alcohollc
drink
ikómQ naming wáini wine
ceremony
isinkú bitrial 1;1mu wine (palm
ceremony wine)
isQmQlórúkQ naming õgurç, raphiapalm
ceremony wine
Kérésimesi Christmas ià stale palm wine
Àjinde Easter léesl lace
Qdún Ogún Ogun Festival àd.ire African dyed
cloth
Qdún Eégún Eegun agbâdâ (man's) Iarge
Festival gown
ipàdé meeting dà- long-sleeved
ndógó agbada
mítini meeting dàn íkí wide anned gown
ebà cassava gruel kótô trousers
iresi rice bitbá male or female
garment
àmàlà yamflour iró woman's wrap
lãfún cassava flour ipêlé woman's outer
kQ maize gruel or wrap
iborun
àkàrà bean cake
à bean onilu musician
mQinmQin, bean pudding olórin singer
c)c)l . Qli;llf;l
iyán pounded yam eléwi bard
English
Mo f ràngele (r) yr I like your head tie very
púpc). much.
$é o nf irú r ni? Do you want to buy
that kind?
Mo rà â tôtin àtl iró ni. I bought it along with
thewrap.
AJàyi w9 kóotu àti Ajayi wears coat and a
kôtô. pair of trousers.
Agbâdá pelu bubâ ni Aina wore an agbada
Ainá WQ. with a buba.
$$ ti Olúti fàya. Olu's shirt is tom.
$$ ti alápâ gbQQl"Q ni mo I want to buy a long-
f rà. sleeved shirt.
ô di dandan ki a WQ tãi It is mandatory that we
lQ <;>fiisi wa. IWear a tie to our offlce.
9 ôfi l'a ft igbéyàwó We wore ofl dress for the
nâà. marriage ceremony.
Qk m fà náírà ni It cost six
bQndu thousand naira per
kan. bundle.
Qk m rin náírà ni igàn Each bundle costs four
kQQkan. thousand naira.
Iní filàwo ni êyi? What kind of cap is
this?
Filà abeti-ajá ni. It is a dog-eared cap.
Irú bàtà WOni àWQll êyi"? What kind of shoes are
these?
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON FIFl'EEN

11 208 209
15.4 SEASONS AND TIMES 15.4.3 Months of the Year

1
Toe names of the months are preceded by O$Ü, moon.
1 1
Yoruba measurement systems have Iargely been replaced which is a carryover from the time when the year was
li1 by either English or Arabic ones. However, indigenous
ways persist in some areas.
divided to the number of days between each of the moon's
appearances.
1 Engllsh Yoruba
15. 4.1. Seasons of the Year January 0$Ü kíní 0$ÜU Jánúári
Yoruba land has two main sea.sons, the dry and wet February 0$li kéji 0$ÜU Fébúári
111 seasons. ln the dry season, between December and March O$U kéta 0$UU Mãàsi
February, the ·harmattan blows from the North, bringing April O$U kérin O$Ü Epíriili
dust and lower temperatures. May O$Ü kãrün 0$tiu Mée (agà)
:!IJI June 0$ükéfa 0$üu Júünu
Season Yoruba
wínter igbà otútu July 0$Ü kéje 0$ÜU Júlãi
1
August O$Ü kéjQ 0$ÜU Qg(>(>siti
spring igbàirúwé
September 0$\J késàl b$ÜU S témbà
summer igbàiwQWé
1I
fali October o$ü kéwa 0$ú. Ç)któóbà
igbà ooru
November O$Ü k(lkànla O$Üu Nõf mbà
hannattan igbaQ
December 0$Ü kéjilã 0$ÜU Dis mbà
dryseason igbà QgbE;ll
rainy season igbàójõ 15.4.4 Days of the Week
Toe days of the week have Arabic, English or Christian names.
However, the terms highlighted are the ones ordinarily used and
15. 4.2. Measurement ofTime
understood by ali.
Toe modem system of measuring time is consistent with
the one used in Europe and North America. ln the past, English Yoruba
the appearance or position of the sun in the sky was used Christian OldNames Arabic Common
to estimate the time ofthe day. Sunday Sóndê QjQ Aikú Àláàdi QjQ Qs{:
Monday M9ndê QjQ Ajé Àtiní M(>ndê
English Yoruba English Yoruba
second 1$ÍS Tuesday ílüsidée QjQ ir,; gun Àtàlãtà Túsideê
rweek Ç)S
minute i$ jú month 0$Ü Wednesday IW sidee QjQQ Ríní, Àlàrüba Wésideê
hour rwákàtí year Qdún Thursday rr'ç,sidee QjQ Ãlàmísi ITósideê
day QjQ k\$ $ dáyé
leap year 9dún-lé
Friday Fúrâidee QjQ !; ti JímQQ Fúráideê
Saturday Sátidé QjQ Àbãméta Àsàbuta Sãtidé

210
211
15.4.5 Periods of the Day 15.5 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

Toe traditional division of the day is still popular despite
the adoption ofWestem time systems.
The traditional measurements of weight and distance
lnterval Period were rather arbitrary. The English and, more recently, the
(>g(>nj(> ôru period from around 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. metric system, have since been completely adopted.
ÀkiikQ period between 3 and 4 a.m.
àk{lkQ 15.5.1 Measurement of Length
Àf m(>njú dawn; period between 4 and 6 a.m. Toe terms used forthe measurement of length are:
idáji early moming, period between 5 and 7 English Yoruba English Yoruba
a.m. inch ika meter mítà
ÀárQ period between 7 and 10 a.m. foot es centimeter idá-àpõ mítà
(ÕWÚl'Q) yard Qpâ millimeter idâ-Qk nútà
iyál ta period from 1O a.m. till noon furlong óréré kilometer ôkenútà
Qsán period between noon and 4 p.m. mile máili or ibus◊
ir(>l dusk; period between 4 and 7 p.m.
ài;;ál period between 7 and 11 p.m.
15.5.2 Measurement of Area
Toe general tenn used for the measurement of area is ojú
(surface). For example: 1 square foot is ojú-e kan; 10
square kilometers is ojúu (>kemità m wã.
15.5.3 Measurement of Volume

Toe general tenn used for the measurement of area is àyê.
For example, 2 cubic meters is àye mítà méji; 20 cubic
meters is âye mítà idi mêji or ogún àye mità
15.5.3.1. Other units ofvolume measurement:

English Yoruba English Yoruba
liter lítà gallon gálç<)nu
rrúlliliter ida-ç,k lità barrei àgbâ
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
LESSON FIFTEEN
212 213
15.5.4 Measurement of Weight

Toe tenns used for the measurement of we.ight are
15.6 EXERCISE
adaptations of the English forms. Toe term iWQn, meaning
measure, may precede the unit used: Translate into Yoruba. Compare your translatlon with the
author's {see Exercise Key).
Yoruba English Yoruba
ounce (iwçm) áunsi gram (iwc}n) gráàmu
pound (iwQn) pçmn kilogram (iwçm) Qki;igráàmu
ton (iwçm) milligram (iwçm) ida-l)k
tç,ç,nu gráàmu
The Story of How Tortoise Became
Bald
One day, Tortoise went to visit bis in-laws.

Tortoise met his mother-in-law making a pot ofporridge.
His mother-in-law invited him to dinner but Tortoise
declined, saying he already ate.
While his hosts briefiy stepped out, Tortoise quickly
removed his cap, puta portion ofthe hotporridge into it
and put it back on.
When bis in-laws carne back, he told them he was
leaving, but they urged him to wait a while.
"How is Yanibo, your wife?" bis mother-in-law asked.
"She is alright," Tortoise replied.
"How are your children?" his father-in-law inquired.
"My head is hot," Tortoise screamed.
"You are sweating," the mother-in-law observed. "why
don't you take ofIyou cap?"
"No," Tortoise refused, insisting that hehad to leave.
By then, the heat of the porridge had already burned
bis
scalp.
When Tortoise got home all the hair on his head had
fallen off, leaving a big sore.
When the sore healed, that portion of his head could
not grow hair anymore.
This is the reason why, through today, tortoises are
bald.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON FIFI'EEN

214 215
EXERCISE KEY
BEGINNER'S YORUBA EXERCISE KEY

216 217
LESSON 1
. ... uiz
1.4.3 Q EXERCISE 1.8
Greeting Translation English
Equivalent Yoruba English
I; kú ôwúr9 Greetings for this Good morning OrúkQ mini Qla. My name is Ola.
or E; káãrç,. morning Orúk9 çr mini 1$Qlá. My :friend's name is Isola.
I; kú osán Greetings for this Good afternoon OrúkQ ajá mi ni My dog's name is Sandy.
or E;: káàsân aftemoon Sándi.
I; kú irQ1 or Greetings for this Good evening OrúkQ ilú mi ni iw6. My town's name is Iwo.
f; kúrç,l . evening. Ilú mi tóbi. My town is big.
I; kú al Greetings for this Good evening (after Ajá mi dára. My dog is beautiful.
or I; káal night time dusk)
Skúuhl wa tóbi. Our school is big.
I; kú àbQ or Greetings for coming Welcome Skúitlú. mi jinnà. Our school is faraway.
1; luiàbQ. back.
Emi ni ç,r yin. I am a friend of all of you.
l;kúi$ or Greetings for working Well done Emi ni bàbá n;i. I amyour father.
E kúU$ . hard.
Emi ni iyá Ádé. I amAde's mother.
f; kú idürõ. Greetings for standing e are Bola's friend.
Àwa ni Qr Bçilã.
for a while.
Àwa ni Qr Akin. You are Akin's friend.
f; kú aãjõ. Greetings for your IThank you for your
concern. concern Àwa ni ôbí AyQ. We are Ayo's parents.
ç kú irQjú. Greetings for your
perseverance.
I; kú isimi. Greetings for the period
of rest (vacation).
I; kú itçjú. Greetings for your care.
f; kú Greetings for peparing Have a safe journey
ipal m(>. for a journey.
I; kú Qdún. Greetings for the
celebration.
f; kú 9dún Greetings for Meny Christmas
kérésimesi. the Christmas.
[; kú Qdún Greetings for Id-el-Fitir
iléyá. celebration.

