o

ẹ ṣeun o

Used at the end of sentences to emphasize a statement.


ami

From English amen, from Ecclesiastical Latin āmēn, from Ancient Greek ἀμήν (amḗn), from Biblical Hebrew אָמֵן (ʾāmēn, “certainly, verily”) when used by Yoruba Christians, it is invoked with the Anglo-Christian meaning in mind. Also from Arabic آمِين (ʔāmīn), from Classical Syriac ܐܰܡܺܝܢ (ʾāmēn) or Aramaic אַמִין (ʾāmēn), possibly via Koine Greek ᾱ̓μήν (āmḗn), from Biblical Hebrew אָמֵן (ʾāmēn) when used by Yoruba Muslims, it is invoked with the Arabic meaning in mind.


too

From Hausa tṑ; cognate with Baatonum to.


ha

what a pity; an interjection used to denote displeasure or disappointment


ago

àgò onílé yìí o!

excuse me, hello, an interjection used to get the attention of the addressee


odio

An archaic term, only found in the praises and oríkì of deities like Ọlọ́fịn, Olú orókè, and Ọlụ́ayé, and certain kings, such as the Olúkàrẹ́, Déjì, Aláwẹ̀, and Èwí. See SEY form òdígho, which may suggest a Proto-Edekiri root, or inter-dialectal borrowings.


ara

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ́-la, cognates include Igala ọ́la.


kare

From kú + àre (“vindication”), literally “greetings on being provided vindicated or justice in one's work or actions”.


muso

hooray, an expression used to denote happiness or joy.


yee

Yéè! Ó dùn mí!

ouch; An expression in sympathy at another's pain.


kuule

a greeting used when entering a home (usually used in response to káàbọ̀ (“welcome”))


barika

From Hausa bar̃kā̀, ultimately from Arabic بَرَكَة (baraka). Doublet of àlùbáríkà.

báríkà ẹsẹ̀ tí ó tẹlẹ̀!

Congratulations for the feet that have stepped on the ground (A greeting for someone who has survived a sickness)

(idiomatic) blessings!, bless you!, used after someone sneezes


ọmọ

→ Nigerian Pidgin: omo

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Yoruba *ɔ-mã, from Proto-Edekiri *ɔ-mã, ultimately from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ́-mã, Cognates include Igala ọ́ma, Itsekiri ọma, Edo ọmọ, Urhobo ọ́mọ́, Isoko ọmọ. It is related to roots meaning "to beget," or "to give birth to," suggesting *mã to be an obsolete root meaning "to give birth to."

(informal) Used to express excitement, surprise, astonishment, pleasure, disgust etc.


ṣiko

Part of etymology may come from ùkó (“lip”)

(Ekiti, somewhat derogatory, insultive) be quiet; shut up


aṣẹ

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣẹ (“to come to pass, to take effect”). Compare with Edo isẹ and Urhobo isẹ.


kaasan

From kú + àsán (“morning, variant of ọ̀sán”).

good afternoon! (used between noon and 4pm)


kuurọlẹ

/kúù.ɾɔ̀.lɛ́/

kú + ìrọ̀lẹ́

good afternoon! (used between 4pm and 7pm)


pẹlẹ

sorry (used to apologize or express condolence)

how are you, specifically used a greeting used by an older person to a younger person.


dakun

From dá (“to cause, to make”) + ẹ̀kun (“limit, end”), literally “to cause something to end”.


okun

Yoruba phrasebook
 This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness.

phrasebook

Ìn okun o olóó mi

(chiefly CY, NEY) A general greeting of hello, good day


o dabọ

→ Hausa: adā̀bō

From ó (“impersonal third-person subject pronoun”) + di (“to become”) + àbọ̀ (“return”), literally “till I come again”


o ṣe

thank you (non-honorific, to a singular person)


ẹ ṣe

thank you (honorific, or to multiple people)


ẹ ṣeun

From ẹ (“honorific or plural second-person pronoun”) + ṣeun (“to be commendable”).


o ṣeun

From o (“non-honorific second-person singular pronoun”) + ṣeun (“to be commendable”), an extended meaning derived from ṣe (“to do”) + ohun (“a thing”).


