in

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a high-tone /ĩ/)


in

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a low- or mid-tone /ĩ/)

[preceding vowel repeated for monosyllabic verbs]


in

(Ekiti) you, Alternative form of ẹ (“(second-person plural or honorific personal pronoun)”)


o

you (second-person singular non-honorific personal pronoun)


o

he/she/it (third-person singular non-honorific personal pronoun)


o

him, her, it (third-person singular object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a high-tone /o/)


o

him, her, it (third-person singular object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a low- or mid-tone /o/)


i

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a high-tone /i/)


i

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a low- or mid-tone /i/)


mi

me (first-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a high-tone monosyllabic verb)


mi

me (first-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a low- or mid-tone monosyllabic verb)


an

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a high-tone /ã/)


an

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a low- or mid-tone /ã/)


e

him, her, it (third-person singular object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a high-tone /e/)


e

him, her, it (third-person singular object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a low- or mid-tone /e/)


m

Standard spelling of n̄ (“I”) (used before bá (“conditional marker”))


n

Alternative form of mo (“I”) (used in negative or future sentences, or with kí)


u

him, her, it (third-person singular object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a high-tone /u/)


u

him, her, it (third-person singular object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a low- or mid-tone /u/)


un

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a high-tone /ũ/)


un

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a low- or mid-tone /ũ/)


ta

Most dialects have a different cognate form, see Yoruba Varieties and Languages chart below for cognates. Likely an innovation among the speakers of the Ọ̀yọ́ dialect of Yoruba, in which the modern Yoruba koine was constructed from.

ta ni eṣinṣin kò bá gbè fún bí kò ṣe elégbò?

who else would a fly have sided with other than the one with an open sore or ulcer? (proverb on partiality)

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ta niview map

nẹ̀ẹ́ sí袥OǹdóOǹdóè sí袥Ọ̀wọ̀Ọ̀wọ̀sí袥ÌtsẹkírìÌwẹrẹnẹ̀ sín袥OlùkùmiUgbódùè ghí袥Proto-YorubaCentral YorubaÈkìtìÈkìtìÀdó Èkìtìì sí袥Àkúrẹ́Àkúrẹ́ì sí袥Mọ̀bàỌ̀tùn Èkìtìì sí袥Ifẹ̀Ilé Ifẹ̀yè sí袥Ìjẹ̀ṣàIléṣàyè sí袥Northwest YorubaÀwórìÈbúté Mẹ́tàẹ̀sí袥Ìgbẹsàẹ̀sí袥Ọ̀tàẹ̀sí袥Agégeẹ̀sí袥Ìlogbò Erémiẹ̀sí袥Ẹ̀gbáAbẹ́òkútalè sí袥

èsí袥ÈkóÈkóta ni袥ÌbàdànÌbàdànta ni袥Ìbọ̀lọ́Òṣogbota ni袥ÌlọrinÌlọrinta ni袥Ọ̀yọ́Ọ̀yọ́ta ni袥Standard YorùbáNàìjíríàta ni袥Bɛ̀nɛ̀ta ni袥Northeast Yoruba

èsí袥Kétu/ÀnàgóKétule袥Ifɛ̀Akpárénɛ̀ɛ́袥Atakpamɛnɛ̀ɛ́袥Bokonɛ̀ɛ́袥Moretannɛ̀ɛ́袥Tchettinɛ̀ɛ́袥KuraAledjo-Kouraìsí袥袥Mɔ̄kɔ́léKandiyoi袥袥Northern NagoKamboleèsí袥袥Manigrièsí袥袥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

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


ti

Adìyẹ tí mo rà.


yin

you (second-person plural object pronoun)


a

Likely a clipping of àwa (“we (emphatic pronoun)”)

clipping

Ó yẹ kí a dọ̀bálẹ̀ fún áwọn àgbàlagbà tí a máa ń pàdé.

It's necessary that we prostrate for elders that we meet.

A à tí ì rí wọn lónìí, ṣùgbọ́n a máa lọ sí báńkì lọ́la láti bá wọn sọ̀rọ̀.