218 219
LESSON 2
EXERCISE 2.6
2.4.2.1 Quiz Yoruba English
AYQ nkQ i$írô. Ayo is studying mathernatics.
Word Morphemes Meaning BQiá nka iwé. Bola is reading a book.
SQrQ SQ: speak; to talk, to say something BQlá ni owó. Bola has (some) money.
◊IV: sentence Délé àti BQlá ní ajá. Dele and Bola have a dog.
lQsíwájú lQ: go; sí: to, to progress Emi ni ti$à yin. I amyour teacher.
iwájú: front OrúkQ mi ni K(>la. My name is Kola.
iléewé ilé: house, school Kole is the Yoruba teacher.
K(>lê ni ti$âa Yorübá.
iwé: books
OrúkQ ajá Ôjó ni Suúru. Ojo's dog's name is Suuru.
ranko ran: flesh animal
oko: farm Mo ri ajá Ojó ní 9jà. I saw Ojo's dog at the
ap ja pa:kill fisherman market.
E;lja: fish Mo ri Délé ní Qjà. I saw Dele at the market.
onílu ni: have; a drumm.er or owner of Dúpé nlQsí skúulu ní Dupe goes to school in Owo.
oní: owner a drum QwQ.
of ilu; drum Délé àti B(>lá nlQ sí skúulu. Dele and Bola are going to
orüre orí; head good luck, fortune school.
ire:
fortune
2.4.3.2 Quiz
S(mdê Sunday Bíbéli Bible
kõkó cocoa áng li Angel
Sátidé saturday SQQ$i Church
d(>là dollar kípà (goal)keeper
pQn-tin pound bíà beer
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
EXERCISE KEY
220 221
LESSON 3 LESSON 4
4.4.1.3
EXERCISE 3.6 Yoruba Adukê nj búrêdi.English
Ajâ ngbó n'ígbó.
Yoruba English -- An$e i$írO. Aduke is eating bread.
Mo f lQ. Iwant togo. LQlá nka iwé. A dog is bark.ing in the forest.
Mo fé SQI'Q. . 1 want to talk. We are doingmath.
Mo féràn (r) . I love you. Lola is rea:ding a book.
Kúnlé f ràn B(>lá. Kunle loves Bola.
Kúnlé ní óun féràn B9lá. Kunle says he loves Bola.
Kúnlé sQ pé óun f ràn Kunle says that he loves 4.4.1.6.Quiz
BQlâ. Bola.
Kúnlé wí pé óun fé lQ. Kunle says that he wants
to leave (go).
A féran Qlçrun. Welove God.
Kúnlé àti BQlá SQpé WQD Kunle and Bola said that
f ran Ql{lrun. they love God. Yoruba English
Kúnlé SQpê ôun mç, mi. Kunle says that he knows Mo wá; mo rí; mo I came; 1 saw; I conquered.
me. $égun.
Mo mó pé AyQ mQ Kúnlé. I know that Ayoknows Bê.dê dê adé Qba. Bade wears the king's crown.
Kunle.
Ôbébu Qb . Obetook some stew.
Kúnlé àti AyQ SQpé w9n Kunle and Ayo said that
Awá nlQ; ó dàbQ. We are leaving; goodbye.
nlQsi skúwu. they were going to school.
Ojó ní ori. Ojohas a head.
Emi àti AyQ fé lç j un. I andAyoaregoing to eat.
ó si ní f'ilà. Healso has a cap.
Kúnlé àti AyQ nj onj . Kunle and Ayo are eating
Emiyóõ lç. 1 will go (or leave).
some food.
Emi yóó IQ rí baba mi. I will go and visit
myfather.
Emi (y)óô SQ fún un. I will tel1 him.
Emiti dél? - 1 have sinned.
Mo ní àyàn- kQ I have three subjects today.
métal'óni:
Olü.kQ-àgbà wa nk(> Our professor teaches well.
wadáadâa.
Bádé ti dê adé Qba. Bade has wom the king's
crown.
- Bê.dê (y)óô dê adê Qba. Bade will wear the king's
Mo rí bàbá wa l'ánã.
crown.
1sawourfather yesterday.
Mà á ri bàbá wa l'óní I will see our father today.
222 223
4.4.2.2 Quiz
4.4.2.9 Quiz
Yoruba English
Yoruba English
Àiná kô me) pe mo ti lQ. Aina did not
know that I Mo ri bàbá wa l'ána I saw our father
yesterday.
already left.
Êmi ô nii ri bàbà wa lóni I will not see our father
A ní k'ó lQ, !;:ú.gbçm kõ lQ. She was asked to go,
today.
she did not go.
Rántí ó níí kçrin ní Q$i. Ranti did not sing in the
A(k)ô SQ fún un pé k'ó lQ. We did not tel1 him togo.
Church.
Êmi (k)ô SQ fún Àiná pé I did not tell Aina that I
Ranti (k.)õ gbàdúrâ si Jésu. Ranti did not pray to Jesus.
moti lQ. hadgone.
Rántí SQ pê ôun (k}ô níi Rantí said that he will not
gbàdúrâ si Jésu. pray to Jesus.
4.4.2.4 Quiz Rántí ó tíi bere sí gbàdúrà sí Ranti has begun to pray
Ql(>run. to Jesus.
Yoruba English
We wil1not go. Kõ nil sQ ibi t'ô 19. He /She wil1 not say where
À wa (k)ô nü lQ.
she went.
Ay ô nil lQ sí skúú.lú. Ayo will not go to that
náà. Mo ti SQ fún un ibi ti mo IQ. I have not told him where I
school. !went.
Emi ô nil ri àbúrõ re. 1 will not see your brother. Dúp nyin àwQn awo re. Dupe is praising her Ifa
Táyé (k)ô níi ra rédiô Taye will not buy the priests.
náa ni $ikãgô. radio in Chicago. Dú (k)ô yin àWQn Dupe did not praise her Ifa
Ajá mi õ níí je búr di. Mydogwill not eat bread. awo r . priests.
Olôgbô mi (k)õ nü My cat will not eat its food. Dúp ó itíi yin àw9n awo r . Dupe has not begun
je onje (r} . to praise her Ha
Bádé kõ dé adé Qba. Bade wil1 not wear the priests.
king•s crown. Dúp SQpeõunó nííyin Dupe said that she wil1
Àwa (k)ô f je un. We do not want to eat. àwQn awo óun. not praise her Ifa priests.
Àwa(k)ô jeun. We did not eat. Babaláwo ní kí Iyàndá ô The Ifa priest told lyanda
rúbQ. to perform a sacrifice.
Bádé lQ. Kó padà. Bade left. He did not
return. iyândá ní ôun (k}õ nü rúbQ. Iyanda said he will not
perform a sacrifice.
Bádé á lQ. Kô nü padiL Bade wil1go, she will not
comeback. iyândá (k)ô rúbQ. Iyanda did not perform the
sacrlfice.
Délé (k)ô kQrin. Délé did not síng.
Délé (k)õi til b r Dele has not started to
síikQrin. sing.

224
225
Délé SQ pé ôun (k)ô nü Dele says that he will not sing. -E-X-E--R-C-
kQrin. I·S-E- 4-.-5-
Mo gb(> ugb(>n mi õ gbà. I heard but I do not accept.
Yoruba English
A be é titi itgb9n kõ Webegged him for quite a
Mà á 19 (sí} $ikágõ l'çtlnla. I will go to Chicago the day
gbà. iwbile but he did not accept.
after tomorrow.
Afi Q fún QlQrun. IWe give thanks to God. Mo lQ (si) $ikâgô l'ê il. Iwent to Chicago last year.
Mi ó gb(>, mi ô si gbà. I didnot listen. I wi11not Mo lQ (SJ1 Níú YQ Qki. I want togo to New York.
accept. Mo wQ QkQ ay9kél 19 (sí) I went in a car to Dallas.
Dáláàsi.
Délé WQ QkQ ófúrufú lQ (sí) Dele went by plane to
Jêpáàml. Japan.
Mo f(l IQ tajà ní ikágó l'(>la. 1 want to go and sell some
goods in Chicago tomo.rrow.
Mo WQ QkQ ojú irin lQ (511 I went to Chicago by train.
$ikágô.
Mo mo pê QkQ ojú irin ni I knew that Teni took the
TéniWQ. train.
Mo ti padà. I have returned.
Mo ti padà láti $ikágó. I have come backfrom
Chicago.