Kabiyesi

From Blend of kí (“shall”) + á (“we”) + bi (“to question”) + ọ́ (“you”) + ò (“negation prefix”) + sí (“to exist”), literally “There is no one who shall question you”.


kuuṣẹ

→ Krio: kushɛ

well done! (used when greeting someone either while working or after completing work)


saafula

Possibly from Arabic ٱسْتِغْفَار (stiḡfār)
*“Allah expressions” as a manifestation of common cultural area in West Africa by Nina Pawlak (University of Warsaw)

der

Arabic ٱسْتِغْفَار (stiḡfār)

Obìnrin kan láàárín àwọn ogunlọ́gọ̀ náà ni a sún láti ké sáàfúlà sókè pè.

One woman in the crowd then exclaimed loudly.

An exclamation used to denote excitedness.


ọra

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ́-la, compare with Igala ọ́la, Olukumi ara, Ayere ɔ́lá


ko tọpẹ

From kò (“negation particle; not”) + tó (“to be worthy of”) + ọpẹ́ (“praise, thanks”), literally “it's not worthy of praise”, ultimately a Calque of English you're welcome.


eewọ

→ Portuguese: euó

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


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


ṣiri pake

/ʃí.ɾí k͡pà.kè/

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


ku ọdun tuntun

/kú ɔ̄.dṹ tũ̄.tũ̄/


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 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)


ẹrin kẹẹkẹẹ

head

ẹ̀rín kẹ̀ẹ́kẹ̀ẹ́

ẹ̀rín kẹ̀ẹ́kẹ̀ẹ́

yo-pos

ẹ̀rín kẹ̀ẹ́kẹ̀ẹ́

ẹ̀rín kẹ̀ẹ́kẹ̀ẹ́

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ́ kɛ̀ɛ́.kɛ̀ɛ́/

(chiefly Internet, text messaging) Alternative form of ẹ̀rín kèékèé (“hahaha; lol (laughter)”)


agbẹdọ

/à.ɡ͡bɛ̄.dɔ̀/

From à- (“negation marker”) + gbẹdọ̀ (“must; that which has to be done”)


akiika

From Hausa hàƙīƙā̀, ultimately from Arabic حَقِيقَة (ḥaqīqa).

bor

Hausa hàƙīƙā̀

certainly, definitely, undoubtedly, used to signal concordance


walahi

From Hausa wàllāhì, ultimately from Arabic وَٱللّٰهِ (wal-lāhi).

may God be my witness
may God be my witness


jeburẹ awo olugbẹbẹ

/d͡ʒè.bù.ɾɛ́ à.wō ō.lù.ɡ͡bɛ́.bɛ̀/

From jẹ (“eat”) + èbùrẹ́ (“Crassocephalum rubens plant”) + awo (“Ifa priest”) + olù- (“non-productive agent prefix”) + gbà (“accept”) + ẹ̀bẹ̀ (“plea”), literally “You Ifa priest, eat the ebure herb and accept the plea”.

compound

Ẹ dákun, ẹ jèbùrẹ́ awo olùgbẹ́bẹ̀

(idiomatic, euphemistic) sorry, relax, don't be upset, calm down


ẹn

Ọ̀jọ̀gbọ́n Afọlábí! — Ẹ̀n?

(non-polite, used with people younger than you) Used to answer to one's name.


ẹn

Ǹjó'o lọ s'ọ́jà lánàá? — Ẹn, mo lọ o.

Did you go to the market yesterday? — Yes, I did.

(colloquial) yes (when asked a question)


logun ọfẹ

/ló.ɡũ̄ ɔ̄.fɛ̄/

From ológun (“warrior”) + ọfẹ (“Lightness that cause quick mobility”), literally “The warrior that is quick on his feet”.

A greeting used to hail a powerful warrior or warlord

Lógun ọfẹ

title or nickname for a powerful warrior


ẹẹọ

(Ekiti) Alternative form of èèwọ̀ (“never!”)


saaki

From Hausa sarkī (“king”), compare with dàńsáákì and doublet of sàràkí.

sáákì rẹ rèé o

A greeting or hail usually for a monarch, royal, or noble


alọ

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + lọ́ (“to twist, to make confusing”).

af

Àlọ́ ooo! Àlọ̀ ọ̀ọ̀ọ̀! Àlọ́ ooo! Àlọ̀ ọ̀ọ̀ọ̀! Àlọ́ mi dá fùrù gbá gbòó, ó dá lórí...

Used by the storyteller to the listeners to introduce a folktale or riddle


ku ọjọ mẹta

head

kú ọjọ́ mẹ́ta

kú ọjọ́ mẹ́ta

yo-pos

kú ọjọ́ mẹ́ta

kú ọjọ́ mẹ́ta

/kú ɔ̄.d͡ʒɔ́ mɛ́.tā/

long time no see (a greeting after not seeing a person for an extended period of time)


gbọn mi re

/ɡ͡bɔ̃̀ mĩ́ ɾè/

From gbọ̀nrè (“to leave alone, to abandon”) + mí (“me”).


kaabọ

→ Fon: kwabɔ

→ Krio: kabɔ


kuurọju

/kúù.ɾɔ́.d͡ʒú/

ẹ kúùrọ́jú o!

