da

Ayọ̀ dà?


pere

Adverb sense derives from ideophone sense

ẹyọ mẹ́ta péré


kari

Possibly from kí (“let”) + à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rí (“to see”), literally “let us see; let us know”. While it is an interrogative marker (see kàríbi (“where”) and kàrìgbì (“when”), it also may be used as a synonym to kàríbi or kàbí. Those in the current Nigerian state of Ekiti may use kàbí or ubi sí, in addition to kàríbi. In the Akure subdialect of Ekiti, they mainly use kàríbi, in addition to kàí or kàbí. All these terms are synonymous and can generally used by any Ekiti speaker regardless of subdialect. The term kàrí is also used in Ijesha.

compound

kàrí ọ

(interrogative, Ekiti) Alternative form of kàríbi (“where”)

kàrí ọ rán


koda

kódà, wọ́n gbọ́ sí ọ̀rọ̀ náà

In fact, even they were aware of the matter


sose

Máa lọ tààrà, sòsé


sita

Contraction of sí ìta (“to the outside”).

contraction

Sọ ọ́ síta

Àbíkẹ́ máa ń lọ síta

Irun kan ń yọ síta


naa

Ara tèmi náà ò yá


sori

Ó fi í sórí ibùsùn

Jókòó sórí àga


lori

Ó wà lórí ibùsùn


saba

From Hausa sābā̀ (“to be accustomed to doing something”)


lenii

Kí l'ẹ ṣe lénìí?


laini

From ní (“to have”) + àì- (“negative prefix”) + ní (“to have”), literally “without having”


sinu

Contraction of sí inú (“towards the inside”).

contraction

Bá mi kódọ̀tí sínú apẹ̀rẹ̀.

Ta ló jù ú sínú odò?


nita

Contraction of ní ìta (“on the outside”).

Àwọn ọmọdé máa ń ṣeré bojúbojú níta.

The children tend to play hide and seek outside.

Abúlé mi wà níta ìlú Ìlọrin.

Kó o gbálẹ̀ níta àti nínú ilé.


nta

Alternative form of níta (“outside; out”)


yeye

Likely from a partial reduplication of *ye (“to be many”). Compare with Olukumi yéye, Itsekiri toye, Igala wéwe, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *yéye, from Proto-Edekiri *yéye, ultimately from Proto-Yoruboid *wéwe. Also see Ayere yè. iye (“amount, value”) may come from that same *ye root.


agaga

akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ yìí fẹ́ràn ẹ̀kọ́, àgàgà t'ó tún jẹ́ ọ̀fẹ́

The student loves education, especially now that it is free


patapata

→ Nigerian Pidgin: kpatakpata, patapata

→ Gun: kpátákpátá, pátápátá

→ Fon: kpátákpátá

→ Krio: kpatakpata

Reduplication of pátá. Cognates include Basa kpátákpátá, Lukpa kpátákpátá, Akpes kpátákpátá, Olukumi kpátákpátá, Nupe kpáátá.

Wọ́n ti jẹ àkàrà yẹn tán pátápátá


bawo

From bá (“happen to do something (verbal element)”) + èwo (“which”)


ọkọọkan

/ɔ̀kɔ̀ɔ̀kɔ̃̄/

Derived from a reduplication of ọ̀kan (“one”), then condensed.


ẹẹmeji

/ɛ̀ɛ̀mēd͡ʒì/

From adverbial prefix ẹ̀ẹ̀- + méjì, the adjectival form of eéjì.

prefix

ẹ̀ẹ̀- + méjì


meji meji

/méd͡ʒì méd͡ʒì/

Derived from a reduplication of méjì (“two”).


ẹẹmẹta

From adverbial prefix ẹ̀ẹ̀- + mẹ́ta, the adjectival form of ẹẹ́ta.

ẹ̀ẹ̀- + mẹ́ta


mẹta mẹta

/mɛ́.ꜜtā mɛ́.ꜜtā/

Derived from a reduplication of mẹ́ta (“three”).


ẹẹmẹrin

/ɛ̀ɛ̀mɛ̄ɾĩ̄/

From adverbial prefix ẹ̀ẹ̀- + mẹ́rin, the adjectival form of ẹẹ́rin.