226
227
LESSON 5: EXERCISE 5.6

5.4.2.7 Quiz Yoruba English
Yoruba English Kiniún ni Qba gbogbo rrhe lion is the king of all
eranko. animais.
J<)w(>, j$ki àbúrõ re wá. Please. let your brother
come. Mo m◊ wípé ejõ j$ eranko I know that the snake is a
ó ye kí n jeuri. búburú. dangerous animal.
I should eat.
JQw{I, mo f lQ (si) ilé. Please, I want togo home. Mo gbQ pé erin j eranko I heard that the elephant is
nlá. a biganimal.
iWQ kibá má tii fún IYou should not have given
un l'ówó náà. him the money. Mo kà á wípé àWQn eja ní I read that fishes have scales.
Mo ( )i ní owó dí . Istill have some money. ip .
IwQ ibá ti SQ fún un. Mo SQ pé mà á IQ (si) I said that l will go to
You should have told him.
$ikágô. Chicago.
iwçkibá má tii lQ. You should not have gone.
iwçibá ti sç fún gb(m Youshould have told BQlá ní ajá kan. Bola has a dog.
BQlá SQ pé ôun ní ajá kan. Bola sais she has a dog.
n;i. your brother.
Êmi lê jõ. iWQ lê I can dance, you can sing. Mo gbó (wí)pé BQlá ní ajá I heard that Bola has a dog.
kçrin. kan.
J\jáa B(lláj$ eranko j j .Bola's dog is a gentle
animal.
5.4.4.4 Quiz Mo gbQ (wí)pé BQlá ní ajá I heard that Bola has a gentle
Yoruba English j j . dog.
Mo ( )i máalówõ. I will still become rich. LQlá kígbe pé õun ri ejó. Lola shouted that she say a
J k.í àWQn êniyàn mi .Letmy people go. snake.
lQ Mo ri i pé ajá Ôjó j I see (it) that Ojo's dog is a
Olóluf mi,gbç, temi. Mylover, llsten to me. çranko li j . gentle animal.
J$k'áj9 jó. Letusdance.
Máparuwo. Do not make a noise.
JQw(>. fún mi l"ówó. Please, give me some
money.
JQWQ. máa lQ. Please, go away.
JçwQ, farabal . IPlease take it easy.
Múra s'í . ◊ mi. IWork hard, myfiiend.
Múra sí kó - Study hard (or Face
your studies).

228 229
LESSON 6 LESSON 7
EXE R -C- -I S-
- · - .
7.4.6.2 Quiz:
-E 6- .-6-
Yoruba English
Agogo mélõ ru? What time is it?

Agogo m rin ni. It is four o'clock.
Agogo méje ru. It is seven o·ctock.
Dúp wQ a$Q n). Dupe wears her dress.
Dúpó wQ a$Q skúulu ri':. Dupe wears her school
uniform.
ÓwQbàtàre. Sheputs on hershoes.
Ódêfilàa r . She puts on her cap.
AyQ WQ 9õkõtô r . Ayo puts on bis pants.
ÔWQ $é f)Ü rf). Heput on his shirt.
AyQ ní aago-QWQ. Ayo has a wristwatch.
Màma Dúp$ fQ a$Q skúitlu â;. Dupe's mother
washes her school
dress.
Ó sâ a sí oôrün. She spreads_ it in the sun.
Mima AyQ n1Q àWQn al? Q ilê- IAyo's mother irons his
iwê r . schoolclothes.
Tí Dúpé WQ aago-QW(> àti Dupe's teacher wears a
õruka. wrist-watch and a ring.
Tíl?à Ayç ní kóôtü kan. Ayo's teacher has a coat.
Yoruba
sixthplace ibi k fà
seventh number êêkà kêje
eighth person <:ni k jQ
fifteentb position ipô .kárimdínlógún tàbí ipô
ikô idi kan lé kan
seventieth man Qkunrin ikâãdôrin tàbí
Qkünrin ikó idi méje
one hundred and forty- QmQ ikápô kan. àt'idi
first child m$rln lé kan
one thousand and fifteenth máili ikQk kan, ãt'idi
mile kan l'árin
ninety-seventh time ?;ri; ikétàdínláidQrintàbí
eri; ikó idi m$sin t• éje

230 231
LESSON 8
EXERCISE 7.6
Yoruba English EXERCISE 8.5
Màma B(>lá nse Qb . Bola's mother is making Yoruba English
some stew. Q mi ní ilé. IMY &iend has_ _!louse.
Màma Bçlá nse Qbê êf◊. Bola's mother is making QJi! mini ilékansí ilu My &iend has a house in bis
BQlá nse i$U. O f gún i$u.

vegetable stew.
Bola is cooking yams. She
I WQll. I hometown.
!Toe house is very beautiful.
IDénáà dára púpQ.
rwants to pound the yams.
[óI ni yàrâ púp<).
Màma BQlá ra àwçn ohun- Bola's mother
êlô Qbê. bought ingredients l lt
I t has many rooms.
for soup. has a large parlor

Màma Bçlá ra eran, ata àti Bola's mother bought Ilé náà ní pálQ nlá àti anda spacious kitchen. .
àltib9sà. meet, pepper, and
onions.
Ikí$ini t'ó tóbi.
Yàrá <)r mi ní béêdi nlá. My fiiend's room has a big
bed.
Mâma B{>lá ní epo àti iy<) ní Bola's mother has oil and
PálQ rê si ní tl;!lifi$Qnti àti His living room also has a
ilê. salt at home.
rédíõ. television anda radio.
Bàba B(>lá féran Qb fQ. Bola's father loves
I
vegetable stew. Sófà méji l'ó wàní pálc}
There are two sofas in the
I
náà. living room.
BQlá f ran in;lsi àt'eran. Bola likes rlce and meat.
Màma B(>lá nro êbà fún B(>lá. Bola's mother is fixing IK◊lá nk(>lé kan sí Êkó. le isbuilding a
eba for Bola. house in
Lagos. --------
Arábirin BQlá nse nv si. Bola's sister is cooking some
IDalájà méérln ni. ilt iS a four-story
rlce.
house.
Màma BQlã f$ran àmàlà. Bola mother loves amala.
lllé náà dàbi ààfin Qba. The house looks like a
I king's palace.
lnê Bàbá mi wá ní Êkõ. My father's house is in Lagos.
232 233
LESSON9 5 Proverb ogun àgbótél kiip'arQ.

rrranslation A previously announced battle does not
9.5.l. Quiz kill the lame person.
Equivalent Make hay while the sun sbines.
1 Proverb Bí igí bá wó lu igi, t'ôkê ni à nkQ gé.
Use To express taking action at the
Translation Jf one tree falls on another, the one on
appropriate time.
top is the frrst removed.
Equivalent First things first. 6 Proverb Süúrit ni baba iwà.
tfranslation Patience is the father of character.
Use When deciding what comes first in a
· list of things to do. Equivalent Patience conquers all.
Use When urging someone to be patient.
2 Proverb ijáfara l'éwu.
rrranslation Procrastination can be dangerous.
Equivalent Procrastination is the thief of time.
Use Wben one should do something
immediately and not postpone an
action.
3
Proverb :§ó t'ó bá burú ni à nmQ eni t'ó fé'ni
rrranslation •.
A person knows who his friends are on
the day misfortune befalls him.
Equivalent
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Use
IWben a friend comes in time of need.
4 overb Aküt'ojú ogun w• fQn.
ITranslation One does not begin to seareh for arrows
upon getting to the battlefield.
Equivalent A stitch in time saves nine.
Use When one should something
immediately.

234 235
LESSON 10
EXERCISE 9.6
Yoruba Engl.ish EXERCISE 10.6
Büs{)lá $e idánwõ. Busola had an examination.
1Idiom lãti wà ni àár<) Qjó.
Busólá gbó êsi idánwó rê.Busola receives the results
of her exams. TranslationTobe in the moming time of the day. Equivalent To be
Büs◊lá yege nínun idánwô Busola passed Circumstance At the time when one is full of vigor.
r. her examination.
Idiomláti $e àyàgbààgbà.
DàPQ ku.nà nínun idánwõ Dapo failed his examination. rrranslation!I'o expand one's chest.
r. Equivalentrt'o have the audacity to (do
Inúun Bus(>lá dun. Busola is happy. something).
Bús◊lá nyç. Busola is jubilant. Circumstance One rushes to do something without considering
Olóríire ni àwc;m óbi Bus(>lá. Busola's parents are lucky ldiom Láti fún ik.a mQ nkan. ífranslationTo hold tightly unto som
people. Circumstance One refuses to share with others.
ÀWQn ôbi Büsç,lã dú Busola's parents thanked
God.
IdiomLáti kQhin si êniyàn. Translation Toturn one's back to a p
lówó Ql◊run. Circumstance When one tries to avoid another
DàpQ gbàdúrà sí Ql(>run. Dapo prayed to God. person.
Q lórun gbó àdúrà DàPQ. God heard Dapo's prayers.
Dàpó $e idânwó miràn. Dapo did another
examination.
DàPQ gba ibu.kún Ql9run. Dapo receíved God's blessing.
Dàpó yege nínún idánwõ Dapo passed the new
titun. examination.
Inúu DàPQ àti ti Bu.sçlã Dàpo and Busola are happy.
ndôn.

