nasia

From Hausa nàsīhā̀, ultimately from Arabic نَصِيحَة (naṣīḥa).

der

Arabic نَصِيحَة (naṣīḥa)


girimọkai

/ɡí.ɾí.mɔ̃́.ká.ì/

From Hausa giriman-kái (“arrogance, pride, conceit”).


girimọkayi

/ɡí.ɾí.mɔ̃́.ká.jì/


ifaara

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fáárà (“to begin, to commence”)


faara

alẹ́ ń fáárà


balaga

From Arabic بَلَغَ (balaḡa) or from bà + ní + agà.

to reach the age of puberty; to become sexually mature


ankali

From Arabic عَقْل (ʕaql), perhaps through Hausa hankali (“sense, care”).


alukiamọ

From Hausa kìyāmā̀, ultimately from Arabic قِيَامَة (qiyāma).


ẹdinwo

From ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dín (“to reduce”) + owó (“money”).


owo omi

From owó (“money”) + omi (“water”). Literally ‘‘water money’’.


ẹyawo

From ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yá (“to borrow”) + owó (“money”).


ifirosinroojẹ

head

ìfìrósínròójẹ

ìfìrósínròójẹ

yo-pos

ìfìrósínròójẹ

ìfìrósínròójẹ

yo-noun

ìfìrósínròójẹ

ìfìrósínròójẹ

/ì.fì.ɾó.sĩ́.ɾòó.d͡ʒɛ̄/

From ì- (“nominalising prefix”) + fi (“to use”) + ìró (“sound”) + sín jẹ (“to imitate”) + ìró (“sound”). Literally ‘‘the use of a sound to imitate a sound’’.


aleebu ara

/à.léé.bù ā.ɾā/


imọ

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + mọ̀ (“to know”).


iṣe

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣe (“to do”).

Èdè, àṣà, àti ìṣe Yorùbá.

Yoruba language, culture, and practices.


gbalẹ

Contraction of gbá ilẹ̀ (“to sweep the ground”). Cognates include Itsekiri gbálẹ̀, Ifè gbálɛ̀


agbalẹ

/ā.ɡ͡bá.lɛ̀/

From a- (“agent prefix”) + gbálẹ̀ (“to sweep the ground”).

affix

cleaner, sweeper, one who sweeps the ground.


ọrịṣa

(Ekiti) Alternative form of òrìṣà (“orisha”)


adin

Cognate with Èkìtì Yoruba ụ̀dị́n, Ìjẹ̀bú Yoruba ùdẹ́n, Igala ìdí, Edo údẹ́n (“palm oil ointment”), Igbo ùde (“ointment, palm oil ointment”), Nupe èdín (“palm kernel oil”), Nupe èdĩ, and possibly related to Edo ẹdi (“nut, palm nut”), Urhobo edi, with a much deeper etymology, it is proposed to be derived from a Proto-Niger-Congo root, see Usaghade útén (“oil palm”), Ibibio adan (“oil”), and Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀téndé

cog

oil; usually in reference to palm kernel oil


aọfịn

Proposed to be derived Proto-Yoruba *à-ɣɔ̀fɪ̃, from Proto-Edekiri *à-ɣɔ̀fɪ̃. Perhaps equivalent to àọ̀ + ọfịn


Iwarẹfa

From Ìwàrẹ (“a high ranking chief of a town”) + ẹ̀fà (“six”), cognate with Edo Igharẹfa.

compound

The chiefs of the Ìwàrẹ̀fà a range of political and religious functions and serve as trusted advisors to the monarch, and are the leaders of the Ògbóní societies in their respective towns. They are often the most powerful members of their community, and exist in all Yoruba polities.

A traditional council consisting of the six highest ranking chieftains (Ìwàrẹ) of a Yoruba town, the highest class of chieftains.

Ìwàrẹ̀fà Ọ̀yọ́

The Iwarefa council of Ọ̀yọ́, the Oyomesi


Ịarẹfa

/ɪ̀.à.ɾɛ̀.fà/

From Ị̀àrẹ (“highest ranking chiefs”) + ẹ̀fà (“six”).

(Ekiti) high-ranking council of chiefs that advise the monarch


ikoidẹ

ìkó (“parrot feathers”) + odídẹrẹ́ (“parrot”), literally “Parrot feathers”

parrot feathers, (in particular) the red tail feathers of the African gray parrot ("odídẹrẹ́"), often used in traditional rituals and ceremonies.


ekoidẹ

(Ekiti) Alternative form of ìkóídẹ (“parrot feathers”)


ajule ọrun

/à.d͡ʒù.lé ɔ̀.ɾũ̄/


iṣakọlẹ

/ì.ʃá.kɔ́.lɛ̀/

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣá (“to dig”) + ọkọ́ (“hoe”) + ilẹ̀ (“ground”), literally “Dig up the ground with a hoe”.

af

the act of opening a piece of land for renting as farmland

legal permission to rent a piece of land to use as farmland


mọ

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - mọ̀view map

i.e. Southeast Yorùbá, Northwest Yorùbá, Central Yorùbá, and Northeast Yorùbá

now deemed dialects of Yorùbá in Nigeria

have converged with those of Standard Yorùbá leading to the creation of what can be labeled Common Yorùbá. It can be assumed that the Standard Yorùbá term can also be used in most Nigerian varieties alongside native terms

especially amongst younger speakers. This does not apply to the other Nigerian Yoruboid languages of Ìṣẹkírì and Olùkùmi


mọ

Ṣó mọ́ àbó dọ̀tí?


mọ

Olúmọ

the Olúmọ rock, found in Abẹ́òkúta, and the deity that inhabits the rock


mọ

(Ọwọ, Ikalẹ) Alternative form of mu (“to drink”)


ogho

(Ikalẹ) Ikalẹ form of owó (“money, cowrie”)


ogungun

(Ondo) Alternative form of egungun (“bone”).


oṣupa aranmọju

head

òṣùpá àrànmọ́jú

òṣùpá àrànmọ́jú

yo-pos

òṣùpá àrànmọ́jú

òṣùpá àrànmọ́jú

yo-noun

òṣùpá àrànmọ́jú

òṣùpá àrànmọ́jú

/ò.ʃù.k͡pá à.ɾã̀.mɔ̃́.d͡ʒú/

From òṣùpá (“moon”) + à (“nominalizing prefix”) + ràn (“to shine”) + mọ́jú (“overnight”), literally “The moon that shines throughout the night”.


akitẹṣọ

/á.kí.tɛ́.ʃɔ̀/


Idogbe

orúkọ àmútọ̀runwá
orukọ amutọrunwa#Yoruba

a unisex given name, an orúkọ àmútọ̀runwá given to the third child born after twins, born after a child named Àlàbá


Idoha

a unisex given name, an orúkọ àmútọ̀runwá given to the fourth child born after twins, born after a child named Ìdògbé


Ijẹṣa

/ì.d͡ʒɛ̀.ʃà/

Originally from Ùjẹ̀ṣà, the term in the Ijesha dialect

Ijesha people, a subgroup of the Yoruba people, who speak the Ìjẹ̀ṣà dialect and whose capital city is the town Iléṣà


ọpọn Ifa

/ɔ̄.k͡pɔ̃́ ī.fá/

From ọpọ́n (“wooden tray”) + Ifá (“Ifa”).

A wooden tray used during Ifá divination


ọpẹlẹ

/ɔ̀.k͡pɛ̀.lɛ̀/

From ọ̀pẹ̀ (“palm tree, Elaeis guineensis”) + ilẹ̀ (“ground”), literally “Palm tree of the ground”
*The tree Elaeis guineensis is sacred to the worship of Ifá and the nuts of the ọ̀pẹ̀ tree are used to form the ọ̀pẹ̀lẹ̀.

A divination chain used in the Yoruba religion and Ifá divination, specifically to communicate with the orisha Ọ̀rúnmìlà. It serves a similar purpose to the ikin, but in less formal situations.


ogbugbu

/ò.ɡ͡bù.ɡ͡bú/


ogbugbu

/ò.ɡ͡bù.ɡ͡bú/


ẹmi

From ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + mí (“to breathe”).


agbari

From igbá (“calabash”) + orí (“head”). Literally "the calabash of the head".


irun

Possibly from Proto-Yoruboid *irṵ̀ or Proto-Yoruboid *ʊ-rʊ̃, cognate with Edo irọn

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - irunview map

nrũNEUTRONIUMAtakpamɛirũNEUTRONIUMBokoirũNEUTRONIUMMoretanirũNEUTRONIUMTchettiirɔ̃NEUTRONIUMMɔ̄kɔ́léKandintoNEUTRONIUMNEUTRONIUMNorthern NagoKamboleenyɔ̃NEUTRONIUMNEUTRONIUMManigriiyɔ̃NEUTRONIUMNEUTRONIUMSouthern NagoÌsakétéirunNEUTRONIUMNEUTRONIUMÌfànyìnirunNEUTRONIUMNEUTRONIUMNote: This amalgamation of terms comes from a number of different academic papers focused on the unique varieties and languages spoken in the Yoruboid dialectal continuum which extends from eastern Togo to southern Nigeria. The terms for spoken varieties


irun

Perhaps related to the root for five, see ọrún (“every five days”)

(Islam) salat (The obligatory prayer that Muslims are called to perform five times a day)


awujẹ

/à.wù.d͡ʒɛ̀/

Bó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ọ̀nà ni a lè gbà dẹ́kun èsúkè, fífi òwú sí àwùjẹ̀ ọmọdé tàbí orí ẹnikẹ́ni kì í ṣe ìkan lára rẹ̀.

December 6, 2022, Elizabeth Ogunmowo, “Ǹjẹ́ fífi òwú sí àwùjẹ̀ ọmọdé lè dẹ́kun èsúkè? [Does putting a strand of wool on a baby's head stop hiccups?]”, in Dubawa:

Although there are many ways to stop hiccups, putting string on a baby's fontanelle or anyone's head is not one of them.


ẹdọ

Cognate with Igala ẹ̀dọ̀ (“torso, chest, heart”), proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ̀-dɔ̀ (“chest, heart”). The form semantically shifted from heart/chest to liver in Yoruba, but maintains the chest meaning in some dialects like Ekiti. However, compounds like ẹ̀dọ̀fùfù (“impulsiveness, irritability”), still show remnants of that original meaning


ẹdọ

Adenia cissampeloides, a species of passionflower


yureniọ

/jū.ɾé.nĩ́.ɔ̃̀/

elements/dowork

púróakítíníọ̀

elements

púróakítíníọ̀

uranium (chemical element, U, atomical number 92)


yungba

A type of traditional Yoruba oral poetry among the Ọ̀yọ́ Yoruba performed by high ranking] aristocrat women (wives of chiefs and the king), during festivals to honor the king, the Aláàfin.


isaaro

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣí (“to open, to remove”) + àáró (“the stand of a cooking pot”), literally “To remove the stand of a cooking pot (that belonged to the elderly women who has died)”

compound

A form of Yoruba oral poetry and ceremony performed at Ọ̀yọ́ Yoruba funerals of elderly women. It is usually lead by the head, or alágbaa, of a family worshipping the ọ̀jẹ̀ class of egúngún.


yẹti

From yẹ (“to befit, to adorne”) + etí (“ear”).


yẹri

skirt (in particular) one worn under an ìró (“wrapper”); undergarment


ọmọleti

From ọmọ (“child”) + ní (“in”) + etí (“ear”). Literally "the child in the ear".


irungbọn

/ī.ɾũ̀.ɡ͡bɔ̃̀/

irun (“hair”) + àgbọ̀n (“chin”). Literally "hair of the chin".


ogbere

A form of traditional Yoruba oral poetry among the Ọ̀yọ́ performed during funeral and burial rites.


ogbere

(Ekiti) stranger, foreigner, noninitiate


olele

(Ijesha) A form of oral Yoruba poetry among the Ìjẹ̀ṣà people


Ọlụa

From ọlụ́a (“lord, leader, prominent one”), compare with Yoruba Olúwa and Yoruba olúwa

(Ekiti) A high-ranking divinity (ụmọlẹ̀) of many Èkìtì Yoruba towns, regarded as the supreme deity of the hill and the sky. In some traditions Ọlụ́a is regarded as the supreme being, equivalent to Olódùmarè and Àbarị̀ṣà. This deity's who worshipped is characterized by the performance of ẹ̀fẹ̀ and ùjàamẹ̀ṣẹ̀ poetry.

(Ekiti, Christianity) Alternative form of Olúwa (“God”)


ọkanlelọgbọn

head

ọ̀kànlélọ́gbọ̀n

ọ̀kànlélọ́gbọ̀n

yo-pos

ọ̀kànlélọ́gbọ̀n

ọ̀kànlélọ́gbọ̀n

/ɔ̀.kã̀.lé.lɔ́.ɡ͡bɔ̃̀/

Contraction of ọ̀kan lé ní ọgbọ̀n (“one added to thirty”).


ejilelọgbọn

head

èjìlélọ́gbọ̀n

èjìlélọ́gbọ̀n

yo-pos

èjìlélọ́gbọ̀n

èjìlélọ́gbọ̀n

/è.d͡ʒì.lé.lɔ́.ɡ͡bɔ̃̀/

Contraction of èjì lé ní ọgbọ̀n (“two added to thirty”).

contraction

èjì lé ní ọgbọ̀n


ẹtalelọgbọn

head

ẹ̀tàlélọ́gbọ̀n

ẹ̀tàlélọ́gbọ̀n

yo-pos

ẹ̀tàlélọ́gbọ̀n

ẹ̀tàlélọ́gbọ̀n

/ɛ̀.tà.lé.lɔ́.ɡ͡bɔ̃̀/

Contraction of ẹ̀tà lé ní ọgbọ̀n (“three added to thirty”).

contraction

ẹ̀tà lé ní ọgbọ̀n


ẹrinlelọgbọn

head

ẹ̀rìnlélọ́gbọ̀n

ẹ̀rìnlélọ́gbọ̀n

yo-pos

ẹ̀rìnlélọ́gbọ̀n

ẹ̀rìnlélọ́gbọ̀n

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ̀.lé.lɔ́.ɡ͡bɔ̃̀/

Contraction of ẹ̀rìn lé ní ọgbọ̀n (“four added to thirty”).

contraction

ẹ̀rìn lé ní ọgbọ̀n


arundinlogoji

/à.ɾṹ.dĩ́.ló.ɡó.d͡ʒì/

Contraction of àrún dín ní ogójì (“five reduced from forty”).


ẹrindinlogoji

head

ẹ̀rìndínlógójì

ẹ̀rìndínlógójì

yo-pos

ẹ̀rìndínlógójì

ẹ̀rìndínlógójì

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ̀.dĩ́.ló.ɡó.d͡ʒì/

Contraction of ẹ̀rin dín ní ogójì (“four reduced from forty”).


ẹtadinlogoji

head

ẹ̀tàdínlógójì

ẹ̀tàdínlógójì

yo-pos

ẹ̀tàdínlógójì

ẹ̀tàdínlógójì

/ɛ̀.tà.dĩ́.ló.ɡó.d͡ʒì/

Contraction of ẹ̀tà dín ní ogójì (“three reduced from forty”).

contraction

ẹ̀tà dín ní ogójì


ejidinlogoji

head

èjìdínlógójì

èjìdínlógójì

yo-pos

èjìdínlógójì

èjìdínlógójì

/è.d͡ʒì.dĩ́.ló.ɡó.d͡ʒì/

Contraction of èjì dín ní ogójì (“two reduced from forty”).


ọkandinlogoji

head

ọ̀kàndínlógójì

ọ̀kàndínlógójì

yo-pos

ọ̀kàndínlógójì

ọ̀kàndínlógójì

/ɔ̀.kã̀.dĩ́.ló.ɡó.d͡ʒì/

Contraction of ọ̀kan dín ní ogójì (“one reduced from forty”).


Ṣanpọnna

Fon: Sakpata

/ʃã̀.k͡pɔ̃̀.nã́/

a widely feared deity associated with smallpox and other infectious diseases, pandemics, but he is regarded as the bringer of the dry season, sunlight, and in some traditions, of healing, biomedicine. He is known euphemistically as Ọbalúayé


ifo

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fò (“to leap, to jump”)


ile-ounjẹ

/ī.lé.ō.ṹ.d͡ʒɛ̄/

Mo lọ sí ilé-oúnjẹ Ṣáìnà pẹ̀lú àbúrò mi.

I went to a Chinese restaurant with my younger sibling.

Wọ́n fi í sórí tábìlì ilé-oúnjẹ.


Awori

Folk etymology started it comes from àwo (“plate”) + ti (“has”) + rì (“sink”), literally “The plate has sunk”.

compound

Awori tribe, a subgroup of the Yoruba people, the original inhabitants of Lagos, and who speak the Àwórì dialect


ẹtẹ

ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + tẹ̀ (“to be trampled”)

affix

a kì í fi ẹ̀tẹ̀ sílẹ̀ pa làpálàpá

we don’t ignore leprosy and treat a rash


ẹtẹ

ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + tẹ́ (“to be punished, to be humiliated”)


ligbẹ

Lígbẹ̀ kọ́n gbá ti ya ùjẹṣu. A gbé efun ọlọ́yọ̀, líjọ́, a juná, lókè Ìpẹ̀tì náà

When it is time for the New Yam Festival, they will adorne the chief with chalk, on that day, they will perform a performance with fire, on the top of the Ipeti hill


ọginnitin

/ɔ̀.ɡĩ̀.nĩ̀.tĩ̀/


Oṣu Belu

November, the sixth month in the Yoruba calendar, the Kọ́jọ́dá


Oduduwa

Possibly from odù dú ì wà (“The source of existence”)

(historical) The legendary ruler (Ọọ̀ni) of Ifẹ̀, he waged a war with Ọbàtálá and gained control of Ifẹ̀, where he became Ọọ̀ni. Because of this and his many descendants who founded modern Yoruba settlements, he is regarded as the father of the Yorùbá people

an ancestral deity associated with creation


Oṣu Ọpẹ

Oṣù Ọ̀pẹ (canonical)
Oṣù Ọ̀pẹ̀ (canonical)

/ō.ʃù ɔ̀.k͡pɛ̄/

/ō.ʃù ɔ̀.k͡pɛ̀/

From oṣù (“month”) + ọ̀pẹ (“palm tree”). Both ọ̀pẹ and ọ̀pẹ̀ are synonymous terms for the palm tree.

