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.


ba

ba òrom̀bó

To plant lemon seeds for future transplanting

(horticulture) to plant seeds in prepared pots for future transplanting into a farm (when it becomes an established seedling)


ile

→ Portuguese: ilê

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ú-lí. Cognates include Ifè ilé, Itsekiri ulí, Igala únyí, Ede Ije ńné, Olukumi ulé. Many dialects of Southeast Yoruba retain the form ulí.

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - iléview map

ulíFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌjẹ̀búÌjẹ̀búÌjẹ̀bú ÒdeuléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÀgọ́ ÌwòyèuléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌjẹ̀bú IgbóuléFREEDOM OF SPEECHRẹ́mọẸ̀pẹ́uléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌkòròdúuléFREEDOM OF SPEECHṢágámùuléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌkálẹ̀ÒkìtìpupaulíFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌlàjẹMahinulíFREEDOM OF SPEECHOǹdóOǹdóulíFREEDOM OF SPEECHỌ̀wọ̀Ọ̀wọ̀ulíFREEDOM OF SPEECHUsẹnUsẹnulíFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌtsẹkírìÌwẹrẹulíFREEDOM OF SPEECH

inọ́líFREEDOM OF SPEECHOlùkùmiUgbódùuléFREEDOM OF SPEECHProto-YorubaCentral YorubaÈkìtìÈkìtìÀdó ÈkìtìuléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌfàkì ÈkìtìuléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÀkúrẹ́Àkúrẹ́uléFREEDOM OF SPEECHMọ̀bàỌ̀tùn ÈkìtìuléFREEDOM OF SPEECHIfẹ̀Ilé Ifẹ̀uléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌjẹ̀ṣàIléṣàuléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÒkè IgbóÒkè IgbóiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHNorthwest YorubaÀwórìÈbúté Mẹ́tàiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌgbẹsàiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHỌ̀tàiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHAgégeiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌlogbò ErémiiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHẸ̀gbádòAyétòròiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHIgbógilailéFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌjàkáiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌlaròóiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌṣàwọ́njọiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌbàdànÌbàdàniléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌbọ̀lọ́ÒṣogboiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌlọrinÌlọriniléFREEDOM OF SPEECHOǹkóÒtùn̄léFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌwéré Ilén̄léFREEDOM OF SPEECHÒkèhòn̄léFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌsẹ́yìnn̄léFREEDOM OF SPEECHṢakín̄léFREEDOM OF SPEECHTedén̄léFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌgbẹ́tìn̄léFREEDOM OF SPEECHỌ̀yọ́Ọ̀yọ́iléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÒgbómọ̀ṣọ́iléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌkirèiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌwóiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHStandard YorùbáNàìjíríàiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHBɛ̀nɛ̀iléFREEDOM OF SPEECHNortheast Yoruba

OkunÌyàgbàÌsánlú Ìtẹ̀dóiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHOwéKabbailéFREEDOM OF SPEECH

Southwest YorubaAnaSokodeiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHCábɛ̀ɛ́Cábɛ̀ɛ́iléFREEDOM OF SPEECHTchaourouiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌcàBantèiléFREEDOM OF SPEECH

n̄léFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌdàácàBeninIgbó ÌdàácàiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí-ÌjèỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí/ÌjèÌkpòbɛ́iléFREEDOM OF SPEECHỌ̀húnbẹ́iléFREEDOM OF SPEECHKétu/ÀnàgóÌláráiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌmẹ̀kọiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHKétuiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHIfɛ̀AkpáréiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHAtakpamɛiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHBokoiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHMoretaniléFREEDOM OF SPEECHTchettiiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHKuraAledjo-KourailéFREEDOM OF SPEECHFREEDOM OF SPEECHNorthern NagoKamboleiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHFREEDOM OF SPEECHManigriiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHFREEDOM OF SPEECHSouthern NagoÌsakétéiléFREEDOM OF SPEECHFREEDOM OF SPEECHÌfànyìniléFREEDOM OF SPEECHFREEDOM OF SPEECHOverseas YorubaLucumíHavanailéFREEDOM OF SPEECHNote: 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

(soccer, sports) goal (an area into which the players attempt to put an object)


saari

From Hausa sàhûr̃, ultimately from Arabic سَحُور (saḥūr).