236
237
5 Idiom Lãti j e1 nu méji. 9 ldiom Lãti fi ogun dí ogun.

ITranslation To have two mouths. :franslation Tofight a war in retaliation for a
Equivalent To be duplicitous. war.
Equivalent To take a revenge.
1
Circumstance When one is deceitful.

Circumstance When one seeks a retaliation for
6 Idiom Lãti gbé idi fún êniyàn.
an offense committed.
(franslation rrolift the buttocks (stand up frorn a
chair) for sorneone. 10 ldiom Láti fi ojú si (nkan).
Equivalent !To be ful1 of admiration for Translation To put one's eyes into (sometbing).
someone. Equivalent To pay attention to (some issue).
Circumstance When someone does something Circumstance When one needs to be
extraordinary. more attentive to (an
7 Idiom Lãti ta ipá sí (nkan). issue).
ITranslation To kick against (an issue).
Equivalent !To treat someone or something
with disdain.
Circumstance To show a Jack of respect for
(someone or something).
8 ldiom Uti nas .

ITranslation To stretch the Iegs.
Equivalent Togo fora walk.
Circumstance Wben one tales a brief walk for
IJ'elaxation.

238 239
LESSON 11
LESSON 12
EXERCISE 11.6
Yoruba English
EXERCISE 12.6
Kini mo ní ti w◊n ní [What do I have that people
mo ni ànijti? Yoruba English
complain that I have too much?
Erin j 1;;tranko nlá Toe elephant is a very huge
Nínún níní ni a nní kí It is when we have that we
rabata. animal.
ni ti kõ ní ní. pray for others to have too.
Bí erin bá lQ n 'ibi kan, If an elephant passes through
Mo ni, "mo ní Jésti. Kõ I said. "I have Jesus." Be wil1not
ni'jó kan, ib á d'Qnà. a place one day, such a place
níí j$kí n di alá,iní." let me become poor. becomes a road.
Aláiní l'ó ní eru t'ó ní lt is an impoverished person Ifhismother {later) passes
Bi iyá r bákQjá n 'ib
kõ ní j$kí oun ní. that says that those that have through there the second day,
ní'j(, kéji, ib á d'ôde
wi1l not let him have. gba-ngba. it becomes a boulevard.
Jésti ní "ní QWQ (;;tni tí Jesus said, "Itis from the hands
Erin l'óri, !;,UgbQn kô Toe elephant has a head but
(k)õ ní l'a ti máa gbà of those that do not have that l'Qrün. no neck.
fún em t'ó ní." we wil1take and give to those
Âtàri àjàn9kú* kii !;,C Toe head of the elephant is
that have." too big a load for a child to
(;;trii fún 9mQdé.
l;ni ti õ ní, Ql(>run j$kí Be that does not have, may the carry.
ó ní.l;.ni t'ó ní, k'ó máa Lord let him have. He who has,
ní sí i. Erin ní QWQ kan, ó bi Toe elephant has one hand
let him continue to have more. anduses it to fell a palm tree.
Q WÓ.
Niigbà ti mo bá ní, ma Whatever I have, I wil1 use my
ibá ní QWQ méji, á fa If it had two hands, he would
a fi níní mi yin Qlçrun. rlches to glorlfy God.
ç,run ya bí a$Q. tear down the sky like a cloth.
l;.ni t'o ni, k'ó má fi $e He who has, let himnot'use bis
igbéraga. rlches proudly.
o t'ó ni ôun óôp'erin, Toe hunter whosays he wants
ó nfiikú $Crê. to kill an elephant is toying
çni ti kõ ní, k'ó má He that does not have, let him with death.
SQ iretí Iltl. not lose hope.
Erin ní, ..bi o bá mQ ikú Toe elephant says (tothe
Igbàti ô rúbQ tán, ni ó After bis sacrlfice, he began to hunter), "If you know what
ewúr . padâl'$hin mi."
wá b r sííní. prosper. death befalls goats, leave me
ó ní ti õun bá ní, õun He said if he ever becomes rich, alone."
á fi níní óun yin he wil1 use his riches for God's ÂjànQkú wo hin tik◊ bí Toe elephant looks back like a
Ql(>run. glory. ni Qrün ndün. person with a neck, pain.
Bi mo bá ní, Ql(,run l'ó If I have, it is because God àjànQkú*: another name for the elephant
ní kí n ní. rwants me to become rich.

240
241
LESSON 13
EXERCISE 13.6
13.4.4. Quiz:
Yoruba English
Yoruba English
Àpô wà jábQ. Ó ró gbi A bag of beans fell to the Wàá gbó. You will live long.
n'ill}. ound. sounding ..gbi". Wà á tQ. You will last long.
Kiniún nâà bú Thelion roared, sound.ing O ô ní j gbígbóná. You will not live a hot
ramúramü.. "ramúramü". (troubled} life.
ibçm kékeré náà dún The little gun sounded Ilé kô ní lé Q. You will not be ejected
gbàü.. "gbau". from your house.
Iyawó r rihmús n. Biswife smiled Aàfm r kó ní kç, Q. Your palace will not reject
"m n". you.
,----
QmQ náà r$:rm kéêkéê. The child laughed Çnà kõ ní nà Q. Nothing will hinder your
"kéêkéê". freedom of movement.
Bàbá Ôjó runi fiin. Ojo•s father is breathing Eyí ti ô nrõ á fin. Whatever your plans, they
heavily. sounding "f'rln". wil1succeed.
Ikú kô ní fi ilé r s'Qnà. Death will not pass
through your house.
Ariln kõ ní gbé Q dê. Disease will not lay you
low.
Eléêgbé Qrun ko ní gbé Death's angel wlll not take
Q l'(>mQ lQ. your children away.
O kõ ní ri ibi "wá gbà'jl;l. You will never suffer the
bí ran. humiliation of being called
to "come and eat food."
like an animal.
Ojú kõ ní f◊ mó 9 l'óri. Your eye wil1 not suffer
blindness.
QmQ kô ní kú mó Q l'ójú. No child of yours wil1
:vanish from your sight.

242
243
Yoruba Engllsh LESSON 14

Ayá kô níi yà Q. Your wives will not desert
you. 14.4.2.1 Quiz
Àlõgbó, àlõtQ ni ológbõ A cat's fur lasts tilloldage. Yoruba English
nlo a$Q. Lola has two children, Tayo
LQlá ni Q mQ méji, Táyc) àti
Àlõgbó, àlõtQ ni iwQ yóó So shall you enjoy luck till Kiké. and Kike.
loorire. youbecome old.
Àt'ori r . àt'es r . Both the head and the
êminimo ni gbogbo r . feet, 1 own ali of it. (1
own it lock, stock,
andbarrei).
TQkàn, t'ara ni mofi f ràn re. 1love you with both my
heart and my body (l
love you with ali my
heart).
Kúnlé àti BQlá SQ pé WQn Kunle and Bola said that
fóràn QlQrun. they love God.
Kúnlé àti AyQ SQ pé WQB nlQ Kunle and Ayo said that
ilé-iwé. they were going to school.
Emi àti AyQ fé lQ wo sinimá. I andAyo are going to see
amovie.

244
245
14.4.6.1 Quiz
14.4.9.2 Quiz
Yoru.ba Engllsh
Yoru.ba English
Bí kó bá nídi;' iyàwó r kó If there was no reason, bis
Nítori aditi ni ójó $e 0n account of the deaf, the
ní bínú. wife would not be ang:ry. D$Ú-
clouds gather.
Bí mo $é, bí rrú ó $é, ç,gá mi Whether I do it or I don•t do f--
á bá rrú wí. Nítori af(,jú ni õjó $e On account of the blind,

it. my master wil1 scold me. nlru. the rain threatens.
Bía $e w9$QQ$i, ni a ri As we came into the church,
Mà âlQ, $Ílgb9n mà á I will go, but I will come
àlú.fáà. twe saw the prlest. padà. back.
Bímo $e dé ilé ní mo gbQ As soon a I got home, I heard f--
Mo gbQ, $UgbQn mi ó I heard, but I do not accept.
ikú bàbá Àjàní. about Ajani's father's death. gbà.
B'ó lQ• bí (k)ô lo' WQ n á [Whether or not he goes, he o l'ójú, $UgbQD o (k)ô You have eyes, but you
fi iyàj - will bepuníshed. lê riran. cannot see.
Bi mo $C njâde n'ile, ni As I was leaving my house, Bótil jçpé o l'ójú, o Although you have eyes,
mo bâ obinrin wà kan I met one beautiful lady. (k)ô lê riran. you cannot see.
pàdé
Bí Ql◊nm bá f . mà a If Godwants, I will be rich.
14.5.3.1 Quiz
lówó
Yoruba English
ó gbQn bí Ifá. Heis as wise as Ifa.
MQ$álá$Í WQD wà l'çnà ITbeir mosque is on
Akê. the way to Aké.
ó ngbé l' bãõdô Hetives near a river.
ó nkoja l'ójúde ààfin He passes outside the
9ba. king's palace.
Ó nlQ ilé-iwé ní ilu wa. He goes to school in our
town.
Ó wá láti ipínl Ondó. He comes from Ondo
State.
Kanô wà l'ókê Odô Qya. Kano is up the River
Niger.