ẹ̀ẹ̀- + mẹ́rin


mẹrin mẹrin

/mɛ́.ꜜɾĩ̄ mɛ́.ꜜɾĩ̄/

Derived from a reduplication of mẹ́rin (“four”).


ẹẹmarun-un

head

ẹ̀ẹ̀marùn-ún

ẹ̀ẹ̀marùn-ún

yo-pos

ẹ̀ẹ̀marùn-ún

ẹ̀ẹ̀marùn-ún

/ɛ̀ɛ̀.mā.ꜜɾṹ/

From adverbial prefix ẹ̀ẹ̀- + márùn-ún, the adjectival form of aárùn-ún.

prefix

ẹ̀ẹ̀- + márùn-ún


marun-un marun-un

/má.ꜜɾṹ má.ꜜɾṹ/

Derived from a reduplication of márùn-ún (“five”).


ẹẹmẹfa

From adverbial prefix ẹ̀ẹ̀- + mẹ́fà, the adjectival form of ẹẹ́fà.

ẹ̀ẹ̀- + mẹ́fà


mẹfa mẹfa

/mɛ́fà mɛ́fà/

Derived from a reduplication of mẹ́fà (“six”).


ẹẹmeje

/ɛ̀ɛ̀mēd͡ʒē/

From adverbial prefix ẹ̀ẹ̀- + méje, the adjectival form of eéje.

ẹ̀ẹ̀- + méje


meje meje

/mé.ꜜd͡ʒē mé.ꜜd͡ʒē/

Derived from a reduplication of méje (“seven”).


ẹẹmẹjọ

/ɛ̀ɛ̀mɛ̄d͡ʒɔ̄/

From adverbial prefix ẹ̀ẹ̀- + mẹ́jọ, the adjectival form of ẹẹ́jọ.

ẹ̀ẹ̀- + mẹ́jọ


mẹjọ mẹjọ

/mɛ́.ꜜd͡ʒɔ̄ mɛ́.ꜜd͡ʒɔ̄/

Derived from a reduplication of mẹ́jọ (“eight”).


nikan

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - nìkanview 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


ẹẹmẹsan-an

head

ẹ̀ẹ̀mẹsàn-án

ẹ̀ẹ̀mẹsàn-án

yo-pos

ẹ̀ẹ̀mẹsàn-án

ẹ̀ẹ̀mẹsàn-án

/ɛ̀ɛ̀.mɛ̄.ꜜsã́/

From adverbial prefix ẹ̀ẹ̀- + mẹ́sàn-án, the adjectival form of ẹẹ́sàn-án.

prefix

ẹ̀ẹ̀- + mẹ́sàn-án


mẹsan-an mẹsan-an

/mɛ́.ꜜsã́ mɛ́.ꜜsã́/

Derived from a reduplication of mẹ́sàn-án (“nine”).


ẹẹmẹwaa

/ɛ̀ɛ̀.mɛ̄.ꜜwá/

From adverbial prefix ẹ̀ẹ̀- + mẹ́wàá, the adjectival form of ẹẹ́wàá.

ẹ̀ẹ̀- + mẹ́wàá


mẹwaa mẹwaa

head

mẹ́wàá mẹ́wàá

mẹ́wàá mẹ́wàá

yo-pos

mẹ́wàá mẹ́wàá

mẹ́wàá mẹ́wàá

/mɛ́.ꜜwá mɛ́.ꜜwá/

Derived from a reduplication of mẹ́wàá (“ten”).


lonii

Kí l'ẹ jẹun lónìí?


abbl.

/à.tī bɛ́ɛ̀ bɛ́ɛ̀ lɔ̄/

àti bẹ́ẹ̀ bẹ́ẹ̀ lọ
ati bẹẹ bẹẹ lọ#Yoruba

Abbreviation of àti bẹ́ẹ̀ bẹ́ẹ̀ lọ (“et cetera; and so on”).


daadaa

Ṣé ẹ sùn dáadáa?

A máa ń jẹ ẹ̀bà dáadáa.


laraarọ

/lá.ɾàá.ɾɔ̀/

Contraction of ní àràárọ̀ (“every morning”)


lọtun-un-la

Contraction of ní ọ̀túnla (“the day after tomorrow”).