December, the seventh month in the traditional Yoruba calendar, the Kọ́jọ́dá


Oṣu Ṣẹrẹ

/ō.ʃù ʃɛ̀.ɾɛ́/

January, the eighth month in the traditional Yoruba calendar, the Kọ́jọ́dá


Oṣu Erele

/ō.ʃù è.ɾè.lé/

February, the ninth month in the traditional Yoruba calendar, the Kọ́jọ́dá


Oṣu Ẹrẹna

/ō.ʃù ɛ̀.ɾɛ̀.nã̀/

March, the tenth month in the Yoruba calendar, the Kọ́jọ́dá


Oṣu Igbe

Oṣù Igbe (canonical)
Oṣù Ìgbé (canonical)

/ō.ʃù ī.ɡ͡bē/

/ō.ʃù ì.ɡ͡bé/

Possibly from oṣù (“month”) + igbe (“scream, shout”), literally “Month of celebration”

compound

April, the eleventh month in the Yoruba calendar, the Kọ́jọ́dá


Oṣu Ẹbibi

/ō.ʃù ɛ̀.bì.bì/

From oṣù (“month”) + Ẹ̀bìbì (“Ẹ̀bìbì festival”).

May, the twelfth and last month in the Yoruba calendar, the Kọ́jọ́dá


Oṣu Okudu

June, the first month of the traditional Yoruba calendar, the Kọ́jọ́dá


Oṣu Agẹmọ

/ō.ʃù ā.ɡɛ̄.mɔ̃̄/

From oṣù (“month”) + Agẹmọ (“the orisha Agẹmọ”), literally “Month of Agẹmọ”.

July, the second month in the traditional Yoruba calendar, the Kọ́jọ́dá, during which the eponymous Agemo festival is held


Oṣu Ogun

From oṣù (“month”) + Ògún (“the Yoruba deity Ogun”), literally “Month of Ogun”.

August, the third month in the traditional Yoruba calendar, the Kọ́jọ́dá


Oṣu Owewe

September, the fourth month in the traditional Yoruba calendar, the Kọ́jọ́dá


Oṣu Ọwara

/ō.ʃù ɔ̀.wà.ɾà/

From oṣù (“month”) + ọ̀wààrà (“rain showers”), literally “Month of rain showers, Month of precipitation”.

October, the fifth month in the traditional Yoruba calendar, the Kọ́jọ́dá


keferi

From Hausa kāfìr̃ī, ultimately from Arabic كَافِر (kāfir, “unbeliever”).

(Islam, sometimes derogatory) disbeliever, infidel


eekanna

/èé.kã́.nã́/

From Contraction of èkíkánná, compare with Olukumi ẹ̀kíkan, Ifè èkíkã́, Itsekiri akikan, Ede Nago àíkã́nã́, proposed to be derived form Proto-Yoruba *ɛ̀-kɪ́kɪ̃ã́nã́, *ɛ̀-kɪ́kɪ̃ã́lã́, ultimately a Proto-Edekiri innovation, Proto-Edekiri *ɛ̀-kɪ́kɪ̃ã́nã́, *ɛ̀-kɪ́kɪ̃ã́lã́

inh

*ɛ̀-kɪ́kɪ̃ã́nã́

*ɛ̀-kɪ́kɪ̃ã́nã́

èékánnásẹ̀ adìẹ

A name of several types of trees including the Strychnos spinosa and Ziziphus spina-christi,

nail (may refer to nails of either the toe or finger), claw

A term used to identify a diverse variety of plants and trees with typically thorny features.


eekan

Alternative form of èékánná (“nail, claws”)

Alternative form of èékánná (“a name for several plants of which their leaves are sharp like nails or claws”)


eekan

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + kìkàn (“partial reduplication of kàn "to nail"”).


dokita eyin

From dókítà (“doctor”) + eyín (“tooth”), literally "tooth doctor".


onidiri

From oní- (“one who has”) + ìdìrí (“braiding of the head”).


Kamẹruunu

/kā.mɛ̄.ɾúù.nũ̀/


olugbongbo

/ò.lù.ɡ͡bó.ŋ́.ɡ͡bó/


tiroo

Borrowed from a Northern language, perhaps Hausa tirā̀ (“to dye”)

A dark powder similar to kohl, made from powered galena or antimony, and used as traditional Yoruba eye makeup

antimony (chemical element, Sb, atomical number 51)


lukudi

A ritual often performed to produce wealth or money via spiritual means, often characterized by practice of kidnapping and human sacrifice


ṣaworo

to perform the duties of a priest of the òrìṣà such as a babalawo or a Mọgbà

ìṣàwòrò

the act of performing the duties of a priest


ṣaworo

tiny bells, often made of brass, put on the surrounding edges of the mother (center) drum, ìyá ìlù in a talking drum ensemble


ṣaworo

group of plants that bear fruits with loose seeds in the pod that make a jingling noise when shaken, including Trilepisium madagascariense, Cardiospermum grandiflorum (heartseed), and Cardiospermum halicacabum (balloonvine).


agbẹ

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbẹ̀ (“to plant”), literally “The one that plants”


tọọrọ agbọn

head

tọ́ọ́rọ́ àgbọ̀n

tọ́ọ́rọ́ àgbọ̀n

yo-pos

tọ́ọ́rọ́ àgbọ̀n

tọ́ọ́rọ́ àgbọ̀n

yo-noun

tọ́ọ́rọ́ àgbọ̀n

tọ́ọ́rọ́ àgbọ̀n

/tɔ́ɔ́.ɾɔ́ à.ɡ͡bɔ̃̀/

From tọ́ọ́rọ́ (“indent”) + àgbọ̀n (“chin”).


eegun paari

/ēē.ɡũ̄ k͡páá.ɾì/

From eegun (“bone”) + páárì (“jaw”). Literally "bone of the jaw".


ọfun

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ọ̀funview map

gòlòfunPENMọ̀bàỌ̀tùn Èkìtìọ̀fụnPENIfẹ̀Ilé Ifẹ̀gòlòfunPENNorthwest YorubaÀwórìÈbúté Mẹ́tàọ̀funPENẸ̀gbáAbẹ́òkútaọ̀funPENÈkóÈkóọ̀funPENÌbàdànÌbàdànọ̀funPENÌbàràpáIgbó Òràọ̀funPENÌbọ̀lọ́Òṣogboọ̀funPENỌ̀fàọ̀funPENÌlọrinÌlọrinọ̀funPENOǹkóÒtùọ̀fọnPENÌwéré Iléọ̀fọnPENÒkèhòọ̀funPENÌsẹ́yìnọ̀fọnPENṢakíọ̀fọnPENTedéọ̀funPENÌgbẹ́tìọ̀fọnPENỌ̀yọ́Ọ̀yọ́ọ̀funPENÒgbómọ̀ṣọ́ọ̀funPENÌkirèọ̀funPENÌwóọ̀funPENStandard YorùbáNàìjíríàọ̀funPENBɛ̀nɛ̀ɔ̀funPENNortheast Yoruba/OkunOwéKabbaọ̀nọ̀ ọ̀fọnPENEde Languages/Southwest YorubaIfɛ̀Akpáréɔ̀hɔ̃PENAtakpamɛɔ̀hɔ̃PENEst-Monoɔ̀hɔ̃PENTchettiɔ̀hɔ̃PENNote: This amalgamation of terms comes from a number of different academic papers focused on the unique varieties and languages spoken in the Yoruboid dialectal continuum which extends from eastern Togo to southern Nigeria. The terms for spoken varieties


ifohunpeniyan

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fi (“to use”) + ohun (“an object”) + pè (“to call”) + ènìyàn (“a human”).


odo ilu

drum shell; (in particular) the hourglass frame of the dùndún (talking drum).


agbẹdẹ

/à.ɡ͡bɛ̀.dɛ̄/

From à- + gbẹ̀ + idẹ (“brass”). Cognates include Ifè àgbɛ̀ɖɛ


kannago

/kã̀.nã̀.ɡó/


kannango

/kã̀.nã̀.ŋ̀.ɡó/

From Hausa kalango, cognate with Nupe kànàngú.

(music) A type of talking drum in the dùndún ensemble


Ayangalu

From Àyàn (“Yoruba orisha of drumming, drummer”) + Àgalú (“a nickname, "one who is tall with a mix."”).

compound

A praise name of the Yoruba orisha of drumming Àyàn, traditionally believed to have been the first drummer.


arẹmọ

From ààrẹ (“leader, president”) + ọmọ (“child”), literally “Leading child”.

com

/à.ɾɛ̀.mɔ̃̄/

Àrẹ̀mọ

title of the crown prince or crown princess of a Yoruba kingdom


arẹmọ

/à.ɾɛ̀.mɔ̃̄/


ika ifabẹla

head

ìka ìfábẹ̀lá

ìka ìfábẹ̀lá

yo-pos

ìka ìfábẹ̀lá

ìka ìfábẹ̀lá

yo-noun

ìka ìfábẹ̀lá

ìka ìfábẹ̀lá

From ìka + ìfábẹ̀lá, literally “Finger that is used to scoop and lick stew”, ultimately from ìka (“finger”) + ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fá (“to pull up, to draw”) + ọbẹ̀ (“stew”) + lá (“to lick”).


ọbẹ

From ọ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bẹ (“to cut”), proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ̀-bɛ, see Igala ọ̀bẹ. Doublet of abẹ

affix

Mo fi ìbínú gún un ní ọ̀bẹ

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ọ̀bẹview map

ọ̀bẹsìlò纄Northwest YorubaÀwórìÈbúté Mẹ́tàọ̀bẹ纄Ẹ̀gbádòÌjàkáọ̀bẹ纄ÈkóÈkóọ̀bẹ纄ÌbàdànÌbàdànọ̀bẹ纄ÌlọrinÌlọrinọ̀bẹ纄Ọ̀yọ́Ọ̀yọ́ọ̀bẹ纄Standard YorùbáNàìjíríàọ̀bẹ纄Bɛ̀nɛ̀ɔ̀bɛ纄Northeast Yoruba

OkunÌbùnúBùnúìhìn纄ÌjùmúÌjùmúìhìn纄ÌyàgbàÌsánlú Ìtẹ̀dóìhìn纄OwéKabbaùhìn纄Ọ̀wọ́rọ̀Lọ́kọ́jaìhìn纄

ìsɛ̃纄纄Note: This amalgamation of terms comes from a number of different academic papers focused on the unique varieties and languages spoken in the Yoruboid dialectal continuum which extends from eastern Togo to southern Nigeria. The terms for spoken varieties


ọbẹ

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ọbẹ̀view map


ewebẹ

ewé (“plant, leaf”) + ọbẹ̀ (“stew, soup”)


Madagasika

Madagascar (a country and island off the coast of East Africa)


ataju

a (“agent prefix”) + ta (“to sting”) + ojú (“eyes”), literally “That which stings the eyes”


sọwedowo

sọ (“make”) + ìwé (“paper”) + di (“become”) + owó (“money”), literally “Paper that becomes used as money”


Mọgba

Possibly from mọ (“I”) + gbà (“accept”), literally “I accept”

the title of the chief priest of the orisha Ṣàngó and leader of the worship of Ṣàngó and the oníṣàngó of a town.


ododo

Cognate with Igala òdòdó, Urhobo ódódó, Idoma ododo, and Igbo òdòdò, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ò-dòdó


aakaragba

/àá.kà.ɾà.ɡ͡bá/

Alternative form of àkíkàràgbá (“broken plate or calabash”)


tulasi

Yorùbá kì í fi túlàsì mú ènìyàn jagun

The Yoruba do not use compulsion to make people sign up for war


ankuri

/à.ŋ̀.kú.ɾí/


Atini

From Hausa Lī̀tìnîn, ultimately from Arabic الاِثْنَيْن (al-iṯnayn).


Alaruba

From Hausa Lā̀r̃àbā, ultimately from Arabic الْأَرْبِعَاء (al-ʔarbiʕāʔ).

der

الْأَرْبِعَاء

Arabic الْأَرْبِعَاء (al-ʔarbiʕāʔ)


Alaadi

From Hausa Lahàdì, ultimately from Arabic الْأَحَد (al-ʔaḥad).


Jimọ

From Hausa Jumma'ā̀, ultimately from Arabic الجُمْعَة (al-jumʕa).


Jimọ

a male given name, given to a child born on Friday


Jimọh

a male given name, a Nonstandard spelling of Jímọ̀.


Asabuta

From Hausa Àsabàr̃, ultimately from Arabic السَّبْت (as-sabt).


ibantẹ

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bàǹtẹ́ (“loincloth”), ultimately from Hausa bante (“loincloth, apron”), cognate with Nupe bèǹte.


barawo

From Hausa ɓàrāwṑ, likely from Kanuri bárwù.


disai

From Hausa lī̀shā, ultimately from Arabic عِشَاء (ʕišāʔ).

der

Arabic عِشَاء (ʕišāʔ)

ó rí mi ní dìsáì


tanmọọ

/tã̀.mɔ̃́ɔ̃̀/


gbanjo

/ɡ͡bà.ŋ̀.d͡ʒō/


iyọnda

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yọ̀ǹda (“to grant permission, to permit”), ultimately from Hausa yàr̃da

affix

permission, the act of granting permission, an exemption, waiver


agilinti

A species of monitor lizard smaller than the Nile monitor; likely the Ornate monitor, known for its very thick skin.


alegba

monitor lizard, Varanus niloticus, also translated in modern times as alligator (however alligators are not endemic to Africa)


alepa

Possibly from à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + lé (“to chase”) + pa (“to kill”), literally “That which we chase to kill”


apoporo

a nine day festival period in which the apoporo drum is beat before the annual new yam festival (ọdún Ìjẹṣu)


ajanaka

(Ekiti) The tree Crateva religiosa, also known as the sacred garlic pear


ijakariwọ

/ì.d͡ʒà.ká.ɾì.wɔ̀/


ịjakariọ

/ɪ̀.d͡ʒà.ká.ɾì.ɔ̀/

From ị̀- + jàkárìọ̀, proposed to be ideophonic

ị̀- + jàkárìọ̀


ẹrẹkẹ

/ɛ̀.ɾɛ̀.kɛ́/


eeku

A mucilaginous plant similar to ewédú and ọọ́yọ́, used to make a vegetable stew


eeku

handle, specifically the handle of a hammer, a sword, a knife, etc.


eeku

Contraction of èkúkú, ultimately from è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + kíkú (“the act of dying, the act of being dead”)


ejirẹ

/è.d͡ʒì.ɾɛ́/

èjì (“two”) + rẹ́ (“to be friendly to, to be friends”), literally “The two friends”


Erinlẹ

erin (“elephant”) + ilẹ̀ (“ground, land”), literally “The mighty one of the land”

(Ekiti) a divinity and spirit of the Earth worshipped mainly by the Ekiti people, possibly an earlier form of the orisha worshipped in Ìlóbùú. For a similar concept, see Ẹ̀mìlalẹ̀

An orisha in the Yoruba religion, worshipped in the town where he was from and later deified, Ìlóbùú, he is the spirit of the Erinlẹ̀ river and is the an orisha of hunting and the Earth.


Ọba

→ Portuguese: Obá

An orisha and river divinity, believed to be the spirit of the Ọbà river, and was the senior wife of Ṣàngó.


Ọṣọọsi

→ Portuguese: Oxóssi

/ɔ̀.ʃɔ́ɔ̀.sì/

Folk etymology states it comes from a Contraction of Ọ̀ṣọ́wùsì, ultimately from ọ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣọ́ (“to guard, to watch”) + wùsì (“to grow in prominence or influence”), literally “The warrior that grows in prominence”

af

Oshosi, the orisha of hunting, warriors, and strategy. He is regarded as an assistant and brother of the deity Ògún. As a primordial deity, (irúnmọlẹ̀), he is known as Ogídò

ọlọ́dẹ

a worshipper of Ọdẹ (synonymous with Ọ̀ṣọ́ọ̀sì)


Ọbatala

It likely originated as a title for the leader of the Mega-House Ìdèta, a polity of the ancient town of Ufẹ̀ during the 9th-11th centuries AD. One of these leaders during the 11th century AD later rose as the head of all the mega-houses in Ufẹ̀ and established the Ufẹ̀ confederacy, a precursor to the Ife kingdom, and served as the chief priest of the deity Ọ̀ràm̀fẹ̀. It was this specific "Ọbàtálá" that became deified as the divinity Òrìṣà (Òrìṣàńlá). The term matches similar structures with titles of chiefs and legendary figures who likely lived as fellow Mega-house leaders and chiefs during that period, such as Ọbalálẹ̀, the head of the Ìlálẹ̀ house, Ọbalésùn, the head of the Ìlésùn house, and Ọbalíá, the head of the Ìlià house. They served as chiefs under the political leadership of the Ọbàtálá, the ruler of the Ìdèta house that encompassed these three minor houses.
* Also see other titles used at the time, Ọbàlùfọ̀n, Ọbalúfẹ̀, Ọbadìo, and Ọbalọọran.
The first part of the term comes from ọba (“king, father”), and the concluding syllable likely coming from lá (“to be big”), thus likely originating from may come from the phrase ọba Ìdèta lá (“The mighty king of Ìdèta”)

the title of the leader of the ancient Ufẹ̀ mega-house polity, Ìdèta. One of these leaders was later made king of the Ufẹ̀ confederacy of houses and deified as the deity Ọbàtálá

the legendary leader of ancient Ufẹ̀ between the 9th-11th centuries AD, deified as an orisha

He is often associated with purity, relating to the symbols of ẹfun (“white chalk”) and àlà (“white cloth”).

Ọbatala, a powerful irúnmọlẹ̀ and divinity of creation, the sky, heaven, purity, the creator of the Earth (beginning with the town of Ufẹ̀). He is the oldest of the orisha, with the term orisha originally referring to him. He is the husband of the orisha Yemòwó (Mawu in other West African religions).


Olokun

From oní (“one who has”) + òkun (“ocean, sea”), literally “Owner of the Sea”, compare with Edo Ólókú

affix

A primordial imọlẹ̀ of the Yoruba religion, they are an androgynous divinity of the ocean and the seas, and said to embody the Atlantic Ocean. They are the parent of the deities, Ọlọ́sà and Ajé, and is also a deified orisha of the same name, as a human, she said to be the wife of Odùduwà


ọyaya

From ọ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yàyà (“of an entity bubbling or gushing out”), probably related to Edo oghagha (“brag, boast”).

af

ó fi ọ̀yàyà ṣe wá ní àlejò

cheerfulness, outgoingness, high spirits, enthusiasm


Ọyọmesi

From the phrase Ọ̀yọ́ mọ èsì (“Ọ̀yọ́ knows how to respond”).