We haven't seen them yet today, but we'll go to the bank tomorrow to talk to them.

we (first-person plural personal subject pronoun)


a

Àá bá a sọ̀rọ̀ l'ọ́sẹ̀ t'ó ń bọ̀.

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a high-tone /a/)


a

Wọ́n ti pa á o!

Ǹj'ó o kà á?

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a low- or mid-tone /a/)


mo

I (first-person singular personal pronoun)

mi

used in a negative sentence, or generally in some dialects

n

used in negative or future sentences, or with kí


awa

we (emphatic first-person plural personal pronoun)


emi

I (emphatic first-person singular personal pronoun)


emi

Emi l'ẹ̀ ń ṣe t'ẹ́ ẹ fi pọ̀ báyìí

What are you doing that you gather together in this large group?


ewo

Èwo ni ẹ fẹ́ràn jù?


eyi

Èyí ni mo fẹ́ rà

Àǹtí mi ni èyí


ẹ

you (second-person plural or honorific personal pronoun)


ẹ

(proscribed) Alternative form of ẹ (“you”) (used primarily with the conjunction bá or the progressive particle ń)


ẹ

you (second-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a high-tone monosyllabic verb)

Alternative form of rẹ (second-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a complex verb)


ẹ

you (second-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a low- or mid-tone monosyllabic verb)


ẹ

him, her, it (third-person singular object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a high-tone /ɛ/)


ẹ

him, her, it (third-person singular object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a low- or mid-tone /ɛ/)


ẹ

Alternative form of rẹ̀ (third-person singular object pronoun following a complex verb)


ọ

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a high-tone /ɔ/)


ọ

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a low- or mid-tone /ɔ/)


iwe

Cognates with Yoruba èyí, Ìkálẹ̀ Yoruba ìyí


ghan

(Ilajẹ, Ikalẹ) them (third-person plural honorific object pronoun following a high-tone monosyllabic verb)

Adéwúlí rí ghan ― Adewuli saw them/you (Ìkálẹ̀)

(Ilajẹ, Ikalẹ) you (second-person plural honorific object pronoun following a high-tone monosyllabic verb)


ghan

(Ilajẹ, Ikalẹ) them (third-person plural honorific object pronoun following a low or mid-tone monosyllabic verb)

Adéwúlí mà ghán ― Adewuli knows them/you (Ìkálẹ̀)

(Ilajẹ, Ikalẹ) you (second-person plural honorific object pronoun following a low or mid-tone monosyllabic verb)


aghan

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *à-ɓã. A distinctive marker of Proto-Itsekiri-SEY from Proto-Yoruba is the lack of differing second and third person plural pronouns. This distinction continues in the present in Itsekiri and amongst all Southeast Yoruba varieties except Ìjẹ̀bú, which uses ẹ̀wẹn and ọ̀wọn, respectively. Cognates include Itsekiri aghan, Yoruba àwọn, Ìjẹ̀bú Yoruba ọ̀wọn, Ifè àŋa, Igala àma, Olukumi àwan, Àhàn xà, Èkìtì Yoruba ị̀n-ọn

Àghan àti Bùnmi ó wá ― They and Bunmi came (Ìkálẹ̀ variety)

(Ilajẹ, Ikalẹ, Usẹn, Ondo, Ọwọ) they (emphatic third-person plural personal pronoun)

Àghan yí mo mà ― You that I know (Ìkálẹ̀ variety)

(Ilajẹ, Ikalẹ, Usẹn, Ondo, Ọwọ) you (emphatic second-person plural personal pronoun)

(Ilajẹ, Ikalẹ, Usẹn) she, he, they (emphatic honorific third-person singular personal pronoun)

(Ilajẹ, Ikalẹ, Usẹn) you (emphatic honorific second-person singular personal pronoun)


nibo

Contraction of ní ibo (“at where”). The question could also be formed as ibo ni? which also means where, many other varieties and languages of the Yoruboid dialectal continuum use some other formation to ask this, see the table below.

Níbo ni àwọn ọmọ yẹn?