246
247
EXERCISE 14.6
LESSON 15
Yorübá gégébí êdê àkQkúnteni
Yoruba as a Second Language
EXERCISE15.6
Àwçn i ro t'ówànínún kíkQ edê Yonibá gégébíedê
àkQkúnteni pQ diE). The Story of HowTortoise Became
Bald
The difficulties e:dsting in learning Yoruba as a
itãn bí ijàpá f?C pá l'óri
second language are many.
Ikínní. Bótil jépé ní báyf, àwQn ti o gba oyê nmú êdê IOne day, To toise went to visit his in-laws.
Ni Qj(> kan, Ijàpá I<;> kí âWQn âna r .
Yonibá àti bí a f?e nkQ Q ti pQ, síb . ó jé ounif?ôro láti ri
àwçn oluk(> láti k(> edê Yonibá ní àwQn ilú õkêêrê.
l
!ortoise met his mother-in-law making a pot ofporrídge.
First: Although there are presently many people with Ijâpá bá iyá aya ri} nibití ó ti nro W?áró.
degrees in Yoruba language and how it is taught. it is His mother-in-law invited him to dinner but Tortoise
difflcult to f"md teachers to teach Yoruba in distant declined, saying he already ate.
lands. iyã aya ri) pe ijàpá ki ó wá bá wQnje un $Ügb{>n ijàpá
kQ. ó ní õun tijeun t lf).
Ikéji. iwçmba iwé dí ló !;ii wà lórí àtE;i fún kik:9 êdê Yonibá
gé bí êdêàkQkúnteni. While his hosts briefly stepped out, Tortoise quick.Iy
Second: There are presently only a few books available removed his cap, puta portion ofthe hotporridge into
for teaching Yoruba as a second language. it and put it back on.
Bí àwQn âna ijapá $e jáde sí•ta, ijàpá yára b(> filà ri}, ó
ikéta. OP◊l◊PQ àwon oluk(> ni ó ní if si kík:Q iwé lóríêdê bu áró ghígbónâ si inún re. Ó si dé e pada.
Yonibá, $Ugb(m WQil kô ri ônt wé láti bá WQn gbé e jáde.
When his in-laws carne back, he told them he was leaving,
Third: A lot of teachers would love to write books on
but they urged him to wait a while.
Yoruba. but they cannot find publishers to help them.
igbà ti àwQn âna ri) padà. ô SQ fún wQn pé ôun f máa
lkérin. ÇpçlQPQ ohun êlõ ti àwQn oltikQ lê lô láti múkik:Q l2_, 1!_1º>ón wón be kí ó dúró díe.
edê yf rç,nin fün àwQn akék<) ni ó $QWQn ní àwQn ile- kQ
ti wQn nk(> Q bí êdê àk(>kúnteni.
"How is Yanibo, your wife?" bis mother-in-law asked.
l ..Yânibo, iyàwó r nkç,?" iyá aya rey béêrê.
Fourth: Much of the equipment that teachers need to
facilitate teaching this language are scarce in those " he is alright," Tortoise replied.
schools where Yoruba is taught asa second l "Aláfià l'õ wà,.. ijàpá dâhün.
language. " ow areyour child.re.. n?" bis father-in-law inquired.
Lákõtan, Àwa ti a ní if nmún kíkQ êdê Yonibá gégébí l "AwQn QmQ yín nk(,'?" bàbâ aya r bi i.
êdê àkQkúnteni ní il Améríkà àti Yúróõpu niláti $e "My head is hot," Tortoise screamed.
akítiyan láti rí i pé a borí âwQn i$ôro wçmyi. "Ori mi gbóná!" ijàpá kígbe.
ln conclusion, those of uswhohave interest ln "You are sweating," the mother-in-law observed. "why
teaching Yoruba as a second language in America and don't you take offyou cap?"
Europe must endeavor to see that we overcome these "O nlàágün." iyá ai r $C ãkíyêsi. "O ô $e bQ filà rç?"
difficulties.

248
249
MNo, Tortoise refused, insisting that he hadto leave.

By then, the heat ofthe porridge had already burned
bis scalp.
"Rárá... ijàpá takú, ó ni dandan, ôun niláti lQ. Ni igbà
GLOSSARY ENGLISH-YORUBA
yi; igbóna à.$áró ti bó ori r .
When Tortoise got home ali the hair on bis head had
fallen off, leaving a big sore.
re
igbã ti ijàpã délê, gbogbo irun ori ti re bQ. Ô wá ku
egbõ n1á.
When the sare healed, that portion of bis head could not
grow hair anymore.
igt,à ti egbõ ibi ori r jiná tán, ori ijàpã kõ lê hu inm
mç,.
This is the reason why, through today, Tortoises are bald.
idíre ni êyi ti ijàpá fi pál'órl tititi ófidiõni.
BEGINNER'S YORUBA GLOSSARY ENGLISH-YORUBA

251
"
250
ENLISH YORUBA LESSON

accountancy ek(> i iró-owó 10
accountant a iró-owó 10
Africa Áfirikà, ne -Ãfiríkà 6
African dyed cloth àdir 15
aftemoon Qsán 3
algebra Qljíbirà,ekó i írô-àmi 3
ali gbogbo 12
ambassador ai;;ojú. àmbás dQ 9
America Amérikà 6
and àti 4
animal (;)ranko 8
answer êsi, idáhi:m 9
appllcation iwê-ibewe, aplikê Qn 9
apply àplái 9
Arabic script kéú, kêwú 12
ann apá 2
Asia }¾íà 6
attain independence gbaóminira 6
awake jí 1
bachelor bái;;él◊ 7
bali bç,Qlü. 8
baptismal name oníkQ isàmi 2
bard eléwi 15
basketball básíkéti bç,«}lü. 8
be familiar mQra 7
bean ewà 15
bean cake àkàrà 15
BEGINNER'S YORUBA GLOSSARY ENGLISH-YORUBA

252 253
bean pudding QQl , Ql Ie,111Qínm{>ín 15 1 celebration Qdún 15

beautiful dáradára 12 central processing QpQlQ- kç,mpútà 10
become free gbaóminira 11 unit
beer, alcoholic drink Qti, bíà 15 century c}rún-dún 4
better (than) láti sàn Ou), lati b t.à Ou) 15 chemistry ek(l-elà, kémístiri 3
biology kQ da-oníyê, bàQlQji 3 Chicago $ikágó 2
bird 8 chief ijóyê, olóye 13
biscuit bisikilti 7 child QlllQ 1
bishop bí$QQbti 12 cholera onigbameji 14
black dúdú 6 Christrnas Kérésimesi 15
book iwé 9 church $QQ$i 12
brass worker oníd 13 cinema ilé-iran,sinimá 5
bread búrédi 7 city ilú-nlá 5
bribe owó-ehin, ribâ 11 class ilé-ikQw kíláàsi, 13
burial ceremony isinkú 15 clinic àgQ-iwósàn 14
bus bQQSi 15 cloth a$Q 5
business ówó, bísínéesi 10 1
cold tútu 12
business place ilée$é 11 come wá 1,2
business studies E}kQ nípa ówô, E}kQ i wõ, 10 comeback dé,b<) 1,2
businessman oní$6wó 4 company ilée$é, kç,mpini 10
1
but àmQ, $ugbçm 4 1
competition eré-ije 8
butter bQtà 7 1 computer keybooard ika-kQmpútà 10
1
buy (goods) rajà 4 computer IQ-i$írô,kQmpútà 10
buying on credit iràwin 10 compute:r disc awo-k()mpútà 10
byte ikin-kc}mpútà 10 computer language edee- kçimpútà 10
computer screen agbóji- kõmpútà 10
cough ikQ 14
capital for business owó-ôwó 11 n
craftsman oní$é·QWQ 10
car kâà 4 crawling bug kõkõró 6
carver Ql(lnà 13 crowned king Qba-aládé 13
cassava flour láfún 15 cry ké 2
cassava gruel ebà 15 cubic (volume) iwçm-àye 4
cathedral kátídráàli 12
BEGINNER'S YORUBA 11 , GLOSSARY ENGLISH-YORUBA

254 1 •
255
custom oró 15 fann oko 13

cycling k k -gígtin 8 1 1 fann settlement iletó 13
.'
dark, black dúdú 12 father baba 1
dawn àf mQjú 4 fee for land il;lâkQlfJ 11
ear
day eti
QjQ 2
4,7 football
fee for service futubQQlti
ç,yà 811
Easter
debt Àjínde
igbesê 15
10 force
feet ipá
iw<)n- sê 49
eat
dining hall j
ilé-onj 2
5 forest
fever igbó
ibà 4
14
economics
doctor êkó etó-QJ"Q,
ODÍ!;iêgun, kQnQmíikisi
dókítà 3
3,14 freedom
field õminira
c;,dàn-i eré. pápâ-i ré, fildi 511
Eegun Festival
donnitory Qdún
ilé-isun,Eégún
d{mútiri 515 fried ripe plantain
fish dódõ
ja 15
8
embassy
dusk ilê-ai}ojú, mbási 9
3 friend
food Q
onj 2
7
à ál
engage busíness wõ 9 furlong
foot Qrêré
SfJ 4
England hú-Oyinbó 6
English Íngíliil;,i 3
1
enormous gQbQyi 12 gameofayo eré-ayó 8

envelope àpõówé 9 geography êk◊ il -ayé 3
Europe Yúróõpti 6 geometzy êkQ il -wíwçm 3
li
evening play eré-ó tipá 8 genns êyà-afàisàn 14
evil, bad búbuní, buníkú 12 Ghana D Àgànyin, Gánà 6
examination idánwõ 6 give fún 1
expenditure owó-jíjáde 11 give birth bi 1
export (goods) taJà-sókeerê 4 given name oníkQ abíSQ 1
eye ojú 2,6 go IQ 2
God QI(>nm 1
face ojú, iwá-ojú 6 god of healíng çsányin 14
factory ilé-il;,QPQ 11 golf g(><)fü 8
maize gruel k9 15
BEGINNER'S YORUBA Ili · GLOSSARY ENGLISH-YORUBA