They are advisors of the Aláàfin and also served as checks and balances, and if necessary, could depose the king. They also served as Afọbajẹ, chiefs that elected the new monarch.

A senior council of seven of the highest ranking chiefs in the Ọ̀yọ́ empire, consisting of the Baṣọ̀run, Aṣípa, Àgbàakin, Alápinni, Lágùnnà, Sàmù, and Akíníkù.


irinkerindo

/ì.ɾĩ̀.kè.ɾĩ̄.dò/

From ì- + rìnkè rindò, ultimately from rìn (“to journey”) + òkè (“hill, mountain”) + rìn (“to journey”) + odò (“river”), literally “Traversing through the mountains and the rivers”.


obiṣuari

/ò.bí.ʃú.á.ɾì/


ọgọrun-un

/ɔ̄.ɡɔ́.ꜜɾṹ/

ogún (“twenty”) + márùn-ún (“five”) or ogún ọ̀rún


ọgọrun-un

/ɔ̄.ɡɔ́.ꜜɾṹ/


ẹgbẹrun

/ɛ̄.ɡ͡bɛ̀.ɾṹ/

From igba (“two hundred”) + ẹ̀rún (“five”)


ẹgbaa

From ẹgbẹ̀wá, ultimately from igba (“two hundred”) + ẹ̀wá (“ten”).


ẹgbaa

six pence (sixpence); in modern usage, five kobo


ọgbun

Wọ́n fi ìbínú ju olè sínú ọ̀gbun

In their anger they threw the thief into a deep pit


agbamurere

/à.ɡ͡bá.mũ̀.ɾé.ɾé/


egbin

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *é-gbĩ, compare with Igala égbi

ọmọ́ dára bí egbin


egbin

Pericopsis laxiflora
Pericopsis laxiflora#Translingual

The plants Pericopsis laxiflora and Pericopsis elata (African teak, afromosia)


egbin

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbin (“to groan, to display displeasure”), literally “That which causes one to display disgust”.

af

(idiomatic, Ekiti) Alternative form of ẹ̀gbin (“dirt, filth, refuse”)

(idiomatic, Ekiti) Alternative form of ẹ̀gbin (“contempt, insult, humiliation”)


egbin

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbìn (“to plant”).

(horticulture, Ekiti) Alternative form of ẹ̀gbìn (“plant, crop”)


wura

Possibly from Baatonum wura (“gold”), ultimately from a Songhay language, see Zarma wura, Humburi Senni wúrâ, compare with Gourmanchéma wula

gold, (chemical element, Au, atomical number 79)

Wúràoyè

A Yoruba name meaning "the gold of a chieftaincy title"

Wúràọlá

A Yoruba name meaning "the gold of honor"


kijipa

a type of thick locally woven fabric often dyed and used to make the innermost layers of clothes like aso oke or the ẹ̀kú of an Egungun


itadogun

ẹ̀tà (“three”) + dín (“subtracted from”) + ogún (“twenty”)

compound

seventeenth day, seventeen days from now


Ibunu

a Yoruba sub-ethnic group in Kogi State, Nigeria

A Yoruba dialect spoken by the Ìbùnú people in the Okun dialectal cluster


Gbẹdẹ

A Yoruba sub-ethnic group in Kogi State, Nigeria

A Yoruba dialect spoken by the Gbẹdẹ people, in the Okun dialectal cluster


Iyagba

A Yoruba dialect spoken by the Ìyàgbà people, and is in the Okun dialectal cluster


Ijumu

A Yoruba dialect spoken by the Ìjùmú people in the Okun dialectal cluster


Owe

A Yoruba subethnic group in Kogi State, Nigeria, specifically in the Yoruba town of Kàbbá

A Yoruba dialect spoken by the Owé people, in the Okun dialectal cluster


kọnkọ

/kɔ̀.ŋ̀.kɔ̀/


ẹkịkụn

/ɛ̄.kɪ́.kʊ̃́/


aloju

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + lò (“to use”) + jù (“too much”).


mọriwo

/mɔ̃̀.ɾì.wò/


kinkinrinmiyin

/kĩ̀.kĩ̀.ɾĩ́.mĩ̄.jĩ́/


kere-ugun

/ké.ɾé.ū.ɡṹ/


irunmarugbo

/ì.ɾũ̀.mà.ɾú.ɡ͡bó/


Ọmọewi

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄.è.wí/

From ọmọ Èwí (“Child of Èwí (ruler and founder of Ado Ekiti)”).

A nickname given to people from the town of Ado Ekiti, from the oríkì of the town

A female oríkì name., given to someone from the town of Ado or who's lineage comes from Ado


Ọdẹgbami

/ɔ̄.dɛ́.ɡ͡bà.mĩ́/

Blend of ọdẹ (“hunter”) + gbà (“to save”) + mí (“me”), literally “The hunter saved me”

blend

a male given name meaning “The hunter saved me”

a surname, from the given name Ọdẹ́gbàmí


Ọlọfịnmẹyẹ

head

Ọlọ́fịnmẹ̀yẹ

Ọlọ́fịnmẹ̀yẹ

yo-pos

Ọlọ́fịnmẹ̀yẹ

Ọlọ́fịnmẹ̀yẹ

yo-prop

Ọlọ́fịnmẹ̀yẹ

Ọlọ́fịnmẹ̀yẹ

head

Ọlọ́fị́nmẹ̀yẹ

Ọlọ́fị́nmẹ̀yẹ

yo-pos

Ọlọ́fị́nmẹ̀yẹ

Ọlọ́fị́nmẹ̀yẹ

yo-prop

Ọlọ́fị́nmẹ̀yẹ

Ọlọ́fị́nmẹ̀yẹ

Ọlọ́fịnmẹ̀yẹ (canonical)
Ọlọ́fị́nmẹ̀yẹ (canonical)

/ɔ̄.lɔ́.fɪ̃̄.mɛ̀.jɛ̄/

/ɔ̄.lɔ́.fɪ̃́.mɛ̀.jɛ̄/

From Blend of Ọlọ́fịn (“the deity Ọlọ́fin”) + mọ̀ (“to know”) + ẹ̀yẹ (“honor, dignity”), literally “Ọlọ́fin knows honor”.

blend

(Ekiti) (Àkúrẹ́) a unisex given name meaning “Ọlọ́fin knows honor”


ayọpọrọ

/ā.jɔ̀.k͡pɔ̀.ɾɔ́/

Ọ́n yọ̀ ayọ̀pọ̀rọ́

(Ekiti) (Àkúrẹ́) extreme joy, enthusiasm, to be ecstatic, to be elated, very happy


gba

Ẹ gbà mí o

(transitive) to rescue, to save, to deliver


gba

Mo gba ẹ̀bùn lọ́wọ́ àwọn òbí mi

(transitive) to take, accept, receive, absorb

Wọ́n ti gba gbogbo ìlú wa

(transitive) to snatch, take, seize, capture

Mo gba apá ọ̀tún

Ọ̀nàkọnà ni o lè gbà rí i

There are several paths they can take to see him

(transitive) to adopt, to take the means of doing something

Yàrá náà á gba gbogbo ẹrù náà

(transitive) to accommodate, occupy, fill up, contain

Ọ̀rọ̀ yìí gba sùúrù

to require, to demand, to make something a condition


gba

(transitive) to combust, to burst into flame


gba

Ẹ̀wù ń gbá kiri nínú afẹ́fẹ́

to billow or blow in the wind, to flutter


gba

Wọ́n ń gbá bọ́ọ̀lù aláfọwọ́gbá

(transitive) to hit, kick, slap, to play (a sport, or with something)

Ilé ni à á kọ́ọ́ gbá, kí a tóó gbáàta

We first must sweep the house, before we sweep outside


gba

Kábíyèsí ń gbá nínú ọlá rẹ̀

(intransitive) to sway, to strut, to walk majestically


gba

Mò ń gbá epo lórí iná

to heat oil, to light a fire on a stove, to set a controlled fire


gba

wọ́n fi aṣọ gbá etí ẹní

They used cloth to hem the edge of the mat

to hem the edges of a mat, cloth, or net


eepinni

/ēé.k͡pĩ̀.nĩ̀/

Má fún un ní eépìnnì kan!

(idiomatic, figurative) a very small amount


ọnini

Hausa: ànīnī

/ɔ̀.nĩ́.nĩ́/

Cognate with Igala àníní, Urhobo áníní, Edo anini, Ibibio anini, Nupe ànini

(obsolete) an amount equal to one farthing (one-quarter of a penny)

(idiomatic) a small, inconsequential amount


kọbọ

From English copper, perhaps through Hausa kwabṑ.

kobo, lowest denomination of the Nigerian currency, equal to 1/100 of a naira


tọrọ

threepence; in modern usage, three kobo; pittance


igbiwo

From igba (“two hundred”) + owó (“cowries, money”).

compound

two-hundred cowries; one halfpenny in colonial usage; in modern usage, half a kobo


igbio

From igba (“two hundred”) + ió (“cowries, money”).


Akamara

(Ìṣẹ̀ṣe) He is the energy and creator of the universe, the beginning of the Big Bang, regarded as the most superior and powerful being in the universe


Ọsagunda

Ọ̀sá + Ògúndá

The one-hundred and sixtieth chapter of the odù Ifá corpus, one of the amulu of the odù Ifá, it details the creation of the universe.


ṣalaye

ṣe (“to make”) + àlàyé (“an explanation”).

Ṣó o lè ṣàlàyé ẹ̀ fún mi?


ṣayẹwo

ṣe (“to do”) + àyẹ̀wò (“an examination, test”).


ṣepinya

From ṣe (“to do”) + ìpínyà (“a division, separation”).


ṣelu

ṣe (“to do”) + ìlú (“settlement, city, town, city-state”).


olofoofo

From oní- (“one that has”) + òfófó (“gossip”).


ṣafikun

From ṣe (“to make”) + àfikún (“addition”).


afikun

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fi (“to put”) + kún (“to fill”). Cognates include Ìjẹ̀bú Yoruba ẹ̀fukún, Ede Ica àfukɔ́n.


iyemeji

From iyè (“mind”) + méjì (“two”), literally "two minds".

Kò sí iyèméjì nípa ẹ̀


ṣokunfa

From ṣe (“to make”) + okùnfà (“a cause, a factor”).


okunfa

Okùnfà kọ́ nìyẹn.


ifọ

From i- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fọ̀ (“to speak”).


yugọọti

/jú.ɡɔ́ɔ̀.tì/


aja oṣupa

/ā.d͡ʒá ò.ʃù.k͡pá/

From ajá (“dog”) + òṣùpá (“moon”), literally “the dog of the moon”, because Venus appears to follow the moon in the night sky like a dog following its owner.


Ogunbiyii

Blend of Ògún (“Ogun, the Yoruba god of iron”) + bí (“to give birth to”) + èyí (“this”), literally “Ògún gave birth to this one”

blend

a male given name meaning “the deity Ògún gave birth to this child”

a surname, from the given name Ògúnbíyìí


Kẹyinde

From Clipping of Ọmọ́kẹ́yìndé, ultimately from ọmọ (“child”) + kẹ́yìn (“to come from behind, to come last”) + dé (“to arrive”), literally “The child who comes from behind, the one who comes second”.

clipping

Ọmọ́kẹ́yìndé

compound

a unisex given name, an orúkọ àmútọ̀runwá given to the second child in a set of twins or triplet


ẹlẹmu

/ɛ̄.lɛ́.mũ̄/

From oní- (“one who has”) + ẹmu (“palm wine”).


akurọ

fertile, swampy, irrigated river bank, fadama, paddy

àkùrọ̀ ti lómi tẹ́lẹ̀, kí òjò tó rọ̀ sí i


iṣikanrin

/ì.ʃí.kã̄.ɾĩ́/


ọkandinlaaadọta

head

ọ̀kàndínláàádọ́ta

ọ̀kàndínláàádọ́ta

yo-pos

ọ̀kàndínláàádọ́ta

ọ̀kàndínláàádọ́ta

/ɔ̀.kã̀.dĩ́.láàá.dɔ́.tā/

Contraction of ọ̀kan dín ní àádọ́ta (“one subtracted from fifty”).


ejidinlaaadọta

head

èjìdínláàádọ́ta

èjìdínláàádọ́ta

yo-pos

èjìdínláàádọ́ta

èjìdínláàádọ́ta

/è.d͡ʒì.dĩ́.láꜜá.dɔ́.tā/

Contraction of èjì dín ní àádọ́ta (“two subtracted from fifty”).

contraction

èjì dín ní àádọ́ta


ẹtadinlaaadọta

head

ẹ̀tàdínláàádọ́ta

ẹ̀tàdínláàádọ́ta

yo-pos

ẹ̀tàdínláàádọ́ta

ẹ̀tàdínláàádọ́ta

Contraction of ẹ̀tà dín ní àádọ́ta (“three subtracted from fifty”).

contraction

ẹ̀tà dín ní àádọ́ta


ẹrindinlaaadọta

head

ẹ̀rìndínláàádọ́ta

ẹ̀rìndínláàádọ́ta

yo-pos

ẹ̀rìndínláàádọ́ta

ẹ̀rìndínláàádọ́ta

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ̀.dĩ́.láàá.dɔ́.tā/

Contraction of ẹ̀rin dín ní àádọ́ta (“four reduced from fifty”).


arundinlaaadọta

head

àrúndínláàádọ́ta

àrúndínláàádọ́ta

yo-pos

àrúndínláàádọ́ta

àrúndínláàádọ́ta

/à.ɾṹ.dĩ́.láàá.dɔ́.tā/

From àrún + dín + ní + àádọ́ta, literally “five subtracted from fifty”.


ẹrinlelogoji

head

ẹ̀rìnlélógójì

ẹ̀rìnlélógójì

yo-pos

ẹ̀rìnlélógójì

ẹ̀rìnlélógójì

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ̀.lé.ló.ɡó.d͡ʒì/

Contraction of ẹ̀rìn lé ní ogójì (“four added to forty”).

contraction

ẹ̀rìn lé ní ogójì


ẹtalelogoji

head

ẹ̀tàlélógójì

ẹ̀tàlélógójì

yo-pos

ẹ̀tàlélógójì

ẹ̀tàlélógójì

Contraction of ẹ̀tà lé ní ogójì (“three added to forty”).

contraction

ẹ̀tà lé ní ogójì


ejilelogoji

/è.d͡ʒì.lé.ló.ɡó.d͡ʒì/

Contraction of èjì lé ní ogójì (“two added to forty”).

èjì lé ní ogójì


ọkanlelogoji

head

ọ̀kànlélógójì

ọ̀kànlélógójì

yo-pos

ọ̀kànlélógójì

ọ̀kànlélógójì

/ɔ̀.kã̀.lé.ló.ɡó.d͡ʒì/

Contraction of ọ̀kan lé ní ogójì (“one added to forty”).


ọkanlelaaadọta

head

ọ̀kànléláàádọ́ta

ọ̀kànléláàádọ́ta

yo-pos

ọ̀kànléláàádọ́ta

ọ̀kànléláàádọ́ta

Contraction of ọ̀kan lé ní àádọ́ta (“one added to forty”).

contraction

ọ̀kan lé ní àádọ́ta


ejilelaaadọta

head

èjìléláàádọ́ta

èjìléláàádọ́ta

yo-pos

èjìléláàádọ́ta

èjìléláàádọ́ta

Contraction of èjì lé ní àádọ́ta (“two added to fifty”).

contraction

èjì lé ní àádọ́ta


ẹtalelaaadọta

head

ẹ̀tàléláàádọ́ta

ẹ̀tàléláàádọ́ta

yo-pos

ẹ̀tàléláàádọ́ta

ẹ̀tàléláàádọ́ta

Contraction of ẹ̀tà lé ní ogójì (“three added to fifty”).

contraction

ẹ̀tà lé ní ogójì


ẹrinlelaaadọta

head

ẹ̀rìnléláàádọ́ta

ẹ̀rìnléláàádọ́ta

yo-pos

ẹ̀rìnléláàádọ́ta

ẹ̀rìnléláàádọ́ta

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ̀.lé.láàá.dɔ́.tā/

Contraction of ẹ̀rìn lé ní àádọ́ta (“four added to fifty”).

contraction

ẹ̀rìn lé ní àádọ́ta


arundinlọgọta

/à.ɾṹ.dĩ́.lɔ́.ɡɔ́.tā/

Contraction of àrún dín ní ọgọ́ta (“five subtracted from sixty”).


ẹrindinlọgọta

head

ẹ̀rìndínlọ́gọ́ta

ẹ̀rìndínlọ́gọ́ta

yo-pos

ẹ̀rìndínlọ́gọ́ta

ẹ̀rìndínlọ́gọ́ta

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ̀.dĩ́.lɔ́.ɡɔ́.tā/

Contraction of ẹ̀rin dín ní ọgọ́ta (“four reduced from sixty”).


ẹtadinlọgọta

head

ẹ̀tàdínlọ́gọ́ta

ẹ̀tàdínlọ́gọ́ta

yo-pos

ẹ̀tàdínlọ́gọ́ta

ẹ̀tàdínlọ́gọ́ta

/ɛ̀.tà.dĩ́.lɔ́.ɡɔ́.tā/

Contraction of ẹ̀tà dín ní ọgọ́ta (“three subtracted from sixty”).

contraction

ẹ̀tà dín ní ọgọ́ta


ejidinlọgọta

head

èjìdínlọ́gọ́ta

èjìdínlọ́gọ́ta

yo-pos

èjìdínlọ́gọ́ta

èjìdínlọ́gọ́ta

/è.d͡ʒì.dĩ́.lɔ́.ɡɔ́.tā/

Contraction of èjì dín ní ọgọ́ta (“two subtracted from sixty”).

contraction

èjì dín ní ọgọ́ta


ọkandinlọgọta

head

ọ̀kàndínlọ́gọ́ta

ọ̀kàndínlọ́gọ́ta

yo-pos

ọ̀kàndínlọ́gọ́ta

ọ̀kàndínlọ́gọ́ta

/ɔ̀.kã̀.dĩ́.lɔ́.ɡɔ́.tā/

Contraction of ọ̀kan dín ní ọgọ́ta (“one subtracted from sixty”).