(Islam) suhur, a pre-dawn breakfast during the Ramadan fasting


ege

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gé (“to cut”).


rege

Borrowed from English reggae, from Jamaican Creole rege (“rags; a quarrel”).

der

(music) reggae (a music genre from Jamaica)


pako

(horticulture) to weed; to kill or clear plants, grass


ilu

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + lù (“to beat, to hit”), literally “that which is beaten”.

affix

(music) percussion instruments (in particular) drums


ibakasiẹ

ìbakasíẹ (canonical)
ìbákasíẹ (canonical)


ọrun

Compare with Igala ọ́dọ, Ayere ɔndɔ, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ́-ɗʊ̃.


agogo

→ Baatonum: agogo

→ Hausa: àgōgo

→ Edo: ẹgogo

→ Portuguese: agogô

→ English: agogo

→ Japanese: アゴゴ (agogo)

→ Russian: агого (agogo)

→ Spanish: agogó

→ Mandarin: 阿哥哥 (āgēgē)


haramu

From Hausa hàr̃âm, ultimately from Arabic حَرَام (ḥarām).


buba

Likely from a Songhay language, compare Baoule bui (“bark (skin)”), Kongo búuba (“outfit; small piece of cloth worn by a woman”), Mandinka bubá (“blouse”), Wolof buba (“garments”), Sranan Tongo buba (“skin”), possibly ultimately from Proto-Niger-Congo *-kwuba (“skin (bark, husk)”).

inh

(fashion) blouse or outer garment worn by women

(fashion) top or outer garment worn by men

(fashion) inner garment worn by men typically under an agbada


gangan

(music) A common type of talking drum and a subfamily of drums in the dùndún family of drums


oriṣa

Portuguese: orixá

Spanish: orisha

French: oricha

Haitian Creole: Olicha

English: orisha

Japanese: オリシャ (orisha)

Russian: ориша (oriša)

From Òrìṣà. The precise etymology of the term is unknown, (possibly from Proto-Yoruboid *Ò-rìsà, Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ̀-rɪ̀cà, or Proto-Yoruboid *Ò-rìcà), but several folk etymologies exist, the main one suggesting it comes from orí (“head, conscience, destiny”) + ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣà (“to be selected, to choose”), literally “The head that is specially selected”. (This is unlikely though as this term only fits the Yoruba definition of òrìṣà, but not the cognate versions in other languages or even in other Yoruba dialects).
The term òrìṣà, which is a general name for all deities in the Yoruba religion, likely derived from the proper noun form Òrìṣà, in reference to a specific arch-divinity of the sky and creation (now known as Òrìṣàńlá and Ọbàtálá). In other related languages, and some dialects of the Yoruba language, the cognate term has retained its proper noun definition, referring to a specific high-ranking male divinity associated with the sky, creation, and government. These cognates include Itsekiri Òrìtsẹ̀, Igbo Òlìsà, Urhobo Oyise, Èkìtì Yoruba Ọ̀rị̀ṣà, Edo Osa, Oisa, Ebira Oricha, and Fon Lisà

compound

(Ìṣẹ̀ṣe, religion) orisha (deity in Yoruba religion)


dundun

→ English: dun dun

(music) dun dun drum; a type of talking drum (pitch-bending drum that mimics the tonal speech of Yorùbá)

(music) the talking drum family of drums, one of the 4 families of drums among the Yoruba.


kakaki

(music) trumpet; (in particular) the kakaki


anabi

From Hausa ànnabī̀, from Arabic اَلنَّبِيّ (an-nabiyy).


Ọlọrun

/ɔ̄.lɔ́.ꜜɾũ̄/

From oní- (“one who has”) + ọ̀run (“heaven”), literally “The one who owns heaven”.

affix

(Christianity, Islam) God (the monotheistic deity of the Abrahamic religions)


Oluwa

→ Haitian Creole: lwa
→ English: loa

According to R.C. Abraham, from olú (“lord”) + wa (“our”), literally “Our lord” or from olúwa (“lord, husband”).


alufaa

→ Portuguese: alufá

From a Songhay language, ultimately from Arabic فَقِيه (faqīh, “expert in Islamic law”). Compare Ewe alufa, Fula alfaa, Baatonum alufa, Nupe àlùfáà.


aluwala

From Hausa àlwàlā, ultimately from Arabic وَضُؤَ (waḍuʔa).


ọsan

From ọ- (“nominalising prefix”) + sán (“to tie”).

af

(music) leather strings on the side of a drum to maintain tension of the skin (awọ) (in particular) talking drum strings made from the hide of a calf or underside of a mature cow.