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - níboview map

kíyà眨Proto-YorubaCentral YorubaÈkìtìÈkìtìÀdó Èkìtìibi sí眨

ibi sí眨Ìjẹ̀ṣàIléṣàkàrí眨Òkè IgbóÒkè Igbóka ibi眨

ibo ni眨Ìgbẹsàibu sí眨Ọ̀tàibu sí眨Agégeibu sí眨Ìlogbò Erémiibu sí眨Ẹ̀gbáAbẹ́òkútaubo sí眨ÈkóÈkóníbo眨

ibo ni眨OǹkóÒtùńbo ni眨Ìwéré Iléńbo眨Òkèhòníbo ni眨

ńbo ni眨Ìsẹ́yìnńbo ni眨Ṣakíńbo ni眨Tedéńbo ni眨Ìgbẹ́tìńbo ni眨Ọ̀yọ́Ọ̀yọ́níbo眨

ibo ni眨Northeast Yoruba/OkunÌyàgbàÌsánlú Ìtẹ̀dóibi sí眨OwéKabbaká眨Ede Languages/Southwest YorubaǸcàBaàtɛńbisí眨

ínbisí眨Ifɛ̀Akpáréńbisí眨Atakpamɛńbisí眨Est-Monońbisí眨Tchettińbisí眨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


wọn

they (third-person plural or honorific personal pronoun)


awọn

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *à-ɓã, see Itsekiri àghan, Ifè àŋa, Igala àma, Olukumi àwan, Àhàn xà

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - àwọnview map

Southwest YorubaIfɛ̀Akpáréàŋa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

[preceding vowel repeated for monosyllabic verbs]

he, she, they (emphatic honorific third-person singular personal pronoun)


ọn

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a high-tone /ɔ̃/)


ọn

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a low- or mid-tone /ɔ̃/)


iwọ

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

you (emphatic second-person singular personal pronoun)

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ìwọview map

ùwe矠Ifẹ̀Ilé Ifẹ̀ìwọ矠Northwest YorubaÀwórìÈbúté Mẹ́tàìwọ矠ÈkóÈkóìwọ矠ÌbàdànÌbàdànìwọ矠Ìbọ̀lọ́Òṣogboìwọ矠ÌlọrinÌlọrinìwọ矠OǹkóÒtùìwọ矠Ìwéré Iléìwọ矠Òkèhòìwọ矠Ìsẹ́yìnìwọ矠Ṣakíìwọ矠Tedéìwọ矠Ìgbẹ́tììwọ矠Ọ̀yọ́Ọ̀yọ́ìwọ矠Standard YorùbáNàìjíríàìwọ矠Bɛ̀nɛ̀ìwɔ矠Northeast Yoruba/OkunOwéKabbaìwọ矠Ede Languages/Southwest YorubaÌdàácàBeninIgbó Ìdàácàwɔ̀ɔ矠Ifɛ̀Akpáréìwɔ矠Atakpamɛìwɔ矠Tchettiìwɔ矠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


ẹyin

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ẹ̀yinview map


oun

he/she/it (emphatic third-person singular personal pronoun)


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)”)


ẹni

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

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


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)


ugwọ

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


ẹwẹn

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

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


ohun

ohun t'á a fẹlẹ́mọ̀ṣọ́ ṣọ́ níí ṣọ́ ― Whatever we give Ẹlẹ́mọ̀ṣọ́ to guard is what he guards (proverb against eavesdropping)

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ohunview map

unghunLASTEde Languages/Southwest YorubaÌdàácàBeninIgbó ÌdàácàunwunLASTỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí-ÌjèỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí/ÌjèÌkpòbɛ́ihunLASTOnigboloihunLASTKétu/ÀnàgóKétuihunLASTIfɛ̀Akpáréiŋɛ́LASTAtakpamɛiŋɛ́LASTTchettiiŋɛ́LASTSouthern NagoÌsakétéihunLASTLASTÌfànyìnihunLASTLASTNote: 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


iyẹn

An intralingual borrowing from SEY spoken varieties into NWY and CY. The opposition between the demonstrative pronouns 'this' and 'that' is expressed by èyí and èyinì respectively in NWY and CY. In some SEY spoken varieties, however, it is ìyí and ìyẹn. In some NWY and CY spoken varieties èyinì and ìyẹn are still used side by side, but with ìyẹn gaining ground over èyinì.


ki ni

From kí (“what”) + ni (“to be, is”), Cognate with Igbo gịnī (“what”)

Kí ni?