ọgọta

/ɔ̄.ɡɔ́.ꜜtā/


ẹja alaran-an

/ɛ̄.d͡ʒā ā.lá.ɾã̀ã́/

From ẹja (“fish”) + oní- (“one who has”) + àrán (“velvet”), literally “The fish with velvet-like skin”.


ẹja onirungbọn

/ɛ̄.d͡ʒā ō.nĩ́.ɾũ̀.ɡ͡bɔ̃̀/

From ẹja (“fish”) + oní- (“one who has”) + irùngbọ̀n (“beard”), literally "bearded fish".

Royal threadfin (Pentanemus quinquarius)


ẹja ọsan

/ɛ̄.d͡ʒā ɔ̄.sã̀/

From ẹja (“fish”) + ọsàn (“orange (fruit)”), literally "orange fish".

African brown knifefish (Xenomystus nigri)


ajibẹtẹ

/ā.d͡ʒí.bɛ́.tɛ́/


tannatanna

Reduplication of tanná (“to turn on light, fire”), literally "light switcher"


erinmilokun

/ē.ɾĩ̄.mĩ̄.ló.kũ̄/

From erin (“elephant”) + omi (“water”) + oní- (“one who has”) + òkun (“ocean”).


tomati elejo

From tòmátì (“tomato”) + oní- (“one who has”) + ejò (“snake”), literally "snake tomato".


ẹja apatamaja

From ẹja (“fish”) + àpátámàjà (“stingray”).

stingray, skate (Dasyatidae and Rajidae spp.)


ṣẹda

From ṣe (“to make”) + ẹ̀dá (“a creation”).

(transitive) to create, to make a creation


ṣewadii

From ṣe (“to do”) + ìwádìí (“investigation”).

to investigate, to conduct an investigation.


ṣeto

From ṣe (“to make”) + ètò (“an arrangement, an organisation”).


ṣawawi

(intransitive) to make an excuse, to give excuses.


ṣawari

From ṣe (“to make”) + àwárí (“discovery”).


ṣatunto

From ṣe (“to make”) + àtúntò (“adjustment”).


ṣatunṣe

From ṣe (“to make”) + àtúnṣe (“renovation; update; reform”).


ọmọkọmọ

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄.kɔ́.mɔ̃̄/

From ọmọ (“child”) + -kí- (interfix) + ọmọ (“child”).


ẹnikẹni

/ɛ̄.nĩ̄.kɛ́.nĩ̄/

From ẹni (“person”) + -kí- (“infix”) + ẹni (“person”).


ọmọdo

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄.dó/

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ọmọdóview map


ọmọ ẹgbẹ

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄ ɛ̄.ɡ͡bɛ́/


ẹgbẹ

From ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbẹ (“to be dry, to dry”)

af

dehydration, dryness; that which is dry or dried


ọmọ-ọwọ

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄ ɔ̄.wɔ́/

From ọmọ (“child”) + ọwọ́ (“hand”), literally "child of the hand".


ọmọniyan

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄.nĩ̀.jã̀/


ọmọlọ

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄.lɔ̄/

From ọmọ (“child”) + ọlọ (“grinding stone”).


ọmọluwabi

From ọmọ (“child”) + olú (“lord”) + ìwà (“character, existence”) + bí (“to give birth to”), literally "a child that Ìwà birthed".

compound

one born of the best ideals; person of good ìwà

The Yoruba concept of the ideal human that one must strive to attain.


ọmọwu

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄.wú/


ọkọ oju irin

/ɔ̄.kɔ̀ ō.d͡ʒú ī.ɾĩ̄/

From ọkọ̀ (“vehicle”) + ojú (“surface”) + irin (“iron”), literally “iron borne vehicle”.


ojugun

/ō.d͡ʒú.ɡũ̄/

From ojú (“face, front”) + eegun (“bone”).


ojukoju

/ō.d͡ʒú.kō.d͡ʒú/

From ojú (“face”) + kò (“to touch”) + ojú (“face”).


ojukoju

/ō.d͡ʒú.kō.d͡ʒú/

Ìpàdé ojúkojú


lojukoju

From ní (“in”) + ojúkojú (“face-to-face”).

Wọ́n pàdé lójúkojú.


ọṣụpa

/ɔ̀.ʃʊ̀.k͡pá/

(Ekiti) Alternative form of òṣùpá (“moon”)


egbogbo

/ē.ɡ͡bò.ɡ͡bò/


kọlikọli

From Reduplication of kọ́ ulí (“to build a house”), literally "house builder".

reduplication

(Ikalẹ) Ikalẹ form of kọ́lékọ́lé (“builder”)


ulooyinbo

From ùlú (“city, country”) + òyìnbó (“White people”).

compound

(Ikalẹ) Ikalẹ form of ìlú òyìnbó (“western world”)


ologho

From olí- (“one who has”) + oghó (“money”).

(Ikalẹ) Ikalẹ form of olówó (“rich person”)


ejijẹ

/ē.d͡ʒí.d͡ʒɛ̄/

From e- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jíjẹ (“partial reduplication of jẹ to eat”).

affix

(Ikalẹ) Alternative form of oúnjẹ (“food”)


akike

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + kíké (“partial reduplication of ké to cut”).

(Ikalẹ, Ekiti) Alternative form of àáké (“axe”)


emimi

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + mímí (“partial reduplication of mí to breathe”).

(Ikalẹ, Ekiti) Ìkálẹ̀ and Èkìtì form of èémí (“breath”)


erirun

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rírún (“partial reduplication of rún to crumble”).


olilu

From ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + lílù (“partial reduplication of lù to beat”).

(Ikalẹ, Ekiti) Ikalẹ form of òòlù (“hammer”)


eriru

From e- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rírú (“partial reduplication of rú to glow”).

(Ikalẹ, Ekiti) Alternative form of eérú (“ash”)


ehihẹn

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + híhẹ́n (“partial reduplication of hẹ́n to chisel”).


etitan

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + títàn (“partial reduplication of tàn to spread”).

(Ikalẹ) Alternative form of ààtàn (“dunghill”)


eghighọ

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ghìghọ̀ (“partial reduplication of ghọ̀ to forbid”).


edidun

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dídún (“partial reduplication of dún "to be black" ”).


ayiyọn

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yíyọ̀n (“partial reduplication of yọ̀n to be sweet”).


epipa

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + pípá (“partial reduplication of pá to crust”).

(Ikalẹ, Ekiti) Alternative form of èépá (“crust”)


abeti aja

From abi- (“prefix”) + etí (“ear”) + ajá (“dog”), literally "one that resembles a dog's ear".

abetí ajá cap; a Yorùbá fìlà with two triangular flaps that can be folded, resembling dog's ears.


ileelẹ

(architecture) bungalow; single story building


uṣẹ

(Ekiti, Ijebu) Èkìtì, Ìjẹ̀bú form of iṣẹ́ (“work”)


irukẹrẹ

/ì.ɾù.kɛ̀.ɾɛ̀/

From Blend of ìrù (“tail”) + kẹ̀rẹ̀ (“to be important”), literally “The tail that is important”.

blend

a white (or black) flywhisk, used as a symbol of authority by chiefs, priests, and monarchs, and also used during dancing and rituals in festivals


ọnikọni

/ɔ̄.nĩ̄.kɔ́.nĩ̄/

From ọni (“person”) + -kí- (“infix”) + ọni (“person”).


ile-iwosan

ilé (“house, building”) + ì (“nominalizing prefix”) + wòsàn (“to heal, to tend to”)


alupipi

(Owe) Owe form of alùpùpù (“motorcycle”)


arungbo

/ā.ɾũ̄.ɡ͡bó/

Mì re arungbó


ayikule

From a- (“agent prefix”) + yí (“to roll”) + okúlè (“dung”)


agbinrin

/à.ɡ͡bĩ̀.ɾĩ̀/

(Owe) Alternative form of àgbọ̀nrín (“bushbuck”)


ajola

(Owe) Alternative form of òjòlá (“python”)


ẹla

Cognate with Olukumi ẹlá, probably from ẹ- (“nominalizing prefix”) + lá (“to be big”). It is unknown if its related to the similar forms ẹran (“meat, cow”), ẹlịlá (“cow”).


ẹla

ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + là (“to split, to divide”)


ẹla

(Ọyọ) the plant Calyptrochilum christyanum


ẹla

ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + là (“to dilute”)


jangiroba

/d͡ʒā.ŋ̄.ɡī.ɾó.bà/


ilekile

From ilé (“house”) + -kí- (“infix”) + ilé (“house”).

Ní ilékílé tí ẹ̀yin bá sì wọ̀.


ile iwosan

From ilé (“house”) + ìwòsàn (“healing”).

Alternative form of ilé-ìwòsàn (“hospital”)


ile ọba

ilé ọba tó jó, ẹwà ló bù sí

the palace that burns down; beauty is added


ile ọmọ

/ī.lé ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄/


ile ẹyẹ

/ī.lé ɛ̄.jɛ̄/


ile ẹjọ

/ī.lé ɛ̄.d͡ʒɔ́/


ile ikawe

Alternative form of ilé-ìkàwé (“library”)


iṣile

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣí (“to open”) + ilé (“home”).


ile kikọ

From ilé (“house”) + kíkọ́ (“building”).


ile ẹjọ kotẹmilọrun

head

ilé ẹjọ́ kòtẹ́milọ́rùn

ilé ẹjọ́ kòtẹ́milọ́rùn

yo-pos

ilé ẹjọ́ kòtẹ́milọ́rùn

ilé ẹjọ́ kòtẹ́milọ́rùn

yo-noun

ilé ẹjọ́ kòtẹ́milọ́rùn

ilé ẹjọ́ kòtẹ́milọ́rùn

/ī.lé ɛ̄.d͡ʒɔ́ kò.tɛ́.mĩ̄.lɔ́.ɾũ̀/

From ilé ẹjọ́ (“court”) + kò (“not”) + tẹ́ lọ́rùn (“satisfy”) + mi (“me”).

compound

2020 December 4, “Maryam Sanda: Ilé-ẹjọ́ kòtẹ́milọ́rùn fòntẹ̀ lu ìdájọ́ ikú fún Sanda tó gún ọkọ rẹ̀ pa [Maryam Sanda: Appeals court overturns Sanda's death sentence for stabbing her husband]”, in BBC Yorùbá:


ikaniyan

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + kà (“to count”) + ènìyàn (“people”).

affix

2019 November 4, “Ìtọ́sọ́nà rẹ sí Ìkànìyàn 2020 [Your Guide to the 2020 Census]”, in Ìtọ́sọ́nà rẹ sí Ìkànìyàn 2020 (Yoruba Language Guide):


papakọ ofuurufu

pápá (“field”) + ọkọ̀ òfuurufú (“airplane”)


iṣikinrin

/ì.ʃí.kĩ̄.ɾĩ́/

(Ekiti) Alternative form of ìṣíkanrín (“fruit fly”)


kitipa

Ó gbé kítípà bora


oduwa

Oduwa ti jáde


panakata

Ó panakàtá


uwọ

From ù- + wọ, compare with Olukumi úwọ and Igala ùwẹ

(chiefly SEY) you (emphatic second-person singular personal pronoun)


oghun

(Ilajẹ, Ikalẹ) Ìlàjẹ and Ìkálẹ̀ form of òun (“he; she; it (emphatic third-person singular personal pronoun)”)


oghun

Older form for the term salt only found in Northeast and Southeast Yoruba dialects. See Igala ómu, Ifè oŋu, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ó-ɓũ. The form likely referred to an indigenous salt, perhaps related to rock salt or halite, which was later replaced by salt imported from the North.

Mú oghun díẹ hí ọ̀bẹ̀ ghìn lọ́wọ́ inọ́

Put a little salt in the soup on the fire


gwẹ

(Ilajẹ, Ikalẹ, Ọwọ, Usẹn) Alternative form of wẹ̀ (“to bathe”)


wẹ

Possibly derived from Proto-Yoruboid *gwɛ̀. Cognate with Igala gwẹ̀


ulikuli

From ulí (“house”) + kí (“infix”) + ulí (“house”).

affix

(Ikalẹ) Ikalẹ form of ilékílé (“any house; bad house”)


ọfọ

From ọ- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fọ̀ (“to speak”). Cognate with Itsekiri ọ̀fọ̀ (“word”).

(Ikalẹ, Ekiti, Ọwọ, Ào, Usẹn) word, statement


aghọfẹn

/à.ɣɔ̀.fɛ̃̄/

Cognates include Itsekiri àghọ̀fẹn. From Proto-Edekiri *à-ɣɔ̀fɪ̃, equivalent to àghọ̀ + ọfẹn

com

àghọ̀ + ọfẹn


aafin

Cognates include Itsekiri àghọ̀fẹn, Ìjẹ̀bú Yoruba àwọ̀fi. Proposed to be derived Proto-Yoruba *à-wɔ̀fɪ̃, from Proto-Edekiri *à-ɣɔ̀fɪ̃. The Proto-Yoruboid term is unclear, see Igala éfọfẹ (“palace”), Igala ọ́fẹ (“chieftaincy title”). Here we see a shifting of /ɣ/ and /w/ to /f/ or vice versa, which, while it is not clear which direction that sound change may have taken, is seen in other Yoruboid or Edekiri cognates, see ehoro vs. afolo and ọ̀fàfà vs. awàwà. See perhaps ultimately from Proto-Yoruboid *á-fɔ̀fɪ̃, *ɛ́-fɔ̀fɪ̃ or Proto-Yoruboid *á-ɣɔ̀fɪ̃, *ɛ́-ɣɔ̀fɪ̃. Also see Proto-Yoruboid *-fɪ̃ (“root relating to royalty or nobility”). Likely a Doublet of Ọlọ́fịn, Doublet of ọfịn, Doublet of Ọ̀dọ̀fin

inh

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ààfinview map


Idanre

Idanre (a historical kingdom in Nigeria)

Idanre (a Local Government Area in Nigeria)


Ilajẹ

/ì.là.d͡ʒɛ̄/

Ilaje people, a subgroup of the Yoruba people that speak the Ilaje dialect

A coastal dialect of the Yoruba language

Ilaje (a Local Government Area in Ondo State in Nigeria)


ụgbẹ

(Ekiti) Alternative form of ị̀gbẹ̀ (“time, occasion, season”)


ejide

èjì (“two”) + dé (“to arrive”), literally “The two have arrived”

compound

(Ekiti) An oríkì or praise name for twins


ibeji

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bí (“to give birth to”) + èjì (“two”)


imọ ẹrọ

/ì.mɔ̃̀ ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄/

From ìmọ̀ (“knowledge”) + ẹ̀rọ (“machine”).


imọ iṣegun

/ì.mɔ̃̀ ì.ʃè.ɡũ̀/

From ìmọ̀ (“knowledge”) + ìṣègùn (“medicine”).


imọ ajakalẹ arun

head

ìmọ̀ àjàkálẹ̀ àrùn

ìmọ̀ àjàkálẹ̀ àrùn

yo-pos

ìmọ̀ àjàkálẹ̀ àrùn

ìmọ̀ àjàkálẹ̀ àrùn

yo-noun

ìmọ̀ àjàkálẹ̀ àrùn

ìmọ̀ àjàkálẹ̀ àrùn

/ì.mɔ̃̀ à.d͡ʒà.ká.lɛ̀ à.ɾũ̀/

From ìmọ̀ (“knowledge”) + àjàkálẹ̀ àrùn (“epidemic”).

compound

àjàkálẹ̀ àrùn


imọ eto ọrọ-aje

head

ìmọ̀ ètò ọrọ̀-ajé

ìmọ̀ ètò ọrọ̀-ajé

yo-pos

ìmọ̀ ètò ọrọ̀-ajé

ìmọ̀ ètò ọrọ̀-ajé

yo-noun

ìmọ̀ ètò ọrọ̀-ajé

ìmọ̀ ètò ọrọ̀-ajé

/ì.mɔ̃̀ è.tò ɔ̄.ɾɔ̀ ā.d͡ʒé/

From ìmọ̀ (“knowledge”) + ètò ọrọ̀-ajé (“economy”).

compound

ètò ọrọ̀-ajé


imọ iṣiro

/ì.mɔ̃̀ ì.ʃī.ɾò/

From ìmọ̀ (“knowledge”) + ìṣirò (“mathematics”).


imọ ẹda-ede

head

ìmọ̀ ẹ̀dá-èdè

ìmọ̀ ẹ̀dá-èdè

yo-pos

ìmọ̀ ẹ̀dá-èdè

ìmọ̀ ẹ̀dá-èdè

yo-noun

ìmọ̀ ẹ̀dá-èdè

ìmọ̀ ẹ̀dá-èdè

/ì.mɔ̃̀ ɛ̀.dá è.dè/

From ìmọ̀ (“knowledge”) + ẹ̀dá (“creation”) + èdè (“language”).


imọ sayẹnsi

head

ìmọ̀ sáyẹ́ǹsì

ìmọ̀ sáyẹ́ǹsì

yo-pos

ìmọ̀ sáyẹ́ǹsì

ìmọ̀ sáyẹ́ǹsì

yo-noun

ìmọ̀ sáyẹ́ǹsì

ìmọ̀ sáyẹ́ǹsì

/ì.mɔ̃̀ sá.jɛ́.ŋ̀.sì/

From ìmọ̀ (“knowledge”) + sáyẹ́ǹsì (“science”).


imọ iṣẹ ẹrọ

head

ìmọ̀ iṣẹ́ ẹ̀rọ

ìmọ̀ iṣẹ́ ẹ̀rọ

yo-pos

ìmọ̀ iṣẹ́ ẹ̀rọ

ìmọ̀ iṣẹ́ ẹ̀rọ

yo-noun

ìmọ̀ iṣẹ́ ẹ̀rọ

ìmọ̀ iṣẹ́ ẹ̀rọ

/ì.mɔ̃̀ ī.ʃɛ́ ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄/

From ìmọ̀ (“knowledge”) + iṣẹ́ (“work”) + ẹ̀rọ (“machine”).


onimọ

/ō.nĩ́.mɔ̃̀/

From oní- (“one who has”) + ìmọ̀ (“knowledge”).


imọ nipa ẹda eniyan

head

ìmọ̀ nípa ẹ̀dá ènìyàn

ìmọ̀ nípa ẹ̀dá ènìyàn

yo-pos

ìmọ̀ nípa ẹ̀dá ènìyàn

ìmọ̀ nípa ẹ̀dá ènìyàn

yo-noun

ìmọ̀ nípa ẹ̀dá ènìyàn

ìmọ̀ nípa ẹ̀dá ènìyàn

/ì.mɔ̃̀ nĩ́.k͡pā ɛ̀.dá è.nĩ̀.jã̀/

From ìmọ̀ (“knowledge”) + nípa (“about”) + ẹ̀dá (“creation”) + ènìyàn (“humanity”).


imọlara

/ì.mɔ̃̀.lá.ɾā/

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + mọ̀ (“to know”) + ní (“in”) + ara (“body”).