256
'
f
j 257
happiness ay9, idün-nú 1,3 Iagoon Qsa 6

happiness inú-dídün 3 land il 6
Hausa language edê Hatisá 1 leapyear Qdún-lé 4
have ní 2 learn k$k(> 3
head orí 2 leg ire 2
here níbí 5 leprosy t 14
highjump ifõ 8 letter l tà 9
history k{> itàn-àkQQlf) 3 library láfürári 5
bole ihô 6 liter lítà 4
!
hookwonn jàgbàyà 14 London Ílú-Qba, LQ-ndc;mu 6
horseplay eré-ipá, erê-lile 8 long-sleeved agbada dà-ndógó 7
hospital ilé-iwõsàn, QSipíti.t 14 love if$ 3
1
hour wákàti 15
house ilê 2
house rent owó-ilé 11 I■ man's large gown agbádá 15
male/female gannent btibá 15
married woman adélébQ 7
1
Ibo language êdêe Íbô 1 market Qjà 4
import (goods) rajà-lókêêre 4 Mary Màríà 12
important. big nlá, pàtàki 12 mathematics i$író 3
income OWÓ-WÍWQlé 11 measurement iwçm 4
infection ikáritn 14 medical practitioner dókità 14
intercourse (sexual} eré-QmQ 8 medicine oõgun 14
interview (someone) ãti b (êniyàn} wõ 1 \ meet bãrapàdé, míiti 4
interview ib ô 10 meeting ipàdé, mítini 15
midwife agbêbí 14
míle ibus◊, máili 4
javelin
Jesus
QkQ·SÍSQ
Jésu
8
12 li minute
Mohammed
money
i$ jú
Mçmrrn)n, M<)çm◊du
OWÓ
4
12
2
month 0$Ü 4,7
king 9ba 13 I ■ 1
BEGINNER'S YORUBA GWSSARYENGLISH-YORUBA

258 259
morning
mother
mouth
much, many
muddy ground
àárQ
iyá
nu
púpQ
TQÍQ
3
1
2
12
6
' threepence
penny
physics
pit
plan
tQrQ
kQbQ
kQ dá, fisükisi
kôtô
êrô, pláàmi
6
7
3
6
6
museum ilé-Qnà, musíçmu 5 plan perô, pláànu 6
music eré-orin 8 plane QkQ-ôfúrufú 4
musician onílu 8 plane pléêni 5
Please çdâkun, E; jQWQ 7
pope póôpü 12
Naira Náirà 7 post office ófiisi-onil tà, posófüsi 9
naming ceremony ikómQ, iSQlllQlórúkQ 15 postman apínl tà 9
native medicine man babaláwo 14 pound p(>un 7
nearby itôsí 7 poundedyam iyán 15
neighborhood àdúgbô, àg1)eêg)Jê, érià 7 power ig)Jóra 9
new titun tuntun 12 prepared múra 14
NigerRiver ÓdôQya 6 priest àlufáâ 12
Nigeria Nâijíríâ 6 Professor <)j<)gb(>n 1
Nigerian QillQ Nâijíríà, Nâijá 6 progress lQsíwájú 2
nightfall irQl 3 projectile ôkô 8
no b k◊, Ó ti, rárá 7
nurse olut(>jú-aláisân, nóõsi 14
·- railway (train)
raphia paJm wine
réluwéê
õgur<)
5
15
l;I
office ófüsi 11 read (abook) kàwê 3
over there l(>hln 5 red pupa 6
religion sin, ig)Jãgb(>. rilíji◊nu 3
religious studies kó nípa ig)Jàgb◊ 3
palmwine mu 13 reply êsi, riplái 9
1
Pardonme çjQWQ 7 response esi, idáhim 9
park 9gbà-i$eré, páàki 7 Tice ir si 15
party patí 15
passport iwê-irõkêêrê, pásípççtu 9
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
·1 GLOSSARY ENGLISH-YORUBA
260 li 261
salary owó-o ü. sálári 11

say (that) IlÍ, SQ(pé} 1 tax owó-õde, owó-orí 11
school beyond ilé- kQgiga 1 teach k(> (êniyàn), tfi$i 3
high school teacher ohik{>, ti$à 1
schoolchild QJJJQ ilé-iwé 1 telephone t lifóónü 7
sea õkun 6 television t lifi$QDÜ 7
second isise 4 tennis t nilsi 8
sedan Qk9-ay(>k l 4 thankfulness Q 1
see ri 1,2 then igbànáà 5
sell (goods) tajà 4 there níbe 5
selling on credit itàwin 10 time àkókõ 4
senior teacher olük(>-àgbà 1 timepiece, time aago 7
shilling $ilê 6 title oyê 1
shoe bàtà 7 train QkQ ojú-irín, tréêni 4,5
shop ilé-itajà, $QQbü 4 training for a craft ilc{>s . tiréni 11
shotput õkõ-jíjü 8 transport vehicle QkQ-akérõ 4
singer olórin 6 trousers kõtõ 15
sixpence sísi 6 truck QkQ- ak rü 4
11
sleep sün 2 tuberculosis j$dc}j$dQ 14
small kékeré 2 1 typhoid fever jl}funjefun 14
]
smallpox Qpc;,nâ 14
soccer sç,kà, bQQlü 8
sports eré-idârayá 8 village abúlé 13
stage play eré orí-itàgé 8 village head Ql{>jà 13
stale pahn wine i$à 15 ' virgin wúndíá 7
stamp õõte -l tà, stámpü 9 visa iwé-iwQlé, fisà 9
stomach ikün 2 vitamin ajíra 14
store st(>Q 4
street àdúgbõ 7
,. student ak ki:, 1 wage OWÓ-i$$ 11
subject sçbuj eti 10 1 wealth 9lá 1
suma.me orúkQ idilé 2 1
week QS 4
swimming ilüwe 8 well kànga 6
j
1
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
262 263
when (question) igbàwo 5

when {statement) igbàti 5
White funfun 12
til GLOSSARY YORUBA-ENGLISH
wide-armed gown dàn íkí 15
wine wáini 13
with lú 5
woman's wrap iró 15
woman·s ouier iborun 15
wrap
woman's outer ipêlé 15
wrap
wrestling gicligbó. iJeke 8
yam.flour àmàlà 15
yard Qpá, yáàdi 4
year Qdún 7
yes,madame simà 9
yes b ni 7
yes, Sir b (mi sà, sà 9
Yoruba Ianguage êdeeYorubá 1
BEGINNER'S YORUBA GLOSSARY YORUBA-ENGLISH

264 265
GLOSSARY YORUBA -ENGLISH
YORUBA ENGLISB LESSON

aago timepiece, time 7
àárQ morning 3
abúlé village 13
adélébQ maried woman 7
àdirf;l African dyed cloth 15
àdúgbõ street 7
àf mQjú dawn 4
Áfuikà Afiica 6
agbára energy 9
agbêbí midwife 14
agbôji-kc}mpútà computer screen 10
àg9-iwôsàn clinic 14
ahón tongue 2
Àjínde Easter 15
ajíra vitamin 14
àkàrà beancake 15
akéwi bani 15
ak$k(> student 1
àkókó time 4
aláwo native medicine man 14
àhlfáà priest 12
àmbâs dQ ambassador 3
Arneyrikà America 6
àmQ but 4
apá arm 2
apinl$tà postman 9
àplái apply 9
apliké Qn application 9
àpôówé envelope 9