Nítorí kí ni?

Kí lo sọ?

Kí ni ta ni rà?

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - kí niview map

kí ìn墧Northwest YorubaÀwórìÌgbẹsàkí墧Ọ̀tàkí墧Agégekí墧Ìlogbò Erémikí墧Ẹ̀gbádòÌjàkákéé墧

ko墧ÈkóÈkókí ni墧ÌbàdànÌbàdànkí ni墧ÌbàràpáIgbó Òràkí ni墧Ìbọ̀lọ́Òṣogbokí ni墧Ọ̀fàkí ni墧ÌlọrinÌlọrinkí ni墧OǹkóÒtùkí ni墧Ìwéré Ilékí墧Òkèhòkí ni墧Ìsẹ́yìnkí ni墧Ṣakíkí ni墧Tedékín ni墧Ìgbẹ́tìkín ni墧Ọ̀yọ́Ọ̀yọ́kí ni墧Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́kí ni墧Ìkirèkí ni墧Ìwókí ni墧Standard YorùbáNàìjíríàkí ni墧Bɛ̀nɛ̀kí ni墧Northeast Yoruba

ÀnàgóÌlárákéé墧Ìmẹ̀kọkéé墧Kétukéé墧Ifɛ̀Akpárékí墧

ké墧墧Manigrikéí墧墧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


ọwọnwe

/ɔ̀.wɔ̃̀.wé/

From ọ̀ (“normalizing prefix”) + wọn (“3rd person plural”) + ìwé (“this”). Cognates with Yoruba ìwọ̀nyí, Ìkálẹ̀ Yoruba ìghànyí


iwewee

From ìwé (“this”) + ìwé (“this”). Compare Yoruba èyíyìí, Ìkálẹ̀ Yoruba iyiìyí


ọwọnyẹn

/ɔ̀.wɔ̃̀.jɛ̃̀/

From ọ̀ (“nominalizing prefix”) + wọn (“3rd person plural”) + ìyẹ̀n (“that”). Cognates with Yoruba ìwọ̀nyẹn, Ìkálẹ̀ Yoruba ìghànyẹ̀n


owun

(Ijebu) she/he/it (emphatic third-person singular personal pronoun)


ọwọn

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *à-ɓã. A distinctive marker of Proto-Itsekiri-SEY from Proto-Yoruba is the lack of differing second and third person plural pronouns. This distinction continues in the present in Itsekiri and amongst all Southeast Yoruba varieties except Ìjẹ̀bú, which uses ẹ̀wẹn and ọ̀wọn, respectively. Cognates include Itsekiri àghan, Yoruba àwọn, Ìjẹ̀bú Yoruba ọ̀wọn, Ifè àŋa, Igala àma, Olukumi àwan, Àhàn xà, Èkìtì Yoruba ìn-ọn

(Ijebu) they (emphatic third-person plural personal pronoun)

(Ijebu) she, he, they (emphatic honorific third-person singular personal pronoun)


uwẹ

(Ekiti) you (emphatic second-person singular personal pronoun)


i si

From ì + sí, probably from the nominalizing prefix ì-, which represents the human form. Most dialects and Yoruboid languages have a common cognate form different from Standard Yoruba, see, Ondo è sí, Ẹ̀gbá & Ìjẹ̀bú lè sí, Ijesha yè sí, Ọ̀wọ̀ sí, Iyagba nè ghí, Ikale nẹ̀ẹ́n sí. The use of "sí" can be seen in many interrogative forms in dialects such as Ekiti, see ọ̀kàn sí (“which”), ubi sí (“where”), òlú sí (“how much”), ụ̀gbẹ̀ sí (“when”). Cognate with Itsekiri nè sín, Olukumi è ghí, Ede Ije lè é.