ẹka ede

From ẹ̀ka (“branch”) + èdè (“language”).


elede meji

From oní- (“one who has”) + èdè (“language”) + méjì (“two”).


gbede

Contraction of gbọ́ èdè (“to understand a language”).

contraction

Kò kúkú gbédè Faransé.


akanlo ede

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + kàn (“just”) + lò (“to use”) + èdè (“language”).


ọrọkọrọ

/ɔ̀.ɾɔ̀.kɔ́.ɾɔ̀/

From ọ̀rọ̀ (“word”) + -kí- (“infix”) + ọ̀rọ̀ (“word”).


ọrọ agba

/ɔ̀.ɾɔ̀ à.ɡ͡bà/

From ọ̀rọ̀ (“word”) + àgbà (“elder”), literally "words of the elders".


ọrọ ajọsọ

/ɔ̀.ɾɔ̀ à.d͡ʒɔ̄.sɔ̄/

From ọ̀rọ̀ (“word”) + à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jọ (“together”) + sọ (“to say”).


aka-ọrọ

/à.ká ɔ̀.ɾɔ̀/

From àká (“store, barn, library”) + ọ̀rọ̀ (“word”).


ọlọrọ

/ɔ̄.lɔ́.ɾɔ̀/

From oní- (“one who has”) + ọ̀rọ̀ (“word”).


ọlọrọ

/ɔ̄.lɔ́.ɾɔ̀/

From oní- (“one who has”) + ọrọ̀ (“wealth”).


ọlọrọ

/ɔ̄.lɔ́.ɾɔ̀/

Ó ti dìlú ọlọ́rọ̀.


sọrọ

Contraction of sọ ọ̀rọ̀ (“to say words”).

contraction

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - sọ̀rọ̀view map

wíìnyɛ̀峟Note: This amalgamation of terms comes from a number of different academic papers focused on the unique varieties and languages spoken in the Yoruboid dialectal continuum which extends from eastern Togo to southern Nigeria. The terms for spoken varieties

now deemed dialects of Yorùbá in Nigeria

have converged with those of Standard Yorùbá leading to the creation of what can be labeled Common Yorùbá. It can be assumed that the Standard Yorùbá term can also be used in most Nigerian varieties alongside native terms

especially amongst younger speakers. This does not apply to the other Nigerian Yoruboid languages of Ìṣẹkírì and Olùkùmi

Yé sọ̀rọ̀!


ọrọ aṣiri

/ɔ̀.ɾɔ̀ à.ʃí.ɾí/

Ọ̀rọ̀ àṣírí ni mo sọ o, etí kẹta ò gbọ́dọ̀ gbọ́ ọ.

I just told you a secret, a third ear must not hear it.


koko-ọrọ

/kó.kó ɔ̀.ɾɔ̀/

From kókó (“point, focus”) + ọ̀rọ̀ (“word”).


ọrọ akanlo

head

ọ̀rọ̀ àkànlò

ọ̀rọ̀ àkànlò

yo-pos

ọ̀rọ̀ àkànlò

ọ̀rọ̀ àkànlò

yo-noun

ọ̀rọ̀ àkànlò

ọ̀rọ̀ àkànlò

/ɔ̀.ɾɔ̀ à.kã̀.lò/

From ọ̀rọ̀ (“phrase”) + à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + kàn (“just”) + lò (“to use”).


ọrọ-akanlo

head

ọ̀rọ̀-àkànlò

ọ̀rọ̀-àkànlò

yo-pos

ọ̀rọ̀-àkànlò

ọ̀rọ̀-àkànlò

yo-noun

ọ̀rọ̀-àkànlò

ọ̀rọ̀-àkànlò

/ɔ̀.ɾɔ̀ à.kã̀.lò/

Alternative form of ọ̀rọ̀ àkànlò (“idiom”)


ọrọ awada

/ɔ̀.ɾɔ̀ à.wà.dà/


ọrọ aibofin-ile-igbimọ-aṣofin-mu

/ɔ̀.ɾɔ̀ à.ì.bó.fĩ̄ī.lé.ì.ɡ͡bì.mɔ̃̀.ā.ʃò.fĩ̄.mũ̄/

From ọ̀rọ̀ (“utterance”) + àì- (“negating prefix”) + bá mu (“to be appropriate with”) + òfin (“rule, law”) + ilé ìgbìmọ̀ aṣòfin (“parliament, senate”).

affix

unparliamentary language
unparliamentary language


ifọrọwanilẹnuwo

head

ìfọ̀rọ̀wánilẹ́nuwò

ìfọ̀rọ̀wánilẹ́nuwò

yo-pos

ìfọ̀rọ̀wánilẹ́nuwò

ìfọ̀rọ̀wánilẹ́nuwò

yo-noun

ìfọ̀rọ̀wánilẹ́nuwò

ìfọ̀rọ̀wánilẹ́nuwò

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fi (“to put”) + ọ̀rọ̀ (“words”) + wá (“to search”) + ẹni (“person”) + ní (“in”) + ẹnu (“mouth”) + wò (“to look”), literally "the act of using words to search someone in the mouth".


ẹda oye-ọrọ

head

ẹ̀dà òye-ọ̀rọ̀

ẹ̀dà òye-ọ̀rọ̀

yo-pos

ẹ̀dà òye-ọ̀rọ̀

ẹ̀dà òye-ọ̀rọ̀

yo-noun

ẹ̀dà òye-ọ̀rọ̀

ẹ̀dà òye-ọ̀rọ̀

/ɛ̀.dà ò.jē ɔ̀.ɾɔ̀/

From ẹ̀dà (“copy”) + òye (“understanding”) + ọ̀rọ̀ (“utterance”), literally "a copy of the understanding of an utterance".


fọrọ wa ọrọ wo lẹnu

head

fọ̀rọ̀ wá ọ̀rọ̀ wò lẹ́nu

fọ̀rọ̀ wá ọ̀rọ̀ wò lẹ́nu

yo-pos

fọ̀rọ̀ wá ọ̀rọ̀ wò lẹ́nu

fọ̀rọ̀ wá ọ̀rọ̀ wò lẹ́nu

yo-verb

fọ̀rọ̀ wá ọ̀rọ̀ wò lẹ́nu

fọ̀rọ̀ wá ọ̀rọ̀ wò lẹ́nu

/fɔ̀.ɾɔ̀ wá ɔ̀.ɾɔ̀ wò lɛ́.nũ̄/

From fi (“to put”) + ọ̀rọ̀ (“words”) + wá (“to find”) + ọ̀rọ̀ (“words”) + wò (“to look”) + ní (“in”) + ẹnu (“the mouth”), literally "using words to find words".


fọrọ wa lẹnu wo

head

fọ̀rọ̀ wá lẹ́nu wò

fọ̀rọ̀ wá lẹ́nu wò

yo-pos

fọ̀rọ̀ wá lẹ́nu wò

fọ̀rọ̀ wá lẹ́nu wò

yo-verb

fọ̀rọ̀ wá lẹ́nu wò

fọ̀rọ̀ wá lẹ́nu wò

/fɔ̀.ɾɔ̀ wá lɛ́.nũ̄ wò/

From fi (“to use”) + ọ̀rọ̀ (“words”) + wá (“to search”) + ní (“in”) + ẹnu (“the mouth”) + wò, literally "to use words to search in the mouth".

compound

Wọ́n fọ̀rọ̀ wá Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù lẹ́nu wò.


ifọrọdara

/ì.fɔ̀.ɾɔ̀.dá.ɾà/

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fi (“to use”) + ọ̀rọ̀ (“words”) + dá (“to create”) + àrà (“spectacle”).

affix

word play; typically utilizing tone and repetition.


sọrọsọrọ

head

sọ̀rọ̀sọ̀rọ̀

sọ̀rọ̀sọ̀rọ̀

yo-pos

sọ̀rọ̀sọ̀rọ̀

sọ̀rọ̀sọ̀rọ̀

yo-noun

sọ̀rọ̀sọ̀rọ̀

sọ̀rọ̀sọ̀rọ̀

/sɔ̀.ɾɔ̀.sɔ̀.ɾɔ̀/


ifọrọwero

/ì.fɔ̀.ɾɔ̀.wé.ɾò/

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fi (“to use”) + ọ̀rọ̀ (“words”) + wá (“to search for”) + èrò (“thoughts”).


alakooso ile-ikawe ile-iwe

From oní- (“one who has”) + àkóso (“control”) + ilé-ìkàwé (“library”) + ilé-ìwé (“school”), literally "the one who has control over the school library".


amojuto ile-ikawe

From a- (“agent prefix”) + mójú tó (“to manage”) + ilé-ìkàwé (“library”).


dokita iṣatunto eyin

head

dókítà ìṣàtúntò eyín

dókítà ìṣàtúntò eyín

yo-pos

dókítà ìṣàtúntò eyín

dókítà ìṣàtúntò eyín

yo-noun

dókítà ìṣàtúntò eyín

dókítà ìṣàtúntò eyín

From dókítà (“doctor”) + ìṣàtúntò (“adjustment”) + eyín (“teeth”), literally "teeth adjustment doctor".


iṣatunto

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣàtúntò (“to adjust, to reform”).


ọrọ-aje

/ɔ̄.ɾɔ̀ ā.d͡ʒé/

From ọrọ̀ (“matter”) + ajé (“commerce”).


ẹni

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ́-nɪ̃ (of which the Central Yoruba form maintains the same form), compare with Arigidi ẹ̀nẹn, Igbo onye, Igala ẹ́nẹ.
Possibly equivalent to ẹ- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ni (“to be”), literally “That which exists”

af

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ẹniview map

ẹnẹ涆ÌtsẹkírìÌwẹrẹọnẹ涆Proto-YorubaCentral YorubaÈkìtìÈkìtìÀdó Èkìtìọnị涆Àkúrẹ́Àkúrẹ́ọnị涆Mọ̀bàỌ̀tùn Èkìtìọnị涆Western ÀkókóỌ̀gbàgì Àkókóọni涆Northwest YorubaÀwórìÈbúté Mẹ́tàẹni涆Ẹ̀gbáAbẹ́òkútaẹni涆ÈkóÈkóẹni涆ÌbàdànÌbàdànẹni涆ÌbàràpáIgbó Òràẹni涆Ìbọ̀lọ́Òṣogboẹni涆ÌlọrinÌlọrinẹni涆OǹkóÒtùẹni涆Ìwéré Iléẹni涆Òkèhòẹni涆Ìsẹ́yìnẹni涆Ṣakíẹni涆Tedéẹni涆Ìgbẹ́tìẹni涆Ọ̀yọ́Ọ̀yọ́ẹni涆Standard YorùbáNàìjíríàẹni涆Bɛ̀nɛ̀ɛni涆Northeast Yoruba/OkunOwéKabbaọni涆Ede Languages/Southwest YorubaÌdàácàBeninIgbó Ìdàácàɔni涆Ifɛ̀Akpáréɛnɛ涆Atakpamɛɛnɛ涆Tchettiɛnɛ涆KuraAledjo-Kouraɛni涆涆Awotébiɛni涆涆Partagoɛni涆涆Note: This amalgamation of terms comes from a number of different academic papers focused on the unique varieties and languages spoken in the Yoruboid dialectal continuum which extends from eastern Togo to southern Nigeria. The terms for spoken varieties


ẹni

Compare with Ifè aní, Itsekiri ẹní, Olukumi ẹní

baba ń hun ẹní


ẹni

Cognate with Itsekiri ẹnẹ (“we, us, our”).

Ulé ẹni rèé

(Ijebu) our (first-person plural possessive pronoun)


ẹni

(Ijebu) us (first-person plural object pronoun)


imọ iwalaaye-nnkan onikaako

head

ìmọ̀ ìwàláàyè-nǹkan oníkàákò

ìmọ̀ ìwàláàyè-nǹkan oníkàákò

yo-pos

ìmọ̀ ìwàláàyè-nǹkan oníkàákò

ìmọ̀ ìwàláàyè-nǹkan oníkàákò

yo-noun

ìmọ̀ ìwàláàyè-nǹkan oníkàákò

ìmọ̀ ìwàláàyè-nǹkan oníkàákò

ìmọ̀ ìwàláàyè-nǹkan oníkàákò (canonical)

/ì.mɔ̃̀ ì.wà.láà.jè.nŋ̀.kã̄ ō.nĩ́.kàá.kò/

ìmọ̀ (“knowledge, science”) + ìwàláàyè-nǹkan (“the state of being alive, livingness”) + oníkàákò (“microscopic, microfilm”), literally “Study of state of living of microscopic organisms”


ẹrọ ayaworan

head

ẹ̀rọ ayàwòrán

ẹ̀rọ ayàwòrán

yo-pos

ẹ̀rọ ayàwòrán

ẹ̀rọ ayàwòrán

yo-noun

ẹ̀rọ ayàwòrán

ẹ̀rọ ayàwòrán

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ā.jà.wò.ɾã́/

ẹ̀rọ (“machine, device”) + a- (“agent prefix”) + yà (“to photograph”) + àwòrán (“picture”), literally “Device that takes photographs”


ẹrọ-ayaworan

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄.ā.jà.wò.ɾã́/

Alternative form of ẹ̀rọ ayàwòrán (“camera”)


aworan

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + wò (“to look at”) + rán (“to stare”), literally “That which is looked at intensively”

af

the act of observing or watching to ponder


ayafọto

From a- (“agent prefix”) + yà (“to take”) + fọ́tò (“photo”).


ọdọọdun

/ɔ̄.dɔ̄ɔ̄.dṹ/


ọsọọsan

/ɔ̀.sɔ̀ɔ̀.sã́/


kọnkere

/kɔ̃̄.ké.ɾé/

Alternative form of kankéré (“concrete”)


yariini

/jā.ɾíì.nĩ̀/


lalaalẹ

Contraction of ní alaalẹ́ (“every evening”)


lọdọọdun

/lɔ́.dɔ̄ɔ̄.dṹ/

Contraction of ní ọdọọdún (“every year”)


lọsọọsan

/lɔ́.sɔ̀ɔ̀.sã́/

Contraction of ní ọ̀sọ̀ọ̀sán (“every afternoon”)

ní ọ̀sọ̀ọ̀sán


fẹ

Mo fẹ́ sùn.

Òjò fẹ́ rọ̀.

It's about to rain. (Rain is almost falling.)

Fẹ́ mi, fẹ́ mi o/ Ó yá sọ̀kalẹ̀/ Mo fẹ́ fún ẹ lẹ́bùn/ Kó o fara balẹ̀/ Mo máa fún ẹ ládùn.

Love me, love me o/ Come on get down/ I want to give you a gift/ So you calm down/ I'll give you pleasure.

(usually transitive, sometimes intransitive, stative) to love

Ṣé wàá fẹ́ mi?


fẹ

Afẹ́fẹ́ ń fẹ́.

Àwọn àgbẹ̀ máa ń fẹ́ ọkà nígbà tí afẹ́fẹ́ bá fẹ́.

Farmers typically winnow when it's windy.


fẹ

Ọ̀rọ̀ àyálò ń fẹ àká-ọ̀rọ̀ Yorùbá, ṣùgbọ́n ìpàdánù wo ló wà?
Loanwords are expanding Yorùbá's lexicon, but at what cost?


fẹ

ìpàdé e ní fẹ̀

Ọnìkan kìí jẹ́ kí ìlú fẹ̀

One person does not cause a town to become prosperous

(chiefly CY and SEY) to be successful, to be prosperous

(chiefly CY and SEY) to be mature, to be ripe


afẹẹri

/à.fɛ́ɛ̀.ɾí/

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fẹ́ (“to want”) + àì- (“negating prefix”) + rí (“to see”).


alailowaya

From oní- (“one that has”) + àì- (“negating prefix”) + lò (“to use”) + wáyà (“wires”).


aloku

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + lò (“to use”) + kù (“to be left over”).

Ṣé àlòkù ni àbí tuntun?


atọọle

/ā.tɔ̀ɔ́.lé/

From a- (“agent prefix”) + tọ̀ (“to urinate”) + nílé (“at home”).

(sometimes derogatory, offensive) bedwetter

(sometimes derogatory, offensive) one who wets themselves


ọbun

Cognates include Ifè ɔ̀bɔ̀ (“dirtiness”)


ọbun

Cognates include Itsekiri ọ̀bọ̀n, Àpọ́ị̀ Izon ọ̀bọ̀n.

Lọ́bùn

a senior female cheiftancy title for the official controller of all markets in Oǹdó


oorun

Possibly from Proto-Yoruboid *ó-lũ̀ or Proto-Yoruboid *ó-lìlũ̀, cognate with Olukumi òrùn, Igala ólù


oorun

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ó-rũ, cognate with Igala ólu, Igbo òlu, Ifè orũ, Olukumi órún, probably ultimately from *rũ (“to sleep”), which is now an obsolete root. It is not clear if the root *sũ̀ (“to sleep”) (sùn) is from the same root.


olooorun

/ō.lóòó.ɾũ̀/

From oní- (“one who has”) + òórùn (“odor”).

(sometimes offensive) odorous person, dirty person


olooorun

/ō.lóòó.ɾũ̀/


oponu

From ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ponú (“to be daft”).


dindinrin

/dĩ̀.dĩ̀.ɾĩ̀/


orirun

ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rírùn (“partial reduplication of rùn to smell”)

af

(Ekiti, Ikalẹ) Alternative form of òórùn (“smell”)


orirun

orí (“soul, head”) + run (“to originate”)

compound

In the Yoruba religion, the place where the soul originates from


aṣẹwo

→ Nigerian Pidgin: ashawo, ashewo

From a- (“agent prefix”) + ṣẹ́ (“to be broken”) + owó (“money”).

affix

(sometimes derogatory, offensive) prostitute, hoe, slut


ọmọ ale

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄ à.lè/

From ọmọ (“child”) + àlè (“concubine”), literally "child of a concubine".