I greet you for bearing the pain or loss!

a greeting to someone urging perseverance in a time of bereavement or unfortunate circumstances


kuujokoo

/kúù.d͡ʒó.kòó/


kuudaro

ẹ kúùdárò ẹni t'ó kú!

You are greeted for sharing in the sorrow of the person that has passed

a greeting for someone who is sharing in one's sorrow or bereavement


kuukalẹ

a greeting for someone sitting comfortably or relaxing


kuukunra

a greeting for one who is carrying a pregnancy


kuuyalẹta

good midmorning (used between midmorning and noon)


abajọ

Krio: abajɔ

/ā.bá.d͡ʒɔ̄/


eriwo yaa

/ē.ɾí.wō jàà/

From eríwo (“religious group, cult”) + yàà.

hear ye, an expression used to call for attention to an important message; primarily used by Ìṣẹ̀ṣe practitioners

(historical) a slogan used by members of the Ògbóni fraternal society


kara o le

/ká.ɾā ó lē/

From kí (“may, let”) + ara (“body, oneself”) + ó (“it”) + le (“to be in good health”).


a o ki n dupẹ ara ẹni

head

a ò kí ń dúpẹ́ ará ẹni

a ò kí ń dúpẹ́ ará ẹni

yo-pos

a ò kí ń dúpẹ́ ará ẹni

a ò kí ń dúpẹ́ ará ẹni

/ā ò kí ŋ́ dú.k͡pɛ́ ā.ɾá ɛ̄.nĩ̄/

From a (“one”) + ò (“negation prefix”) + kí (“to do”) + ń (“progressive marker”) + dúpẹ́ (“to thank”) + ârâ (“body”) + ẹni (“one's body or self”), literally “One does not have to thank one's self for doing what is right, appropriate, just, compassionate to himself, close family, friends, relatives or community”.

compound

(idiomatic) you're welcome, don't mention it


eepa

a loud utterance or exclamation mainly used by Ògbóni priests during a rite; especially of those pertaining to the orisha Orò


a dupẹ

From a (“we”) + dúpẹ́ (“to give thanks”), literally “we give thanks”.

I'm fine, thank you (in response to báwo ni?)


kasan-an

Ẹ kásàn-án mà

2018 November 16, Bíọ́dún Ọláwuyì, “Orí Kẹjọ: Ibi Afójúsí”, in Olubayo Peter Adegbite, editor, Ògìdán, GrahamR Writings LLC, page 56:


ku ewu ọmọ

/kú ē.wū ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄/

From kú + ewu (“danger”) + ọmọ (“child”), literally “greeting for overcoming the danger of childbirth”

a greeting when one has given birth to a child


ogbere koo

/ò.ɡ͡bè.ɾè kóò/

From ògbèrè (“stranger”) + kóò (“leave”), literally “Leave stranger”!

(Ekiti) a ritualistic chant reminding strangers to not interfere in traditional rites and also as a rally cry among Èkìtì people and towns


in ṣere

(Ekiti) thank you (honorific, or to multiple people)


wo ṣere

From wo + ṣe + re, compare with Olukumi wo sere, likely from Proto-Yoruba *wo ʃere, see Proto-Yoruba *wo ʃeũ

(Ekiti) thank you (non-honorific, to a singular person)


ẹbafin

From ẹbọ + á + fín, literally “May the sacrifice be successful”

Ẹbáfín ooo, àba mi, ìn mò kú ọdún
Ẹbáfín ooo my father, I greet you on this your festival!

(Ekiti) a greeting for a king, high-ranking chief, priest or person; (in particular) when such a person is involved in traditional rites or ceremonies that involve sacrifices.


ẹwẹ so

Ẹ̀wẹ̀ so ooo dede ọmọ Ìjẹ̀bú nálẹ̀de rìí a wà wèé, ẹ̀wẹ̀n òun mo kí ooo
Hello all Ijẹbu people residing in this world we are in, it is you that I am greeting

(Ijebu) hello, a greeting used amongst Ijẹbu people


bẹẹ ni

From bẹ́ẹ̀ (“like that”) + ni (“it is”), literally “it is like that”

Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni! Ìyẹn ni