Kí lo fẹ́ ṣe lọ́tùn-ún-la?

What do you want to do the day after tomorrow?


lojoojumọ

/ló.d͡ʒōō.d͡ʒú.mɔ̃́/

Contraction of ní ojoojúmọ́ (“every day”)


re kọja

/ɾé kɔ̄.d͡ʒá/

From the phrase ré kọjá (“to go across”).


ẹyin

oògùn tí a kò fi owó ṣe, ẹ̀yìn ààrò níí gbé

Any medicine that does not cost any money to make, usually ends up behind the clay oven (proverb against low premium)


ni asẹyinwa asẹyinbọ

head

ní àsẹ̀yìnwá àsẹ̀yìnbọ̀

ní àsẹ̀yìnwá àsẹ̀yìnbọ̀

yo-pos

ní àsẹ̀yìnwá àsẹ̀yìnbọ̀

ní àsẹ̀yìnwá àsẹ̀yìnbọ̀

yo-adv

ní àsẹ̀yìnwá àsẹ̀yìnbọ̀

ní àsẹ̀yìnwá àsẹ̀yìnbọ̀

/nĩ́ à.sɛ̀.jĩ̀.wá à.sɛ̀.jĩ̀.bɔ̀/


loorekoore

/lóò.ɾè.kóò.ɾè/


ṣege

wọ́n ṣe ṣégè fún araa wọn

they were very ruthless with one another


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


lojukoju

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

Wọ́n pàdé lójúkojú.


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


lẹsẹkẹsẹ

head

lẹ́sẹ̀kẹ́sẹ̀

lẹ́sẹ̀kẹ́sẹ̀

yo-pos

lẹ́sẹ̀kẹ́sẹ̀

lẹ́sẹ̀kẹ́sẹ̀

lẹ́sẹ̀kẹ́sẹ̀ (canonical)
lẹ́sẹ̀kẹsẹ̀ (canonical)

ní + ẹsẹ̀kẹ́sẹ̀, ultimately from ẹsẹ̀ (“foot”) + -kí- (“infix”) + ẹsẹ̀ (“foot”)

compound

ní + ẹsẹ̀kẹ́sẹ̀


لعَِسعَِكعَِسعَِ

head

لعَِسعَِكعَِسعَِ

yo-pos

لعَِسعَِكعَِسعَِ

yo-adv

لعَِسعَِكعَِسعَِ


lojiji

/ló.d͡ʒī.d͡ʒì/


lode oni

From ní (“in”) + òde (“public, outside place”) + òní (“today”), literally “In today's world”.


pẹkirẹki

Adverb sense derives from the ideophone sense.

wọ́n pàdé pẹ̀kírẹ̀kí lọ́nà oko

They coincidentally met on the way to the farm


bayii

From Contraction of bí èyí (“like this”).

ṣe báyìí

tètè lọ báyìí


lafikun

From ní (“in”) + àfikún (“addition, supplement”).


pupọ

From partial reduplication of pọ̀ (“to be plenty”).

ó fẹ́ràn ìjà púpọ̀

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - púpọ̀view map

ńkpɔ̀ ńkpɔ̀淞淞Northern NagoKamboleɔkpɔ淞淞Manigrikikpo淞淞Southern NagoÌsakétékpúkpɔ̀淞淞Ìfànyìnkpúkpɔ̀淞淞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


loṣooṣu

Contraction of ní oṣooṣù (“every month”)


nijẹta

/nĩ́.ꜜd͡ʒɛ̄.tā/

Contraction of ní ìjẹta (“on the day before yesterday”)

day before yesterday
day before yesterday


nijẹrin

/nĩ́.ꜜd͡ʒɛ̄.ɾĩ̄/


lọsọọsẹ

/lɔ́.sɔ̀ɔ̀.sɛ̀/

Contraction of ní ọ̀sọ̀ọ̀sẹ̀ (“every week”)

ní ọ̀sọ̀ọ̀sẹ̀


pọ

Lọlá àti Yétúndé pàdé pọ̀


lailopin

From ní (“preposition”) + àì- (“negative prefix”) + ní (“to have”) + òpin (“end”), literally “without end”


laipẹ

From ní (“to have”) + àì (“negative prefix”) + pẹ́ (“to be delayed”), literally “without wait”


laisi

From ní (“to have”) + àì- (“negative prefix”) + sí (“to be”), literally “without being; without existing”


rẹnfẹnrẹnfẹn

/ɾɛ̃̄.fɛ̃́.ɾɛ̃̄.fɛ̃́/


b.a.