ẹlẹnu iru

/ɛ̄.lɛ́.nũ̄ ī.ɾú/

From oní- (“one who has”) + ẹnu (“mouth”) + irú (“fermented locust beans”).

(offensive) someone with bad breath, stench mouthed person


ụgbalẹ

/ʊ̀.ɡ͡bá.lɛ̀/

From ụ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbálẹ̀ (“to sweep”), likely derived from the Standard Yoruba sense, and has largely replaced ọọ̀


uparo

/ʊ̀.k͡pā.ɾò/


ghọn

Compare with Ifè ŋɔ́, Olukumi ghọn, Igala ñwọ̀, proposed to be derived from Proto-Edekiri *ɣɔ̃̀, *ŋɔ̃̀, ultimately Proto-Yoruboid *ŋʷɔ̃̀, Proto-Yoruboid *wɔ̃̀


ghọn

(Owe) Owe form of wọ̀n (“to weigh, to measure”)


ghọn

Compare with Ifè ŋɔ, Ede Cabe wɔ̃ Igala ñọ, proposed to be derived from Proto-Edekiri *ŋʊ̃, ultimately Proto-Yoruboid *ŋʊ̃. Also see Proto-Yoruba *ŋʊ̃. Compare with Ayere ŋɔ

(Ondo, Ikalẹ, Ilajẹ, Yagba, Gbẹdẹ, Ijumu) to weave


ghọn

Compare with Olukumi ghán, Ifè hã́, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *ɣã́

Isu ti ghọ́n

(Owe) Owe form of wọ́n (“to be expensive”)


eewọ

Contraction of èwìwọ̀ (“taboo”), proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *ɛ̀-ɣɪ̀ɣɔ̀, from Proto-Edekiri *ɛ̀-ɣɪ̀ɣɔ̀

Personal taboos are often given to individual people early in life via the Àkọsẹ̀jayé.

èèwọ̀ ni kí aboyún rìn ní ọ̀sán gangan

It is a taboo for a pregnant woman to walk around in the hot afternoon

àdín jẹ́ èèwọ̀ Èṣù

Giving the orisha Esu palm kernel oil is a taboo

taboo, cultural or religious prohibition.

èèwọ̀ ni nílẹ̀ Yorùbá, kí ìyàwó titun bá ọkọ ọ rẹ̀ nílé

It is an abomination in Yorubaland for a new bride to meet her new husband at home when she arrives to her marital home


eewọ

→ Portuguese: euó


ọma

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ́-mã, Cognates include Igala ọ́ma, Itsekiri ọma, Ede Idaca ọma

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ọmọview map

(Ọwọ, Ikalẹ, Ilajẹ) Alternative form of ọmọ (“child”)


ọmakọma

/ɔ̄.mã̄.kɔ́.mã̄/

From ọma (“child”) + -kí- (“infix”) + ọma (“child”).

(Ikalẹ) Ikalẹ form of ọmọkọ́mọ (“naughty child”)


ẹdọn

(Ọwọ) Ọwọ form of ẹdun (“colobus monkey”)


ẹgwa

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ̀-gwá. Cognates include Igala ɛ̀gwá and Itsekiri mɛ̀gwá


ẹgwa

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ̀-gwà. Possible cognates include Igala ɛ̀gwà and Igbo àgwà.

(Ọwọ, Ondo) Alternative form of ẹ̀wà (“bean”)


ẹgwa

(Ọwọ, Ondo) Alternative form of ẹwà (“beauty”)


aboyun

From abi- (“prefix”) + oyún (“pregnancy”).


sẹngwa

Tolú ù sẹngwà


ọmama

/ɔ̄.mã̄.mã̄/

(Ọwọ, Ikalẹ) Alternative form of ọmọọmọ (“grandchild, descendant”)


ẹrọ amunawa alẹfuufu

head

ẹ̀rọ amúnáwá alẹ̀fúùfù

ẹ̀rọ amúnáwá alẹ̀fúùfù

yo-pos

ẹ̀rọ amúnáwá alẹ̀fúùfù

ẹ̀rọ amúnáwá alẹ̀fúùfù

yo-noun

ẹ̀rọ amúnáwá alẹ̀fúùfù

ẹ̀rọ amúnáwá alẹ̀fúùfù

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ā.mṹ.nã́.wá ā.lɛ̀.fúù.fù/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + a- (“agent prefix”) + mú wá (“to bring”) + iná (“fire, electricity”) + a- (“agent prefix”) + lò (“to use”) + ẹ̀fúùfù (“wind”), literally “machine that brings electricity using wind”.


ẹrọ ifọṣọ

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ì.fɔ̄.ʃɔ̄/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fọ̀ (“to wash”) + aṣọ (“clothes”), literally “machine that washes clothes”.


ẹrọ itẹwe

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ì.tɛ̀.wé/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + tẹ̀ (“to print”) + ìwé (“paper”), literally “machine that prints paper”.


ẹrọ amunawa

head

ẹ̀rọ amúnáwá

ẹ̀rọ amúnáwá

yo-pos

ẹ̀rọ amúnáwá

ẹ̀rọ amúnáwá

yo-noun

ẹ̀rọ amúnáwá

ẹ̀rọ amúnáwá

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ā.mṹ.nã́.wá/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + a- (“agent prefix”) + mú wá (“to bring”) + iná (“fire, electricity”), literally “machine that brings electricity”.


ẹrọ ifọbọ

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ì.fɔ̄.bɔ́/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fọ̀ (“to wash”) + abọ́ (“dishes”), literally “machine that washes dishes”.


ẹrọ amunimi

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ā.mṹ.nĩ̄.mĩ́/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + a- (“agent prefix”) + mú (“to make”) + ẹni (“one”) + mí (“to breathe”), literally “machine that makes people breathe”.


ẹrọ iranṣọ

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ì.ɾã́.ʃɔ̄/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rán (“to sew”) + aṣọ (“clothes”), literally “machine that sews clothes”.


ẹrọ ibanisọrọ

head

ẹ̀rọ ìbánisọ̀rọ̀

ẹ̀rọ ìbánisọ̀rọ̀

yo-pos

ẹ̀rọ ìbánisọ̀rọ̀

ẹ̀rọ ìbánisọ̀rọ̀

yo-noun

ẹ̀rọ ìbánisọ̀rọ̀

ẹ̀rọ ìbánisọ̀rọ̀

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ì.bá.nĩ̄.sɔ̀.ɾɔ̀/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bá (“with”) + ẹni (“person”) + sọ̀rọ̀ (“to talk”), literally “communication machine”.


ẹrọ ilọnkan

head

ẹ̀rọ ìlọǹkan

ẹ̀rọ ìlọǹkan

yo-pos

ẹ̀rọ ìlọǹkan

ẹ̀rọ ìlọǹkan

yo-noun

ẹ̀rọ ìlọǹkan

ẹ̀rọ ìlọǹkan

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ì.lɔ̄.ŋ̀.kã̄/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + lọ (“to grind”) + nǹkan (“things”), literally “machine that grinds things”.


ẹrọ amohuntutu

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ā.mó.hũ̄.tū.tù/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + a- (“agent prefix”) + mú (“to make”) + ohun (“things”) + tutù (“to be cold”), literally “machine that cools things”.


ẹrọ agbaworanyọ

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ā.mó.ɡ͡bá.wò.ɾã́.jɔ̄/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + a- (“agent prefix”) + gbé (“to make”) + àwòrán (“pictures”) + yọ (“appear”), literally “machine that makes images appear”.


ẹrọ iṣiro

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ì.ʃí.ɾò/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣírò (“to calculate”), literally “machine that calculates”.


ẹrọ iṣawari

head

ẹ̀rọ ìṣàwárí

ẹ̀rọ ìṣàwárí

yo-pos

ẹ̀rọ ìṣàwárí

ẹ̀rọ ìṣàwárí

yo-noun

ẹ̀rọ ìṣàwárí

ẹ̀rọ ìṣàwárí

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ì.ʃà.wá.ɾí/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + ìṣàwárí (“search”), literally “machine that searches”.


ọghọn

(Ọwọ) Ọwọ form of àwọn (“they (emphatic third-person plural personal pronoun)”)


ẹghẹn

Cognates with Ìjẹ̀bú Yoruba ẹ̀wẹn, Yoruba ẹ̀yin, Èkìtì Yoruba ìn-in

(Ọwọ) you (emphatic second-person plural honorific personal pronoun)


ẹghẹn

Cognates with Itsekiri ẹghẹn, Olukumi ẹ́ghẹ́n, Ìjẹ̀bú Yoruba ẹwẹn, Yoruba ẹyin, Èkìtì Yoruba ẹịn, see Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́-ɣɪ̃


Yewa

From Etymology 2, probably from iye (“mother”) + wa (“our”), literally “Our mother”

compound

The current name for the Ẹ̀gbádò, a Yoruba subethnic group in Ogun State, Nigeria

A Yoruba dialect spoken by the Yewa people


Ibarapa

A Yoruba sub-ethnic group in southwestern Oyo State

A Yoruba dialect spoken by the Ìbàràpá people


ku ẹrụbọ

/kú ɛ̀.ɾʊ̀.bɔ̀/

From kú + ẹ̀rụ̀bọ̀. Cognate with Itsekiri èrùbọ̀, Southeast Yoruba èrùbọ̀. Possibly an interdialectal borrowing from a Southeast Yoruba dialect to Ekiti

kú + ẹ̀rụ̀bọ̀

kú ẹ̀rùbọ̀ atọ́ọ̀ọ́rọ̀

Welcome back after working since the morning


akọgirisi

/à.kɔ́.ɡì.ɾì.sì/

(Ekiti) The yellow sterculia tree, Sterculia oblonga


majẹmu

/má.d͡ʒɛ̀.mũ̄/


ere oṣupa

/ē.ɾé ò.ʃù.k͡pá/

moonlight games; form of Yorùbá physical or mental game played by children in the evenings, including bojúbojú, àlọ́ àpamọ̀, àlọ́ àpagbè.


ereṣupa

/ē.ɾé.ʃù.k͡pá/

Contraction of eré òṣùpá (“moonlight game”).

contraction

Alternative form of eré òṣùpá (“moonlight games”)


jẹnẹretọ

/d͡ʒɛ̄.nɛ̄.ɾé.tɔ̀/


origho

Cognates include Itsekiri orígho, Igala ójí proposed to be derived from Proto-Edekiri *o-ríɣo, *o-rí, ultimately from Proto-Yoruboid *ó-ɗí, *ó-rí. The compounding of the suffix "ɣo" (later "wo") is possibly an Proto-Edekiri innovation still maintained in a majority of Edekiri languages, and the non-suffixed version likely existed side by side. However, Ayere ago may suggest it is a remnant of an older root. See potential non-Yoruboid cognates, Arigidi igíri, Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀tʊ́è, Proto-Grassfields *tú, Proto-Plateau *-tii, Proto-Benue-Congo *-to, possibly Igbo isi, Akpes ìcùm, perhaps ultimately from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-li- or Proto-Niger-Congo *-túi, *-tu

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - oríview map

oí敓Ọ̀wọ̀Ọ̀wọ̀orígho敓UsẹnUsẹnorí敓ÌtsẹkírìÌwẹrẹorígho敓OlùkùmiUgbódùórí敓Proto-YorubaCentral YorubaÈkìtìÈkìtìÀdó Èkìtìorí敓Òdè Èkìtìorí敓Òmùò Èkìtìorí敓Awó Èkìtìorí敓Ìfàkì Èkìtìorí敓Àkúrẹ́Àkúrẹ́orí敓Mọ̀bàỌ̀tùn Èkìtìorí敓Ifẹ̀Ilé Ifẹ̀orí敓Òkè IgbóÒkè Igbóorí敓Northwest YorubaÀwórìÈbúté Mẹ́tàorí敓Ẹ̀gbáAbẹ́òkútaorí敓ÈkóÈkóorí敓ÌbàdànÌbàdànorí敓ÌgbómìnàÌlá Ọ̀ràngúnerí敓Ìfẹ́lódùn LGAerí敓Ìrẹ́pọ̀dùn LGAerí敓Ìsin LGAerí敓ÌlọrinÌlọrinerí敓OǹkóÌwéré Iléeí敓Òkèhòorí敓Ìsẹ́yìnerí敓Ṣakíerí敓Tedéorí敓Ìgbẹ́tìerí敓Ọ̀yọ́Ọ̀yọ́orí敓Standard YorùbáNàìjíríàorí敓Bɛ̀nɛ̀orí敓Northeast Yoruba/OkunOwéKabbaoówo敓Ede Languages/Southwest YorubaAnaSokodeeéwo敓Cábɛ̀ɛ́Cábɛ̀ɛ́eéwo敓Tchaourouéwo敓ǸcàBaàtɛéwo敓

éwo敓Moretaneéwo敓Tchettieríwo敓KuraAwotébiórí敓敓Partagoérí敓敓Mɔ̄kɔ́léKandiirí敓敓Northern NagoKamboleeéwo敓敓Manigrieéwo敓敓Southern NagoÌsakétéerí敓敓Ìfànyìnerí敓敓Overseas YorubaLucumíHavanaorí敓Note: This amalgamation of terms comes from a number of different academic papers focused on the unique varieties and languages spoken in the Yoruboid dialectal continuum which extends from eastern Togo to southern Nigeria. The terms for spoken varieties

Ọfọ̀ yìí ghùn mí nórígho.

(I was touched by this speech) (Ìlàjẹ)

(Ikalẹ, Ilajẹ, Idanre) (Yoruba religion) the orí


jijẹ

/d͡ʒí.d͡ʒɛ̄/


oigho

Cognates include Itsekiri orígho, Ìjẹ̀bú Yoruba orúwo


alubasa

From Hausa albasa, from Arabic بَصَل (baṣal).

Ó gé àlùbásà hí ẹrọn ghin í bọ́. ― She put onions in the meat she is boiling. (Owé)

(Owe, Ọwọ, Ondo, Ekiti) Alternative form of àlùbọ́sà (“onion”)


abiyẹ

From abi- (“prefix”) + ìyẹ́ (“feather, wing”).


iyẹ

From Proto-Yoruboid *ɪ̀-wɛ́, compare with Olukumi ẹyẹ́


pọfọ

From pa (“to tell”) + ọfọ̀ (“incantation”).


pariwo

From pa (“to tell, to convey”) + ariwo (“noise”).


palọ

From pa (“to tell”) + àlọ́ (“folktale”).


paṣẹ

From pa (“to convey”) + àṣẹ (“authority”).


poṣe

From pa (“to convey”) + òṣé (“kiss of the teeth”).


pogede

From pa (“to recite”) + ògèdè (“an incantation”).


pagọ

From pa (“to set up”) + àgọ́ (“camp, impermanent settlement”).

to camp, to set up an impermanent settlement


ọlọ

From ọ- (“nominalizing prefix”) + lọ (“to grind”). Cognates include Edo olọ.

affix

grinding stone; (in particular) large grinding stone


abuubutan abuke

àbùùbùtán (“whale”) + abuké (“hunchbacked, humpbacked”), a Calque of English humpback whale


ehikọ

à rí ehìkọ́ kan lánọ̀ọ́


kayeefi

Likely derived from the Hausa [Term?] language


kayeefi

Ògèdèǹgbé ti ìlú Ìjẹ̀ṣà jẹ́ kàyééfì akọni

Ogedengbe of the Ijesa was a legendary warrior


alagabagebe

oní- (“one who possesses”) + àgàbàgebè (“hypocrisy”)


alagabangebe

oní- (“one who possesses”) + àgàbàǹgebè (“hypocrisy”)


agabangebe

/à.ɡà.bà.ŋ̀.ɡē.bè/

Alternative form of àgàbàgebè (“hypocrisy”)


iyọba

From iye (“mother”) + ọba (“monarch”), cognate with Edo iyọba

the queen mother of the Kingdom of Benin


eyin erin

/ē.jĩ́ ē.ɾĩ̄/

From eyín (“tooth”) + erin (“elephant”).


orukọkorukọ

/ō.ɾú.kɔ̄.kó.ɾú.kɔ̄/

From orúkọ (“name”) + -kí- (“infix”) + orúkọ (“name”).


oukọ

Kí oúkọ "ìgbín" nédè Oǹdó?
"Ùgbẹ́n".
What's the name of "ìgbín" in Oǹdó?
"Ùgbẹ́n".

(Ondo) Alternative form of orúkọ (“name”)


ugbẹn

(Ondo, Ọwọ, Usẹn) Alternative form of ìgbín (“snail”)


igbin

(music) upright open-ended log drums with single leather heads fastened and tuned by wooden pegs, sacred to the orisha Ọbàtálá, it is a subfamily of the gbẹ̀du family of drums.

Onígbìndé

A Yoruba name meaning, "the igbin drummer has arrived."


igbin

From Proto-Yoruboid *ʊ̀-gbɪ̃́, cognate with Igala ìgbí, Idoma ìgbí, Olukumi ùgbẹ́n, Ifè ɔ̀gbɛ̃́, Fon agbĭn

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ìgbínview map

ìngbín樷Ifɛ̀Akpáréɔ̀gbɛ̃́樷Atakpamɛɔ̀gbɛ̃́樷Tchettiɔ̀gbɛ̃́樷Note: This amalgamation of terms comes from a number of different academic papers focused on the unique varieties and languages spoken in the Yoruboid dialectal continuum which extends from eastern Togo to southern Nigeria. The terms for spoken varieties


ọyẹ

harmattan, harmattan season, cold dry weather


laefi

From Hausa lâifi (“sin, guilt”), ultimately from Arabic اَلْعَيْب (al-ʕayb).


labankada

lábàǹkádà cap; a Yorùbá fìlà with two triangular flaps that can be folded, resembling dog's ears.


ogede

baba ń pògèdè sí ọgbẹ́ ejò

The elder was chanting an incantation on the snake bite


ogede

ògédé iṣu nìkàn l'ó wà lọ́jà

ògédé àgálámọ̀ṣà ni gbogbo ọ̀rọ̀ọ rẹ̀

His utterances fully consisted of inconsistencies


ataare

Guinea pepper, alligator pepper (Aframomum spp.)


ibọn

Possibly from ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bọn (“of a moderate entity springing off once suddenly”)

af

ọdẹ́ da ojú ìbọn kọ wọ́n, ó sì ta wọ́n ní ìbọn

The hunter turned his gun toward them and shot at them


Aṣẹṣe

Alternative form of Ìṣẹ̀ṣe (“Yoruba religion”)


Uṣẹṣe

(Ekiti) Alternative form of Ìṣẹ̀ṣe (“Yoruba religion”)


iṣẹṣe

From ìṣẹ̀ + ìṣe, ultimately from ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣẹ̀ (“to originate”) + ìṣe (“tradition”), literally “The source of our traditions”.