266
1
267
1
1
1
ªl?Q cloth 5 1
burúkú evil, bad 12
à álé dusk 3 dà-ndógó long-sleeved agbada 15
à àyàn- kQ subject 3 dàn iló wide-armed gown 15
a$író-owó accountant 10 dáradára beautiful 12
a jú ambassador 9 dé to come back 1
àti and 4 dódó fried ripe plantain 15
awo-kçmpútà computer disc 10 dókítà doctor 3
ayQ happiness 1 dókità medical practitioner 14
dómítirl dormítory 5
li
dúdú dark, black 12
bá.$$1◊, àpçn bachelor 7
babaláwo native medicine man 14
bàQIQji biology 3 íà Asia 6
bárapàdé meet 4 êdê Haúsá Hausa language 1
básíkétib{>Qlu basketball 8 êdêe Íbó lbo language 1
bàtà shoe 7 êdêe Yonibâ Yoruba language 1
b (êniyàn) wó to interview (someone) 1 êdêe-kQmpútà computer language 10
'r
b kQ no 7 ehin tooth 2,6
béi;lni Ma Yes,madame 9 eléwi bard 15
b nisà Yes, sir 9 êniyàn-dúdú African 6
bé ni yes 7 erê-QmQ sexual intercourse 8
bétà (iu) to be better (than) 15 eré-ayõ gameofayo 8
bí to give birth 1 eré-idárayá sports 8
bí$QQbti bishop 12 eré-ije competition 8
bisikfiti biscuit 7 eré-ipá horseplay 8
bísíné si business 10 erê-lile horseplay 8
\ eré-ó$upá
bQ to come back 2 evening play 8
bQQlti bali 8 eré-orin music 8
bQQSi bus 5 éríà neighborhood 7
bubâ male or female garment 15 êró plan 6
búburú evil, bad 12 êsi reply, answer, response 9
búrédi bread 7 êtê lip 2
etí ear 2
j
268 269
ebà cassava gruel 15 togive 1

fún
çdákun Please 7
funfun white 12
qja flsh 8 football 8
futub99lü
çjQWQ Pardonme 7
8
gidígbó wrestling
ekQ maize gruel 15
gQbQyi enormous 12
kQnc;,míikisi economics 3 1
j g(>Qfü golf 8
ekc;, â physics 3
ekc;, eda-oníye biology 3
ek◊ etõ-QI'Q economics 3 gbaõminira to become free 11
ekc;, i irõ-àmi algebra 3 1, 1
gbogbo all 12
ekQ i írô-owó accountancy 10
ekc;,i õwó business studies 10
ek◊ ile-ayé geography 3 ibà fever 14
ek◊ ile-wíwQn geometry 3 ibewó interview 14
ek itàn-àkQ◊Ie history 3 5
ibi here
ek(> nípa igbàgbQ religious studies 3
iborim woman's wrap 15
l}k(> nípa ówô business studies 10
eko-e1à chemistry 3
r ibusç
idánwó
mile
examination
4
6
mbási embassy 9 :1 idi buttocks 2
l
emu wine (palro wine) 15 idí reason 5
eranko animal 8 idun-nú happiness 3
eiv-il?írÕ computer 10 if love 3
rQÍQ muddy ground 6 1 ifõ highjump 8
ese Ieg 2 igbákeji-Ôrl à Orisha's deputy (on Earth) 13
ete leprosy 14 í igbànáà then 5
t
ewà bean 15 igbàtí when (statement) 5
eyà-afàisàn germs 14 igbàwo when (question) 5
ew bird 8 igbesê debt 10
igbó forest 4
igbóra power 9
füdi field 5 ihõ hole 6
fisà visa 9 ijeke wrestling 8
fisilldsi physics 3 ika-k◊mpútà computer keyboard 10

270 271
ikánin infection 14 ipàdé meeting 15

ikin·kçmpútà byte 10
ipêlé woman's outer wrap 15
ik{> cough 14
ikQ$$ training, apprenticeship 11
'
ikómQ narning ceremony 15 iràwin buyingon credit 10
iktin stomach 15 iró woman's wrap 15
irQI nightfall 3
ir si rice 15
Il Àgànyin Ghana 6 iSQmQlóníkQ narning ceremony 15
il land 6 isinkú burial ceremony 15
ilé-a jú embassy 9 i$à stale palm wine 15
ilé-Qnà museum 5 if?ákQl fees paid for rent ofland 11
ilé- kQgiga school beyond high school 1 i$ jú minute 4
ilé-i$QPQ factory 11 t i$író mathematics 3
1
ilé-ikQW class 5 ; i$is second 4
!. i wõ engaging in business 9
ilé-iran cinema 6
ilé-isun dormitory 6 itàwin selling on credit 10
ilé-itajà shop 4 itôsí nearby 7
ilé-iwõsàn hospital 14 iwé-ib w application 9
ilé-onj dirting hall 5 iwé-irõkêêrê passport 9
ilée$ business place, company 11 iwé-iwQlé visa 9
iletõ small village 13 iw<)n measurement 4
n -Arnikà Africa 6 11 ' iwQn-àyê cubic (volume) 4
ilú town 13 iyâ mother 1
ilú-nlá city 13 iyán pounded yarn 15
ilú-Oyinbó England 6
ihiw swimming 8
imú nose 2 jãgbàyà hookwonn 14
inf Qn infection 14 1 j to eat 2
íngilü$i, edee G si English 3 j d◊j d<) tuberculosis 14
mtafiu interview 10 j funjefun typhoid fever 14
inú-dídun happiness 3 Jésti Jesus 12
ipâ force 9
BEGINNER'S YORUBA 1 GWSSARY YORUBA-ENGLISH

272 273
jí to wake 1 IDQra be familiar 7

jQgíráfi geography 3 máili mile 4
jc;>m tiri geometry 3 Màrià Mary 12
1
míiti meet 4
mítà meter 4
'r'
kànga well 6 mítini meeting 15
kátídrâàli cathedral 12 mçínmçín, c)c)I bean pudding 15
kàwé to read (a book) 3 M◊nm(m Mohammed 12
ké to cry 2 Mç(>m(>du Mohammed 12
k k(I learn 3 múra to beprepared 14
kE)k -gigtin cyclíng 8 i'! mitsíQmli museum 5
kékeré small 2 Nàijâ Nigerian 6
k místiri chemistry 3 Nàijíríà Nigeria 6
Kérésimesi Christmas 3 nâírà naira 15
kéú, kéwú Arabic script 12 níbl} there 5
kílâàsi class 13 níbí here 5
kQbQ penny 7
ní to have 11
kókóró crawlíng bug 6 1
ní to say 11
k9mpini company 10 nlã important, big 12
kc)mpútà computer 10 IlQQSi nurse 14
kàtà pit 6
li:
ó ti no 7
IQ togo 1 ou month 4
IQsíwájú to progress 2 ou month 7
láfún cassava flour 15 àdõQya NigerRiver 6
lá.ibrãri library 5 1
àgur◊ raphia palm wine 15
ojú eye 2,6
oko fann 13
I()tà letter 14 àkó projectile 8
lítà liter 4 ókõ-jíjit shot put 8
lçhm over there 5 1 ôkun sea 6
BEGINNER'S YORUBA GWSSARY YORUBA-ENGLISH

274 275
olórín singer 6 Qba king 13

oluk(, teacher 1 9ba-aládé crowned king 13
olu.kQ-àgbà senior teacher 1 Qdún celebration 15
ohik(mi teacher 1 Qdún Eégún Eegun Festival 15
olü t(>jú-aláisàn nurse 14 Qdún Ogún Ogun Festival 15
óminira freedom, independence 11 Qdún year 7
oni$(l-QwQ craftsman 10 1 Qdún-lé leap year 7
oní êgun doctor 14 ,:
1
Qdún tuntnn NewYear 12
,, ' I
OilÍf?ÔWÕ businessman 4 ,, Qgbà-i ré park 7
onídt; brassworker 13 1: Qjà market 4
'
onígbáméji cholera 14 QjQ day 7
\
onilu. musician 8 1 QkQ ojú-irin train 4
onjf;'I food 7 QkQ-akérô transport vehicle 4
oógun medicine 14 QkQ-ak$ru truck 4
õót t;-l tà stamp 9 Qkç,-ayç,k l$ sedan 4
orà custom 15 Qlá wealth 1
orúkQ abísç givenname 1 algebra 3
orúkQ idilé
orúkQ isâmi
sumame
baptismal name
1
1
QlQjà
Í 1
r: Qljíbirà
Qlçnà
village head
carver
13
13
àwó business 10 Ql(>run God 1
1, 1
owó money 2 QffiQ child 1
owó- hin bnbe 11 QIDQ ilé-iwé schoolchild 1
OWÓ-i!?$ wage 11 QffiQ Nàijiríà Nigerían 6
owó-ilé house rent 11 Qmún breast 14
owó-jíjáde expenditure 11 Qp9l9-kçimpútà central processing unit 10
OWÓ-0$U salary 11 Qp$ thankfulness 1
owó-àde tax 11 QSipítu hospital 14
owó-orí tax 11 Qtí beer, alcoholic drink 15
owó-ôwà capital for business 11 çidàn-i$eré field 5
OWÓ-WÍWQlé income 11 9füsi office 11
oyê title 7

276 277
{>füsi-oníl tà post ofllce 9 r, p lú with 5

QjQgb(>n Professor 1 pléêni plane 5
QkQ-SÍSQ javelin 8 rajà-lókêêrê import (goods) 4
<)pá yard 4 1.
;: rajà buy (goods) 4
', no 7
Q fiiend 2 1
rárá
Qréré furlong, horizon 4 réluwéê railway (train) 5
Qrilll neck 2 .l!,r ri to see 1
i, ribá bnbe 11
<)rún-dún century 4 1
<)sa lagoon 6 1. ' i' rilíjiç,nu religion 3