/bí à.k͡pɛ̄ɛ̄.ɾɛ̄/

Abbreviation of bí àpẹẹrẹ (“e.g.; for example”).


karibi

From kàrí (“where”) + ibi (“place”), possibly from kí (“let”) + à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rí (“to see”), literally “let us see; let us know”. Kàrí is an interrogative marker," see kàrìgbì (“when”) (literally from kàrí ìgbì, "what time?."). The specific form differs among the different subdialects of Ekiti, but are mutually intelligble. Those in the current Nigerian state of Ekiti may use kàbí or ubi sí, in addition to kàríbi. In the Akure subdialect of Ekiti, they mainly use kàríbi, in addition to kàíbi or kàbí. All these terms are synonymous and can generally used by any Ekiti speaker regardless of subdialect. The root kàrí and the use of sí likely represent different innovations, where one is likely a newer term that are existing together. Kàrí is also used in other CY dialects, such as Ijesha, with kàbí being used by dialects like Ife.

kàríbi kín-in à?


kaibi

From Contraction of kàríbi, from kàrí (“where”) + ibi (“place”).

(Ekiti)


ubi si

From ubi (“place”) + sí (“marker”). The use of "sí" can be seen in many interrogative forms in dialects such as Ekiti, see ọ̀kàn sí (“which”), òlú sí (“how much”), ùgbẹ̀ sí (“when”). The specific interrogative marker "where" form differs among the different subdialects of Ekiti, but are mutually intelligible. Those in the current Nigerian state of Ekiti may use kàbí, in addition to kàríbi and ubi sí. In the Akure subdialect of Ekiti, they mainly use kàríbi, in addition to kàí or kàbí. All these terms are synonymous and can generally used by any Ekiti speaker regardless of subdialect. The root kàrí and the use of sí likely represent different innovations, where one is likely a newer term that are existing together.

(Ifẹ̀)

ubi sí ín à? (Èkìtì)


nẹẹ

Cognates with Itsekiri nẹ́ẹ̀, Yoruba náà

Ara tèmi nẹ́ẹ̀ éè yá


ubo si

From ubo (“place”) + sí (“marker”). The use of "sí" can be seen in many interrogative forms in spoken varieties in the Èdè-Yorùbá-Ìṣẹkírì language continuum such as Ìjẹ̀bú. Cognates with Èkìtì Yoruba ubi sí, Ifẹ̀ Yoruba ibi sí


gbangba

/ɡ͡bā.ŋ̄.ɡ͡bā/

Ilé mi wà ní gban̄gba

Ó hàn gban̄gba pé ó ṣàìsàn


laye atijọ

From ní (“in”) + ayé àtijọ́ (“ancient times”).


laiwowe

From ní (“preposition”) + àì- (“negative prefix”) + wò (“to look”) + ìwé (“book”), literally “without looking at a book”


njẹta

/ŋ́.d͡ʒɛ̄.tā/

Contraction of níjẹta (“on the day before yesterday”)

contraction

Alternative form of níjẹta (“the day before yesterday”)


lọpọlọpọ

head

lọ́pọ̀lọ́pọ̀

lọ́pọ̀lọ́pọ̀

yo-pos

lọ́pọ̀lọ́pọ̀

lọ́pọ̀lọ́pọ̀

yo-adv

lọ́pọ̀lọ́pọ̀

lọ́pọ̀lọ́pọ̀

From ní (“to have”) + ọ̀pọ̀lọ́pọ̀ (“many things”), ultimately from ọ̀pọ̀ (“plentifulness”) + -ní- (“to have”) + ọ̀pọ̀ (“plentifulness”)


looni

(Ekiti) Alternative form of lónìí (“today”)


laanọ

From Contraction of ní àná (“yesterday”)

(Ekiti) Alternative form of lánàá (“yesterday”)


bẹẹ

Kò lè jẹ́ bẹ́ẹ̀ níbi tí mo wà yìí