ọ̀rọ̀ yìí ṣẹlẹ̀ ní ìṣẹ̀ṣe, ó ṣẹ̀ dọ̀rọ̀ ìtàn

This matter has a historical origin, it has now become history

the cultural or historical origins of a people, (in particular) the origins of the Yoruba people


ibọn agbelejika

head

ìbọn àgbéléjìká

ìbọn àgbéléjìká

yo-pos

ìbọn àgbéléjìká

ìbọn àgbéléjìká

yo-noun

ìbọn àgbéléjìká

ìbọn àgbéléjìká

/ì.bɔ̃̄ à.ɡ͡bé.lé.d͡ʒì.ká/

ìbọn (“gun”) + à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbé (“to carry”) + ní (“on”) + èjìká (“shoulders”)


ibọn agba

/ì.bɔ̃̄ à.ɡ͡bá/

ìbọn (“gun”) + àgbá (“barrel, cylinder”)


ibọn jagamu

/ì.bɔ̃̄ d͡ʒā.ɡā.mũ̀/


oniṣẹṣe

/ō.nĩ́.ʃɛ̀.ʃē/

From oní- (“one who, owner of”) + Ìṣẹ̀ṣe (“Isese”).

af

a practitioner of the Yoruba religion, Ìṣẹ̀ṣe; a worshipper of the orisha


agbara

a- (“agent prefix”) + gba (“to knock away”) + àrá (“thunder”)

lightning rod, something that deflects lightning


agbara

a- (“agent prefix”) + gbé (“to carry”) + ara (“body”), literally “that which powers the body”

alágbára

a powerful person, someone who is strong


agbara

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbàrà (“to outbid”)


agbara

Àgbàrá kò fo kòtò, ire ilé ayé kò níí fò wá

The torrent did not jump over the gutter, and as such, may the goodness of the world not jump over us (proverbial prayer for good fortune)


ogboni

/ò.ɡ͡bó.nĩ̄/

ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbó (“matured, experienced”) + ẹni (“person,people”), compare with Ede Ije ògbóni (“father”)

af

a respected older male; gentleman, fellow colleague


Aoolaye

From Blend of ao (“oracle, occult, Ifa”) + ò (“negation prefix”) + ní (“to have”) + ayè (“lies”), literally “The Ifa oracle does not lie”.

blend

(Ekiti) a male given name meaning “The Ifa oracle does not harbour lies”


oloyin

From oní- (“one who is, owner of”) + oyin (“bees, honey, sweetness”).

affix

àgbàdo olóyin

Something that is characterized by being sweet


iṣẹ-ọsin-oyin

/ī.ʃɛ́.ɔ̀.sĩ̀.ō.jĩ̄/

iṣẹ́ (“work, study”) + ọ̀sìn (“domestication”) + oyin (“bees”), literally “The work concerning the domestication and maintenance of bees”


ọbọn-un-bọn-un

/ɔ̀.bɔ̃̀.ũ̀.bɔ̃̄.ũ̀/

From Reduplication of ọ̀bọ̀n-ùn, ultimately from ọ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bọ̀n-ùn (“of a heavy entity springing off once suddenly”).


ọbọn-unbọn-un

/ɔ̀.bɔ̃̀.ũ̀.bɔ̃̄.ũ̀/

Alternative form of ọ̀bọ̀n-ùn-bọn-ùn (“beetle”)


oyin igan

/ō.jĩ̄ ì.ɡã̀/

oyin (“honey”) + ìgàn (“bundle (in reference to the beehive)”)

compound

fresh or pure honey extracted from a beehive


ifura

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fura (“to suspect”)

affix

ìfura ni òògùn àgbà

A sense of suspicion is the medicine of an elder


apo orooro

/à.k͡pò ò.ɾóò.ɾō/

àpò (“sack”) + òróòro (“bile”), literally “Bile sack”


ọlọ inu

/ɔ̄.lɔ̄ ī.nṹ/


apotọ

àpò (“sack”) + ìtọ̀ (“urine”), literally “Urine sack”


atiala

The African pied hornbill, Lophoceros fasciatus or Tockus fasciatus


yanja-yanja

/jã̄.d͡ʒā.jã̄.d͡ʒā/


ṣiri pake

/ʃí.ɾí k͡pà.kè/

From ṣí (“open”) + orí (“head”) + pa (“to”) + òkè (“up”), literally “Move your head up”.


udako

(Ikalẹ) cutlass, machete used by farmers to clear vegetation


pẹna

Clipping of pẹnáítì or pẹnárítì ultimately from English penalty.


agbabọọlu

/ā.ɡ͡bá.bɔ́ɔ̀.lù/

a- (“agent prefix”) + gbá (“to kick”) + bọ́ọ̀lù (“ball”), literally “ball kicker”


igbabọọlu

/ì.ɡ͡bá.bɔ́ɔ̀.lù/

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbá (“to kick”) + bọ́ọ̀lù (“ball”), literally “ball kicking”


pẹnaiti

Contraction of pẹnárítì from English penalty.


omuwẹ

ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + mọ̀ (“to know”) + ìwẹ̀ (“swimming”), literally “one who knows how to swim”


omugwẹ

/ò.mũ̀.ɡʷɛ̀/

ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + mà (“to know”) + ùgwẹ̀ (“swimming”), literally “one who knows how to swim”

(Ikalẹ) (swimming) Alternative form of òmùwẹ̀ (“swimmer”)


ugwẹ

ù- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gwẹ̀ (“to swim, to bath”)

(Ikalẹ) Alternative form of ìwẹ̀ (“bathing or swimming”)


hẹngwa

Aya olùkọ́ hẹngwà


ghun

Ó ghùn mí jí n jẹran

(Ilajẹ, Ikalẹ) Alternative form of wù (“to please”)


yubẹ

É è yaà yúbẹ̀. ― She can't go there. (Ọ̀wọ̀)


ṣainọn

(Ondo) Alternative form of ṣàánú (“to have mercy”)


ẹun

ẹrun

Ọ̀wọ̀, Ìkálẹ̀


iwẹ

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + wẹ̀ (“to swim, to bath”)


kaadi pupa

From káàdì + pupa, a calque of English red card.


otupa

(Ondo, Ọwọ, Ijebu) Alternative form of àtùpà (“lamp”)


ṣọwọn

From ṣe (“to make, to be”) + ọ̀wọ́n (“rare, scare”)


ṣọọn

ṣe (“to do, make”) + ọ̀ọ́n (“rare, scare, expensive”)

igi bí èlú ṣọ̀ọ́n ― An indigo-colored tree is rare (family oríkì)

(Ekiti) Alternative form of ṣọ̀wọ́n (“to be rare”)


ẹlu

An indigo plant, specifically Indigofera arrecta, used to make indigo-dye


ẹlẹluu

/ɛ̄.lɛ́.ꜜlú/

oní- (“owner of, one who”) + ẹ̀lú (“indigo”)

prefix

A person who makes indigo dye or sells indigo-dyed clothing


erinpin-eluju

/ē.ɾĩ́.k͡pĩ́.è.lù.d͡ʒù/

(Ekiti) The tree Xylopia aethiopica, of which its seeds are used in the spice Grains of Selim


epo rọbi

/ē.k͡pō ɾɔ̀.bì/


ọọṣa

(Ekiti) Alternative form of òrìṣà (“orisha”)


ẹbiti

From ẹ̀- + bìtì, literally “that which is solid, roundish, heavy and deep-seated”

af

When the animal goes for the food, it will move the stick, causing the load to fall upon the animal, killing.

ẹ̀bìtì kò lè pèèrà

A loaded trap cannot kill an ant (proverbial incantation on invincibility)

bí ẹ̀bìtì yóò bá jà lọ́la, eku tí ó bá pa lónìí, àpagbé ni

If a loaded trap is going to collapse on something tomorrow, the rat it has killed today, that is irreversible (proverb on irreversibility)

A traditional Yoruba loaded animal suspended trap, consisting of a load of dirt or stone, held by a branch, with food under it.

èbìtì

Èkìtì, Ìgbómìnà


ẹgin

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́-ɣɪ̃

(Igbomina) Alternative form of ẹyin (“egg”)


ojulowo

From ojú (“face”) + ní (“to have”) + owó (“money”), literally “valuable to have”.

compound

something that is genuine, authentic, the real deal, valuable


ojulowo

ojúlówó ọ̀rẹ́ ni í


ojulumọ

/ō.d͡ʒú.lù.mɔ̃̀/

ojú (“face”) + ní (“to have”) + ì (“nominalizing prefix”) + mọ̀ (“to know”), literally “A familiar face”

ojúlùmọ̀ ni arákùnrin náà sí wa

friend, acquaintance, someone who is well-known to a person


Ifayẹmi

Blend of Ifá (“Ifa”) + yẹ (“to befit”) + mi (“me”), literally “Ifa befits me”

blend

a male given name, meaning, Ifa befits me.


Baṣọrun

/bā.ʃɔ̀.ɾũ̄/

From ọba (“king, father”) + a- (“agent prefix”) + ṣe (“to do”) + Ọ̀run (“Ọ̀run "heaven" festival”), literally “The king/father who does the Ọ̀run (sky, heaven) festival”

compound

the highest-ranking traditional chief of the historical Oyo Empire, head of the Ọ̀yọ́mẹ̀sì, and a close advisor to the king. Equivalent to Prime Minister.


Risinkin

/ɾí.sĩ̄.kĩ̄/

Ẹ̀ṣọ́ Ẹṣọ#Yoruba

(Ijesha, Ekiti) A traditional chieftaincy and military title used in Ìjẹ̀ṣà and Ekiti towns, it is one of the six titles in the Ẹ̀ṣọ́ class of chiefs among the Ìjẹ̀ṣà


Aṣiwaju

/ā.ʃí.wá.d͡ʒú/

From aṣiwájú (“leader”), from a (“agent prefix”) + ṣí (“to open”) + iwájú (“the front”), literally “One who leads from the front”.


Aṣipa

From a- (“agent prefix”) + ṣí (“to open up”) + ipa (“path”), literally “One who leads the charging along a path”.

af

A senior traditional chieftaincy title in Ọ̀yọ́, a member of the Ọ̀yọ́mèsì

a male given name, meaning one who leads the way charging


Alapinni

oní- (“owner of”) + a- (“agent prefix”) + pinni (“sharing”)

prefix

A senior traditional chieftaincy title in Ọ̀yọ́, a member of the Ọ̀yọ́mèsì and the head of the Egúngún cult


Agbaakin

/à.ɡ͡bàā.kĩ̄/

From àgbà (“elder”) + akin (“bravery, valor, a brave person”), literally “The most senior among the brave ones”.

compound

A senior traditional chieftaincy title in Ọ̀yọ́, a member of the Ọ̀yọ́mèsì, and the high priest of the worship of the Oyo ancestor and orisha Ọ̀rànmíyàn

a male given name, meaning "senior among the brave ones."


Lagunna

/lá.ɡũ̀.nã̀/

ọlá (“honor”) + gùn (“to climb”) + ọ̀nà (“path, way”), literally “Honor has climbed its way up the path”

a male given name, meaning honor has climbed its way up the path


Ọranmiyan

/ɔ̀.ɾã̀.mĩ́.jã̀/

Blend of ọ̀ràn (“issue, matter, case”) + mí (“my”) + yàn (“to be resolved, to be sorted out”), literally “My case has been resolved, My issue has been sorted”

blend

A semi-historical Yoruba figure, believed to be a son or grandson of Odùduwà, he is regarded as the founder of the Ọ̀yọ́ empire, the first Aláàfin, and later an Ọọ̀ni of Ife. He was the father of Ṣàngó and Àjàká. He was deified as an orisha after his death and is worshipped in Ilé-Ifẹ̀.

a male given name, meaning "my issue has been resolved."


Aganju

/ā.ɡã̄.d͡ʒú/

Clipping of Aganjúṣọlá, ultimately from Blend of a- (“agent prefix”) + gan (“to be stiff”) + ojú (“face”) + ṣe (“to make”) + ọlá (“honor”), literally “The one with the stiff face makes honor”

A former Aláàfin, believed to be the son of Àjàká and grandson of Ọ̀rànmíyàn, he was deified as an orisha upon his death

The orisha of volcanoes, the wilderness, and the desert

(rare) a male given name meaning “The one with the stiff face”


Ọbalufọn

Ọbàlùfọ̀n (canonical)
Ọbalùfọ̀n (canonical)

Perhaps from ọba (“father, king”) + ni (“to be”) + ù- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fọ̀n (“to set out for a place”), literally “The King is the one who sets out for new territories” or ọba (“father, king”) + ni (“to be”) + Ẹ̀fọ̀n (“Efon town”), literally “The king at Ẹ̀fọ̀n”. The term fọ̀n relates to setting out and establishing a town, which is commonly attributed to Ọbàlùfọ̀n's reign in Ifẹ̀ and military conquests in Èkìtì and Ìgbómìnà regions. In addition, fọ̀n is a term specific to Central Yoruba dialect. The use of ọba as a prefix in the titles of kings and chiefs is very common in ancient Ifẹ̀, see Ọbàtálá, Ọbalúfẹ̀, Ọbamakin, Ọbadìo, etc. Ọbànìfọ̀n is closely associated with the Yoruba town of Ẹ̀fọ̀n-Alààyè
Often confused with the deity Olúfọ́n, who is associated with Ọbàtálá

compound

(historical) A traditional chieftaincy title in the Àwòrò class of chiefs during the time of Odùduwà in the ancient Ufẹ̀ kingdom

(historical) A title associated with two legendary figures in Yoruba history, Obalufon Alayemore and Ọbàlùfọ̀n Ògbógbódirin, whom are regarded as being Ọọ̀ni of Ife. They are believed to be descendants of Odùduwà and the founders of the monarchies of many Èkìtì towns. Their reigns are believed to be the beginning of the age of bronze art in Ife.

An orisha and deity associated with Obalufon Alayemore, associated with weaving, art, and bronze, brass casting.


Kuti

Clipping of Ikútì, from Blend of ikú (“death”) + tì (“not so, not at all”), literally “Death is not so”

blend

a male given name, meaning "Death is of no avail."


akewi

a- (“agent prefix”) + ké (“to chant”) + ewì (“poetry”), literally “One who chants poetry”


ọdọn

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ́-dʊ̃́ (“year, festival”)

inh

Ọdọ́n tì paí. ― The year has finished. (Oǹdó)

Ma a tọ́n wá lọ́dọ́n mẹ́ta èní. ― I'll come again in three years' time. (Ìkálẹ̀)

(Ọwọ, Ondo, Ikalẹ, Òǹkò) Alternative form of ọdún (“year; festival”)

a kú ùmúa ọdọ́n

a greeting for preparations for a festival

a kú ùpalẹ̀mọ́ ọdọ́n

a greeting for predations for a festival

ẹ kú ùmọ́ra Ọdọ́n Ùjeíjẹ

a greeting for preparations for the New Yam Festival


iṣẹ amurele

head

iṣẹ́ àmúrelé

iṣẹ́ àmúrelé

yo-pos

iṣẹ́ àmúrelé

iṣẹ́ àmúrelé

yo-noun

iṣẹ́ àmúrelé

iṣẹ́ àmúrelé

/ī.ʃɛ́ à.mṹ.ɾē.lé/

iṣẹ́ (“work”) + à (“nominalizing prefix”) + mú (“to make”) + re (“to go”) + ilé (“home”), literally “The work that goes home with you”


ibi-ọmọ

/ī.bī.ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄/


aṣọle

* a- (“agent prefix”) + ṣọ́ (“to guard”) + ilé (“home; base”), literally “guard of the base”.

af

2019 July 27, “Vincent Enyeama: Aṣọ́lé Nàìjíríà tẹ́lẹ̀ rí ṣe tán láti padà sórí pápá. [Vincent Enyema: A former Nigerian goalkeeper is ready to return to the pitch.]”, in BBC Yorùbá:


yọn

Cognates include Itsekiri yọ̀n, Ifè ɖɔ̃̀. Likely from the same root as dùn

Oyin yọ̀n yéye ― Honey is very sweet (Ìlàjẹ)

(Ọwọ, Ondo, Ikalẹ, Ilajẹ) to be sweet; to be delicious; to be pleasurable


gulegule

Ó ń mí gúlegúle


Ondo ajaja

/ō.ŋ̀.dó ā.d͡ʒā.d͡ʒá/

From Oǹdó (“Ondo”) + a- (“agent prefix”) + jẹ (“to eat”) + ajá (“dog”), literally “Ondo dog-eaters”. Despite Oǹdó people seldom consuming dog nowadays, the term came about due to the fact that the Oǹdó people historically did not regard dogs as pets and frequently sacrificed dog meat (lókílì) to appease Ògún who is widely believed to like sacrifices (ẹbọ) of dog meat.

(may be mildly offensive) epithet used in teasing for Oǹdó people.


aghọ

(Ijebu, Ọwọ) Alternative form of awọ (“skin”)


ugwọ

(Ào) Ào form of ìwọ (“you (emphatic second-person singular personal pronoun)”)


awurọ

Alternative form of àárọ̀ (“morning, origin, beginning”)


ọwụrọ

/ɔ̀.wʊ́.ɾɔ̀/

(Ekiti) Alternative form of òwúrọ̀ (“morning, origin, beginning”)


owuọ

(Ikalẹ, Ondo) Alternative form of òwúrọ̀ (“morning, origin, beginning”)


aajin

From Contraction of àjìnjìn, ultimately from à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jìnjìn (“partial reduplication of jìn "to be deep"”), literally “deep into the night”.


ajinjin

/à.d͡ʒĩ̀.d͡ʒĩ̀/

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jìnjìn (“partial reduplication of jìn, "to be deep"”)

(Ekiti) Alternative form of ààjìn (“postmidnight”)


ajijẹn

/à.d͡ʒì.d͡ʒɛ̃̀/

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jíjẹ̀n (“partial reduplication of jẹ̀n, "to be deep"”)

prefix

(Ikalẹ) Alternative form of ààjìn (“postmidnight”)


etitu

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + títú (“partial reduplication of tú to spill out”).