ì sí èyinì


le si

From lè + sí.
Compare with forms in other Yoruba dialects, Oǹdó è sí, Èkìtì ì sí, Ìjèṣà yè sí, Ìyàgbà nè ghí. The use of "sí" can be seen in many interrogative forms in the respective dialects. Cognate with Itsekiri nè sín, Olukumi è ghí, Ede Ije lè é.

Lè sí i wà ― Who is that? (Ẹ̀gbá)

Lè sí yẹn wà ― Who is that? (Ìjẹ̀bú)

(interrogative, Ẹgba, Ijebu) who, whom, whose


ye si

From yè + sí.
Compare with forms in other Yoruba dialects, Ondo è sí, Ekiti ì sí, Egba & Ijebu lè sí, Iyagba nè ghí. The use of "sí" can be seen in many interrogative forms in the respective dialects. Cognate with Itsekiri nè sín, Olukumi è ghí, Ede Ije lè é.

Yè só o rí (Ifẹ̀ dialect)

(interrogative, Ijesha, Ifẹ) who, whom, whose


eyini

From èyí + nị̀, nị̀/nì is used synonymously with èyinì, (compare with yẹn). Used historically among NWY and CY dialects. The opposition between the demonstrative pronouns 'this' and 'that' is expressed by èyí (or èí) and èyinì, nì respectively. In some SEY spoken varieties, however, it is ìyí and ìyẹn. While most CY dialects have maintained it, NWY experience an intralingual borrowing where èyinì was replaced by ìyẹn in academic settings as well as in Standard Yoruba education. Eyini can be seen in older standard Yoruba literature. In some NWY spoken varieties èyinì and ìyẹn are still used side by side, but with ìyẹn gaining ground over èyinì.

ajá mi re èyinì


e si

From è + sí, probably from the nominalizing prefix è-, which represents the human form. Most dialects and Yoruboid languages have a common cognate form different from Standard Yoruba, see, Ekiti ì sí, Ẹ̀gbá & Ìjẹ̀bú lè sí, Ijesha yè sí, Ọ̀wọ̀ sí, Iyagba nè ghí. The use of "sí" can be seen in many interrogative forms in dialects such as Ekiti, see ọ̀kàn sí (“which”), ubi sí (“where”), òlú sí (“how much”), ùgbẹ̀ sí (“when”). Cognate with Itsekiri nè sín, Olukumi è ghí, Ede Ije lè é.

È sí Adé lù?


nẹẹn

From Clipping of nẹ̀ẹ́n sí. Most dialects and Yoruboid languages have a common cognate form different from Standard Yoruba, see, Ondo è sí, Ẹ̀gbá & Ìjẹ̀bú lè sí, Ijesha yè sí, Ọ̀wọ̀ sí, Iyagba nè ghí. The use of "sí" can be seen in many interrogative forms in dialects such as Ekiti, see ọ̀kàn sí (“which”), ubi sí (“where”), òlú sí (“how much”), ùgbẹ̀ sí (“when”). Cognate with Itsekiri nè sín, Olukumi è ghí, Ede Ije lè é.

Nẹ̀ẹ́n wo rí?


karịgbị

/kà.rɪ̀.ɡ͡bɪ̀/

From kàrí (“where; interrogative marker”) + ìgbì (“time”). Mainly used by those of the Akure subdialect of Yoruba, where other Ekiti speakers may use ùgbẹ̀ sí

kàrìgbì kúwọ á dé líbi kúwe rè é

When will be you be back from the place you went?


ne ghi

From nè + ghí.
Compare with forms in other Yoruba dialects, Ondo è sí, Ekiti ì sí, Egba & Ijebu lè sí, Ijesha yè sí. The use of "sí" can be seen in many interrogative forms in the respective dialects. Cognate with Itsekiri nè sín, Olukumi è ghí, Ede Ije lè é.


nị

See more at èyinì, compare with Olukumi ẹnẹ̀, which may suggest a Proto-Yoruba origin. Vowel harmony when interacting with a close vowel converts nị̀ into nì, for example, when compounded with èyí.