11·
<)sán afternoon 3 riplâi reply 9
:,''
QSányin god of healing 14
QS week 4
QWQ hand 2 ,,.
sálári salary 11
<)yà fees paid for a service 11 1 1 sàn (ju} to be better (than) 15
· sinimá cinema 5
.1
sísi sixpence 6
páàki park 7 sçbuj ti subject 10
pásípó◊tu passport 9 sçbúj ti subject 3
patí party 15 ,, sçkà soccer 8
pêrõ to plan 6 stámpu stamp 9
pláànu plan 6 stQQ store 4
1
sun to sleep 2
pQQkú cheap 12 I'
póõpu pope 12
posçfüsi post office 9
póun pound 7 I' $ikágó Chicago 2
prõf s<) professor 1 $ilê shilling 6
pupa red 12 $Õkótó trousers 15
púpQ much, many 12 $QQbu shop 4
$QQ$i church 12
$Qp(má smallpox 14
pápá-i$eré field 5 1 $Õgb(>n but 4
BEGlNNER'S YORUBA GLOSSARY YORUBA-ENGLISH

278 279
[
tajà-sókêêrê export (goods) 4
tajà sell (goods) 4
t$nüsi tennis 8
ti à teacher 1
tíi i
tiréni
teach
training, apprenticeship
3
11 t Beginner's Yoru.ba
titun new 12
tQCQ threepence 6
tréêni train 6
tuntun new 12 l.1i AUDIO TRACK LIST
tútú. cold 12
t lifi!?Qilu television 7
telifóómi telephone 7
wâ to come 1
Qtü wáini wine 15
wákàti hour 15
wúndíá virgin 7
yãàdi yard 4
yunifásíti university 1
Yúróópú. Europe 6
wsà Yes,sir 9
wsimà Yes,madame 9
BEGINNER'S YORUBA
281
280
31 8.1 Dialogue
AUDIO TRACK LIST 32 8.1 Dialogue for repetition
DiscOne 33 8.2 Vocabulary
Track Lesson Topic 34 8.3 Expressions
1 1.1 Dialogue for repetition DiscTwo
2 1.2.1 Malenames 1 9.1 Dialogue
3 1.2.2 Female names 2 9.1 Dialogue for repetition
fl
4 1.3 Alphabet and pronunciation '
1.
3 9.2 Vocabulary
5 1.4 Greetings 4 9.3 Expressions
(.
6 1.5 Vocabulary 1
5 10.1 Dialogue
7 2.1 Dialogue for repetition ;-'\ Dialogue for repetition
11. 6 10.1
8 2.2 Vocabulary 10.2 Vocabulary
7
9 2.3 Expressions 8 10.3 Expressions
10 2.5 Tone pattems and Signs 9 11.1 Dialogue
11 3.1 Dialogue 10 11.1 Dialogue for repetition
12 3.1 Dialogue for repetition 11 11.2 Vocabulary
13 3.2 Vocabulary f,,.I' , '
•i,. 12 11.3 Expressions
14 3.3 Expressions li
:i 13 12.1 Dialogue
li
15
4.1 Dialogue r'./
14 12.1 Dialogue for repetition
16
4.1 Dialogue for repetition ii 15 12.2 Vocabulary
,!,.\.
17
4.2 Vocabulary 16 12.3 Expressions
18 4.3 Expressions I".
1' 17 13.1 Dialogue
20 5.1 Dialogue for repetition ', '
,, 19 13.2 Vocabulary
r:
21 5.2 Vocabulary 20 13.3 Expressions
22 5.3 Expressions 1'\'.
21 14.1 Dialogue
23
24
6.1
6.1
Dialogue
Dialogue for repetition
(',· 22 14.1 Dialogue for repetition
23 14.2 Vocabulary
,
25 6.2 Vocabulary r 24 14.3 Expressions
26 6.3 Expressions 25 15.1 Dialogue
28 7.1 Dialogue for repetition 27 15.2 Vocabulary
29 7.2 Vocabulary 28 15.3 Expressions
30 7.3 Expressions
AUDIO AUDIO
282
Other Regional lnterest Titles from Hippocrene Books
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Afrikaans-English/English-Afrikaans Practical Dictionary, Revised
Toe following books are recommended for further reference or 25,000 entries • 430 pages • 5 x 7 • ISBN 0-7818-0846-4 • $19.95pb • (243)
study ofthe Yoruba language. Many of them were consulted in
writing this book: Amharic-English/English-Amharic Dictionary
27,000 entries • 650 pages • 5½ x 8½ • ISBN 0-7818-0115-X • $24.95hc • (252)
Abmbola, Wande. IFA-An Exposi.tion of ifa Literory Corpus,
Hausa-English/English-Hausa Practical Dictionary
Athella Henrietta Press, New York, 1997.
18,000 emries■ 431 pages • 5 x 7 • ISBN 0-7818-0426-4 • $16.95pb • (499)
Abraham, R. C. Dtctionmy of Modem Yoruba, Hodder and Beginner's Shona (ChiShona}
Stoughton, London, 1946. 240 pages • 5½ x 8½ • ISBN 0-7818-0864-2 • $1 .95pb • (271)
Fabunmi, Chief M.A. YorubaIdioms, African Universities Press, Shona-English/English-Shona Dictionary & Phrasebook
lbadan, 1969. 1,500 emries • 174 pages • 3¾ x 7½ • ISBN 0-7818-0813-8 • $11.95pb • (167)
Fakinlede, Kayode J. Yoruba-English. English-Yoruba - Modem Somali-English/English-Somali Dictionary & Phrasebook

Practlcal Díctiona,y, HipJX>crene Books, Inc., New York, 2003. 3,500 entries • 176 pages • 3¾ x 7'12 • ISBN 0-7818-0621-6 • $13.95pb • (755)
Swahili-English/English-Swahili Dictionary & Phrasebook

Rowlands, E.C. Teach YourselfYoruba, NTC Publishing Group,
Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1994. 5,000 entries • 200 pages • 3¾ x 7½ • ISBN 0-7818-0905-3 • $11.95pb • (231)
Swahili-English/English-Swahili Practical D ictionary

YORÚBÁ GBÓDE: Jpnà fgb Akçmç,léd.e Àti À$à Yorubá, n
35,000 enrries • 600 pages • 4½ x 7 • ISBN 0-7818-0480-9 • $19.95pb • (606)
Nàijúià, Vol. 2, No.l. (August,1997)
Twi-English/English-Twi Concise Dictionary
8,000 enrries • 332 pages • 4 x 6 • ISBN 0-7818-0264-4 • $12.95pb • (290)
Scholar's Zulu Dictionary

English-Zulu/Zulu-English
25,000 enrries • 520 pages • 5Y2 x 8½ • ISBN 0-7818-0255-5 • $22.50pb • (259)
Treasury of African Love Poems and Proverbs

128 pages • 5 x 7 • ISBN 0-7818-0483-3 • $1l.95hc • (611)
African Proverbs
135 pages • 6 x 9 • 20 illustrations • ISBN 0-7818-0691-7 • $17.50hc • (778)
Best of Regional African Cooking

274 pages • 5½ x 8½ • ISBN 0-7818-0598-8 • $1 l.95pb • (684)
Traditional South African Cookery

178 pages • 5 x 8½ • ISBN 0-7818-0490-6 • $10.95pb • (423)

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Lesson Jluur• . . . • . • • • • • • • • • . . . • •.............45

4.2 Vocabulary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 8.4 Nouns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

BEGINNER'S YORUBA CONTENTS

12.6 Exercise............................................................................172 PREFACE

Exercise Key . . . . . . . . . . . . 215

11lf.WNl'Hr.H'II YORUDA BEGINNER'S YORUBA

Beginner's Yoruba is designed for use as both a classroom

Since this is an introductory text, the Yoruba language

Yoruba, like many others in Africa, is a tonal language.

Each lesson contains a vocabulary section that highlights

Finally, various aspects of Yoruba culture, including

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON ONE

1.1 DIALOGUE TheTeacher

Olwq5 Good Morning.

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONONE

1.2 COMMON YORUBA NAMES 1.2.2 Female Names:

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONONE

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONONE

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONONE

1.4 YORUBA GREETINGS 1.4.3 Quiz

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONONE

1.5 VOCABULARY 1.6 THE YORUBA PEOPLE

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON ONE

-iã ,o.;.r ' '

-;'a;,.... :e, ' \ Yoruba English Yoruba English

- ...,,.- 1-, õbí parent

-.. . .'\. .,or-...................,t

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONTWO

2.2 VOCABULARY 2.3 EXPRESSIONS

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONTWO

11"111 2.4.I Morphemes (Ohun-c)rQ) 2.4.2.1 Quiz

fl'II BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONTWO

2.4.3 Derlved words

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONTWO

Use the attached vocabulary to fill in the missing spaces in the

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON THREE

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON THREE

3.2 VOCABULARY 3.3 EXPRESSIONS

Yoruba EngHsh Yoruba English Yoruba Engllsh

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON THREE

Yoruba pronouns are used in much the sarne way as

i1il 3.4.1 Non-emphatic Pronouns

3.4.1.4 Non-emphatic Objective Pronouns

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON THREE

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON THREE

3.4.2.2 Emphatic possessive pronouns are usai asfollows:

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON THREE

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON FOUR

4.2 VOCABULARY 4.3 EXPRESSIONS

Yoruba Engllsh Yoruba Engllsh Yoruba Engllsb

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSONFOUR

4.4 TENSES 4.4.1.2 The past tense is indicated by stating the

Bade wears the king's crown.

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON FOUR

4.4.2.5 ln the past perfect tense, the auxiliary article ti is

BEGINNER'S YORUBA LESSON FOUR