(Ekiti, Ikalẹ) Alternative form of èétú (“pus”)


eetu

ètítú

Èkìtì, Ìkálẹ̀


ọyun

ọ- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yún (“to itch, to scratch”), literally “The place where it itches”


akeekee

Contraction of àkérekère, compare with Nupe kínkèrè, Eastern Xwla Gbe kekire, Fon hɔnkékélé, Ayere ikẽkè


nọmba agbabọọlu

head

nọ́ḿbà agbábọ́ọ̀lù

nọ́ḿbà agbábọ́ọ̀lù

yo-pos

nọ́ḿbà agbábọ́ọ̀lù

nọ́ḿbà agbábọ́ọ̀lù

yo-noun

nọ́ḿbà agbábọ́ọ̀lù

nọ́ḿbà agbábọ́ọ̀lù

/nɔ́.ŋ́.bà ā.ɡ͡bá.bɔ́ɔ̀.lù/

From nọ́ḿbà (“number”) + agbábọ́ọ̀lù (“footballer”), literally “footballer number”.


hunwa

Ayé ìn hunwà


zẹ

A zẹ èrún lí oko.


omele

(music) omele drum; the smallest drum that is highest in pitch, part of bàtá or ẹ̀kù ensembles, beaten with thin sticks made of a flexible raw hide bílálà.


gbẹdu

→ Nigerian Pidgin: gbedu

Láìkú ẹ̀kìrì, a kò lè fi awọ rẹ̀ ṣe gbẹ̀du.
Untill the black duiker dies, it's skin cannot be used to made a gbẹ̀du drum.

(music) large sonorous type of drum with a skin made from ẹ̀kìrì (black duiker) or ìgalà hide. It is one of the 4 main families of drums among the Yoruba, and is mainly played for the king and by elders including the Ògbóni

someone who speaks with a deep, resounding, voice (in comparison to the gbẹ̀du drum)

(slang, music) drum heavy music such as Afrobeats and Jùjú (in comparison to the gbẹ̀du drum)

(slang) party (where drum heavy music is played)


iyaalu

ìyá (“mother”) + ìlù (“drum”), literally “Mother drum”

compound

The largest drum in any Yoruba ensemble of drums and with the lowest pitch. Each of the 4 families of drums among the Yoruba bàtá, dùndún, sákárà, and gbẹ̀du has the "mother drum."


atọsi

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + tọ̀ (“to urinate”) + sí (“on”)


atọsin

Alternative form of àtọ̀sí (“gonorrhea”)


arun jakutẹ

head

àrùn jàkùtẹ̀

àrùn jàkùtẹ̀

yo-pos

àrùn jàkùtẹ̀

àrùn jàkùtẹ̀

yo-noun

àrùn jàkùtẹ̀

àrùn jàkùtẹ̀

/à.ɾũ̀ d͡ʒà.kù.tɛ̀/


arun sun-unrun-sun-unrun

/à.ɾũ̀ sũ̄ũ̄.ɾũ̄.sũ̄ũ̄.ɾũ̄/

African sleeping sickness
African sleeping sickness

sleeping sickness, specifically African sleeping sickness


aoro

From Proto-Yoruba *à-ɣòrò, from Proto-Edekiri *à-ɣòrò, equivalent to à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ò (“to look”) + rò (“to tell”), literally “The one who looks [at what the orisha say in obì divination] and then tells”

af

The one who looks 􂀿at what the orisha say in obì divination􂁀 and then tells

(Ekiti) a male priest, often the chief priest of a specific orisha or deity; see àòrò Ògún


afayafa

a- (“agent prefix”) + fi (“to use”) + àyà (“chest”) + fà (“to crawl”), literally “One who crawls on their chest”


afọmọlọmu

a- (“agent prefix”) + fún (“to give”) + ọmọ (“child”) + ní (“to have”) + ọmú (“breast”), literally “ones who give [their] child breast [milk]”

affix

ones who give 􂀿their􂁀 child breast 􂀿milk􂁀


ejo abewerẹ

/ē.d͡ʒò ā.bé.wé.ɾɛ́/

ejò (“snake”) + a (“agent prefix”) + bá (“with”) + ewé (“leaf”) + rẹ́ (“to associate with”), literally “The snake that matches its color with leaves”


ejo abiruṣoro

/ē.d͡ʒò ā.bì.ɾù.ʃō.ɾó/

From ejò (“snake”) + abi- (“prefix”) + ìrù (“tail”) + ṣe (“to make”) + oró (“poison”), literally “The snake that makes poison in its tail”.


ejo paramọlẹ

/ē.d͡ʒò k͡pā.ɾā.mɔ̃́.lɛ̀/

From ejò + pa + ara + mọ́ + ilẹ̀, literally “The snake that camouflages itself with the ground”.

puff adder or night adder (Causus rhombeatus)


ejo ọka

/ē.d͡ʒò ɔ̄.ká/

From ejò (“snake”) + ọ- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ká (“to coil”), literally “The snake that coils”


ejo mọnamọna

head

ejò mọ́námọ́ná

ejò mọ́námọ́ná

yo-pos

ejò mọ́námọ́ná

ejò mọ́námọ́ná

yo-noun

ejò mọ́námọ́ná

ejò mọ́námọ́ná

/ē.d͡ʒò mɔ̃́.nã́.mɔ̃́.nã́/

From ejò (“snake”) + mọ́námọ́ná (“partial reduplication of mọ́ná "to be bright"”), literally “The multicolored snake”.


ejo ọwun

/ē.d͡ʒò ɔ̀.wũ̀/

Alternative form of ejò ọ̀wọ̀n (“Black-necked spitting cobra”)


olomele

* oní- (“one who has”) + omele (“omele drum”).

af

Kò sẹ́ni tó mèdè àyàn bí ẹni tó gbé ọ̀pá ẹ̀ lọ́wọ́, olómele ló mọ ohun tí ó ń fi omele sọ.

There's no one that knows the speech of a drum like the person who carries the drumstick in their hand, it's the omele drummer who knows what they are speaking through the drum

olómele kì í sọ pé igi yóò dá lóde lọ́la


ibusun

From ibi (“place”) + ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + sùn (“to sleep”), literally “the place for sleeping”.


atamatase

From a- (“agent prefix”) + ta (“to shoot”) + má (“not”) + tàsé (“to miss”).


elegee ara

/ē.lé.ꜜɡé à.ɾà/

From oní- (“one who has”) + ègé (“dribbling”) + àrà (“spectacle”), literally “one who has spectacular dribbling.”.


ejo ṣebe

/ē.d͡ʒò ʃè.bé/


ẹja arọ

/ɛ̄.d͡ʒā à.ɾɔ̀/


ẹja ṣawa

/ɛ̄.d͡ʒāā ʃá.wá/


orogbo

olójú orógbó! Ṣàngó kì í jobì

The one who has eyes for the bitter kola nut, Shango does not eat regular kola nut!

Garcinia kola, The bitter kola nut, it plays an important role in the worship of the òrìṣà, especially that of Ṣàngó


olorogbo

/ō.ló.ɾó.ɡ͡bó/

From oní- (“one who has”) + orógbó (“the bitter kola nut”), literally “One who has bitter kola nut”.

Someone who sells bitter kola nuts (orógbó)


apọn

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + pọ́n (“to be red”)

Grey-headed kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala


udangho

From ù- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dán ghò (“to test”).

(Ọwọ) Alternative form of ìdánwò (“test; exam”)


ulọta

From ù- (“nominalizing prefix”) + lọ̀ (“to grind”) + ata (“pepper”).

(Ọwọ) Alternative form of ìlọta (“pepper grinder”)


agbayunkun

Alternative form of àgbáyun (“miracle berry”)


ẹpẹyọ

/ɛ̀.k͡pɛ̀.jɔ̀/

Ọ ra ẹ̀pẹ̀yọ̀


ẹlẹpa

From oní- (“one who has”) + ẹ̀pà (“peanut”), literally “One who has peanuts”.

A peanut farmer, someone who sells peanuts


ugha

Cognate with Edo ùghà, Itsekiri ùghà, probably ultimately from Proto-Edekiri *ʊ̀-ɣà, but also possibly an Edo loan word. Also see Proto-Yoruba *ʊ̀-ɣà. The palace of the Oba of Lagos is known as ìgà, which may suggest this term is likely an Edo term, perhaps borrowed into Proto-Edekiri or a later stage of Yoruba.

(Ọwọ, Ondo) royal courtyard (in particular) the up to 100 courtyards of the palace (àghọ̀fẹn) of Ọ̀ghọ̀, each dedicated to an òrìṣà with its own purpose, as well as the courtyards of the (àghọ̀fẹn) of Oǹdó


logbo

(Ondo) Alternative form of ológbò (“cat”)


olongbo

/ō.ló.ŋ́.ɡ͡bò/


ku ọdun tuntun

/kú ɔ̄.dṹ tũ̄.tũ̄/


abiyamọ

Possibly from abi- (“agent prefix”) + iye (“mother”) + ọmọ (“child”). An explanation from the shift from ọ to a maybe explained by analogy with ìyá (“mother”)

abiyamọ, ẹ kú ọrọ̀ ọmọ!

Mothers, greetings to you for facing up to the challenges of raising children!


aboorunyi

/ā.bóò.ɾũ̀.jí/

a- (“agent prefix”) + bá (“with”) + òòrùn (“sun”) + yí (“to turn”), literally “One that turns with the sun”


irunmọlẹ

/ī.ɾṹ.mɔ̃̄.lɛ̀/

From blend of irún + imọlẹ̀, ultimately from irún (“four hundred”) + i- (“nominalizing prefix”) + mọ (“to mold, to shape”) + ilẹ̀ (“land”), literally “The four hundred creators of the land”.

compound

Humans chosen or inhabited by the imọlẹ̀ are known as òrìṣà

àgbà irúnmọlẹ̀ ni Ògún

primordial spirits in Ìṣẹ̀ṣe, they are the first group of four hundred and one deities (imọlẹ̀) created after the creation of the world and the ones who live in the sky with Olodumare, such as Ògún, Èṣù, Ọ̀rúnmìlà, Ọbàtálá, and Olókun.


Ekiti-Parapọ

From Èkìtì (“Ekiti people”) + parapọ̀ (“to unite”), literally “Ekiti Unite”.

A union between the Yoruba sub-ethnic groups Èkìtì, Ìjẹ̀ṣà, Ìjẹ̀bú, Ìgbómìnà in the late 1870s formed to fight against the Ìbàdàn forces in the Kiriji War (Ogun Kírìjí)


KASA

kòkòrò apa-sójà-ara
kokoro apa-soja-ara#Yoruba

(virology) Abbreviation of kòkòrò apa-sójà-ara (“HIV”).


eedi

Contraction of èdìdì, from è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dìdì (“partial reduplication of dì, to cause someone to behave irrationally, contrary to reason.”)


arun gbajumọ

/à.ɾũ̀ ɡ͡bā.d͡ʒú.mɔ̃̀/

From àrùn (“disease”) + gbajúmọ̀ (“popular person”), literally “popular person's disease”.


Ịfalọụrọ

/ɪ̄.fá.lɔ̀.ʊ́.ɾɔ̀/

From Ifá (“Ifá, the deity Ọ̀rúnmìlà”) + li (“is”) + ọ̀ụ́rọ̀ (“the morning, beginning, origin”), literally “Ifá is the origin”.

compound

(Ekiti) a female given name, meaning "The deity Ifa is the origin."


iba pọnju-pọntọ

/ī.bà k͡pɔ̃́.d͡ʒú.k͡pɔ̃́.tɔ̀/

From ibà (“fever”) + pọ́n (“to stain”) + ojú (“eye”) + pọ́n (“to stain”) + itọ̀ (“urine”), literally “fever that causes discoloured eyes and urine”.


arun amọ

/à.ɾũ̀ à.mɔ̃́/

From àrùn (“disease”) + àmọ́ (“pancreas”), literally “pancreas disease”.


arun abẹgẹẹja

head

àrùn abẹ́gẹ̀ẹ́jà

àrùn abẹ́gẹ̀ẹ́jà

yo-pos

àrùn abẹ́gẹ̀ẹ́jà

àrùn abẹ́gẹ̀ẹ́jà

yo-noun

àrùn abẹ́gẹ̀ẹ́jà

àrùn abẹ́gẹ̀ẹ́jà

/à.ɾũ̀ ā.bɛ́.ꜜɡɛ́.d͡ʒà/

From àrùn (“disease”) + a- (“agent prefix”) + bá (“with”) + ẹ̀gẹ́ (“cassava”) + jà (“fight”), literally “The disease that fights with cassava”

compound

Bacterial blight of cassava, a bacterial disease afflicting the cassava crop


arun korikori

head

àrùn kòrìkòrì

àrùn kòrìkòrì

yo-pos

àrùn kòrìkòrì

àrùn kòrìkòrì

yo-noun

àrùn kòrìkòrì

àrùn kòrìkòrì

/à.ɾũ̀ kò.ɾì.kò.ɾì/

Black pod disease, a protozoan disease afflicting cocoa trees


ọlẹdarun

/ɔ̀.lɛ́.dà.ɾũ̀/

From ọ̀lẹ (“laziness”) + di (“to become”) + àrùn (“disease”), literally “Laziness has become your disease”.

compound

Ọ̀lẹ́dàrùn, wáṣẹ́ ṣe!!


arun awu

/à.ɾũ̀ ā.wú/

àrùn (“disease”) + a- (“agent prefix”) + wú (“to swell”)

Cacao swollen shoot virus, a virus primarily affecting cocoa trees


imọ arun eweko

/ì.mɔ̃̀ à.ɾũ̀ ē.wé.kō/

From ìmọ̀ (“knowledge”) + àrùn (“disease”) + ewéko (“plants”).


Abẹkẹ

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bẹ̀ (“to beg”) + kẹ́ (“to care for”), literally “One we beg to care for”

af

A female oríkì name, meaning "One we beg to care for".


ọtẹtẹ

/ɔ̀.tɛ́.tɛ́/


Arọni

clipping

Àrọ̀nì-gìdìgbà

An orisha of the forest, including the use of herbs and medicinal charms. She is said to have the head and tail of a dog, a single leg, with the rest of her body being human. She is a close associate of Ọ̀sanyìn.


ologiiriṣẹṣẹ

head

ológìírìṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀

ológìírìṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀

yo-pos

ológìírìṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀

ológìírìṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀

yo-noun

ológìírìṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀

ológìírìṣẹ̀ṣẹ̀

/ō.ló.ɡìí.ɾì.ʃɛ̀.ʃɛ̀/

red-billed firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala)


atannigbọnnini

/ā.tã̄.nĩ̄.ɡ͡bɔ̃́.nĩ̄.nĩ̄/

From the phrase, a- + tan + ẹni + gbọ́n + enini, literally “Someone who engages in tricking a person into going through the early morning wet grass by the wayside”.


ẹlẹja

/ɛ̄.lɛ́.d͡ʒā/


ẹwẹn

Cognates with Ọ̀wọ̀ Yoruba ẹ̀ghẹn, Yoruba ẹ̀yin, Èkìtì Yoruba ìn-in

(Ijebu) you (emphatic second-person plural honorific personal pronoun)


ẹwẹn

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́-ɣɪ̃. Cognates with Itsekiri ẹghẹn, Ọ̀wọ̀ Yoruba ẹghẹn, Olukumi ẹghẹn, Yoruba ẹyin, Èkìtì Yoruba ẹịn

Ẹdùwẹ yẹ̀n yẹ́n ẹwẹn wọ̀nwé


ẹrin kk

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ́ kèé kèé/

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ́ kɛ̀ɛ́ kɛ̀ɛ́/

From ẹ̀rín (“laughter”) + kèékèé or kẹ̀ẹ́kẹ̀ẹ́ (onomatopoeic imitation of laughter).

ẹ̀rín kkkk etc

and so on, depending on the supposed length of the laugh

Mo fẹ́ràn aṣọ òtútù mi, ó kàn jẹ́ wípé inú ṣì ń bí àwọn ènìyàn mi ẹ̀rín-kkkk #SundayServiceJa

2019 October 26, “Ààmì ìdánimọ̀ orílẹ̀ èdèe Jamaica tí Kanye West lò di awuyewuye tí ó dá fìrìgbagbòó lórí ‘ìsààmì’”, in Global Voices:

While people still mad, i like my sweater lol #SundayServiceJa

Ẹ káàrọ̀ o, alàgbà. Ẹ bá tiẹ̀ gbé oríyìn díẹ̀ fun. (Ẹ̀rín kèékèé)

2019-5-16, @omonikeadeoti, Twitter :https://twitter.com/omonikeadeoti/status/996658093294604295

Good morning o, bros. Give him some credit. (Lmao)

ẹ̀rín kẹ̀ẹ́kẹ̀ẹ́
ẹrin kẹẹkẹẹ#Yoruba

(text messaging, Internet slang) Abbreviation of ẹ̀rín kèékèé or ẹ̀rín kẹ̀ẹ́kẹ̀ẹ́ (“hahaha; lol (laughter)”).


ẹrin kk

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ́ kèé kèé/

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ́ kɛ̀ɛ́ kɛ̀ɛ́/

bayii ni awọn mẹtẹẹta gbe ẹrin kkkkkkk ti wọn si di mọ ara wọn. (báyìí ni àwọn mẹ́tẹ̀ẹ̀ta gbé ẹ̀rín kkkkkkk tí wọ́n sì dì í mọ́ ara wọn.)

2020-5-22, DJ uglyboy, Facebook :https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=564459734211847&id=138292253495266

thus the three of them kept their laughter.

ẹ̀rín kẹ̀ẹ́kẹ̀ẹ́
ẹrin kẹẹkẹẹ#Yoruba

(text messaging, Internet slang) Abbreviation of ẹ̀rín kèékèé or ẹ̀rín kẹ̀ẹ́kẹ̀ẹ́ (“laughter; giggling”).


ẹrin keekee

head

ẹ̀rín kèékèé

ẹ̀rín kèékèé

yo-pos

ẹ̀rín kèékèé

ẹ̀rín kèékèé

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ́ kèé kèé/

From ẹ̀rín (“laughter”) + kèékèé (“onomatopoeic imitation of laughter”).

com

(chiefly Internet, text messaging) hahaha; lol (laughter)