Ọsán tó já ló sọ ọrun di ọ̀pá.

The bowstring that got broken was what turned the bow into a stick.


afaa

(Islam) An imam, a Muslim religious leader.


gaari

Likely a borrowing from Baatonum gaari; compare with Moore gaare, Dagbani gali, Gourmanchéma gaali


laada

(Islam) the belief that every that every good action attracts reward from Allah.


saraa

From Arabic صَدَقَة (ṣadaqa), perhaps through Hausa sadakā̀, compare with sádákà; or from Arabic زَكَاة (zakāh).


afonifoji

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fo + ní + fojì


alukiamọ

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


nasia

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

der

Arabic نَصِيحَة (naṣīḥa)


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)


keferi

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

(Islam, sometimes derogatory) disbeliever, infidel


kannango

/kã̀.nã̀.ŋ̀.ɡó/

From Hausa kalango, cognate with Nupe kànàngú.

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


disai

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

Arabic عِشَاء (ʕišāʔ)


egbin

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

af

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


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."


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”


kaadi pupa

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


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:


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”.


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

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


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


elegee ara

/ē.lé.ꜜɡé à.ɾà/

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


atamatase

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


Mọmọdu

/mɔ̃́.mɔ̃́.dù/


ipin

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + pín (“to share out; to divide”), literally “one's lot, one's portion”.

Ìpín

one's personal orisha, orisha of destiny and luck


Bilisi

Hausa ìblîs, ultimately from Arabic إِبْلِيس (ʔiblīs)


bilala

(music) a drumstick made of flexible raw hide


ogiri gba mi la

/ò.ɡī.ɾī ɡ͡bà mĩ́ là/

From ògiri (“wall”) + gbà là (“to save”) + mí (“me”), literally “the wall saved me”.

com

(soccer) one-two against a wall, usually to get around defenders


yọ

àgbàdó ti yọmọ

(horticulture, intransitive) to sprout, to grow


ege irọlẹ

/è.ɡé ì.ɾɔ̀.lɛ́/

ègé (“dribbling”) + ìrọ̀lẹ́ (“evening”), literally “evening dribbling”


taaba

(Islam) to perform wudu; to wash parts of the body before prayer


sẹriya

bor

Arabic شَرِيعَة (šarīʕa)


afomọ

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fò (“to fly; to jump”) + mọ́ (“towards”).

af

(agriculture) epiphyte; air plant
mistletoe


ibaada

From Hausa ìbādā̀, ultimately from Arabic عِبَادَة (ʕibāda).


janmọọ

/d͡ʒã̀.mɔ̃́ɔ̃̀/

From Hausa jàma'à, ultimately from Arabic جَمَاعَة (jamāʕa). Cognate with Nupe jàmáà.


eebu

From Contraction of èbìbù, ultimately from è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bìbù (“partial reduplication of bù to chip something off”).

(horticulture) A cutting of a mature plant used to cultivate the growing of a new plant, (in particular) a cutting or slice of a yam tuber


aporo

ebè

mound for growing certain crops such as yam


ijanu

/ì.d͡ʒá.nũ̄/

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + já + ẹnu (“mouth”)


ẹgbin

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

(horticulture) plant, crop, (especially) if it was originally planted


aladije

From a- (“agent prefix”) + là (“to referee”) + ìdíje (“competition, tournament”).


ile kewu

From ilé (“building”) + kéwú (“Quranic recitation”).

com

(Islam) madrasah (a school that teaches Islamic theology)


lemọmu

Borrowed from Hausa lī̀mâm or lī̀mân, ultimately from Arabic إِمَام (ʔimām). Doublet of ìmáàmù.


yigi

(Islam) nikah (a wedding conducted using Islamic rites)


imi-ọjọ

/ī.mĩ́.ɔ̄.d͡ʒɔ́/

From imí (“excrement, feces”) + ọjọ́ (“day, sunrise, sun”), literally “excrement of the sun”.


Yisa

der

Arabic عِيسَى (ʕīsā)

(Islam) Jesus (Isa), a major prophet in Islam


ami ayo

From àmì (“mark; sign”) + ayò (“competition; game”)

com

Àmì ayò méjì sí òdo.


ikọ

Ikọ̀ Nàìjíríà tún ti fakọyọ.

Nigeria's team has performed well again.


alujanna

/à.lù.d͡ʒã́.nã̀/