bẹ

bẹ ìbẹ́pẹ


bẹ

ogun-ún bẹ́ sílẹ̀

(intransitive) to snap, to burst, to break


bẹ

Ó ń bẹ nísàlẹ̀

Epo ń bẹ, ẹ̀wà ń bẹ o ― There's oil, there's beans(part of the oríkì ìbejì)

(intransitive, always used with ń) to be (in a location), to exist


bẹ

ìbẹ́ àbẹ́jù l'ó mú kí ẹpọ̀n eégún yọ síta

It is the excessive jumping about of the egungun spirit that causes his testicles to show outside his costume (proverb against going beyond one's limit)

(intransitive) to hop, to jump (downwards)


bẹ

Mo bẹ́ aásáà


bẹ

to slash, to cut off, (in particular), to slash something with a machete or cutlass


jiya

From jẹ (“to consume”) + ìyà (“suffering”). Cognates include Ifè dzìyà, Olukumi zùyà. Compare Gun jìyà, Fon jìyà, Saxwe Gbe jì àyà, Adja ʒì aya


atupa

Compare with Olukumi owúkpá, Olukumi úkpá


egho

(Idanre, Usẹn) Alternative form of owó (“money, cowrie”)


Onko

A Yoruba subethnic group in Oyo State, Nigeria, some Òǹkò towns include Ṣakí, Ìsẹ́yìn, Ṣẹ̀pẹ̀tẹ̀rí, Kìṣí, and Ìgànná.

A Yoruba dialect spoken by the Òǹkò people


ewua

(Ondo) water yam; purple yam; Dioscorea alata or Dioscorea smilacifolia


ṣiko

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

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


gbagbe

From gbà + gbé, with some etymological evidence that it may be a splitting verb, perhaps from gbà (“to be taken, to receive”) + gbé (“to be lost; to be gone”), literally “That which is received and then lost”. Compare with Ayere gbé, Igala gbényọ́ọ̀


eefin

From Contraction of èfínfín, ultimately from è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fínfín (“reduplication of fín "to blow air onto something"”).

af

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - èéfínview map

òrúrɔ̀WOORDENBOEKBokoòwúrɔ̀WOORDENBOEKMoretanòwúrɔ̀WOORDENBOEKTchettiòwúrɔ̀WOORDENBOEKNorthern NagoKamboleòwúwɔ̀WOORDENBOEKWOORDENBOEKNote: 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


alagba

From oní- (“one who has”) + àgbà (“elderly age”).


ai-

àìkú (“the act or state of not dying”)

àìbìkítà (“act or state of not caring or carrying; indifference”)

àìlásìkò (“the act of not having time; timelessness”)

àìláya (“the act or state of not having a wife; bachelorhood”)

àìlè (“not being able; the act of not being able to do something”)

àìnítẹ̀ẹ́lọ́rùn (“the act of not having satisfaction; dissatisfaction”)

àìsàn (“the state of not being healthy; sickness”)

negative nominalizing prefix; non- (added to verbs)


ewedu

→ English: ewedu

Corchorus olitorius
Corchorus olitorius#Translingual

Jute mallow, the Corchorus olitorius plant

A soup made from the cooked leaves of the ewédú plant. When mixed with gbẹ̀gìrì soup it is known as àbùlà


ọrẹ

From ọ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rẹ́ (“to befriend”).

affix

(euphemistic) concubine, lover, significant other


aike

Contraction of àkíké, cognates include Èkìtì Yoruba àkíké, Yoruba àáké

Mo nẹ́ àíké kọ̀n nọ́wọ́


jaguda

/d͡ʒà.ɡù.dà/


jaguda

/d͡ʒà.ɡù.dà/


agada

agada kò mọ orí alágbẹ̀dẹ

The scimitar does not recognize the head of the blacksmith who manufactured it (proverb on the neutrality of the law)

scimitar, a large sword or knife used in war


agada

(Ekiti) A type of drum used among the Àkúrẹ́ people, a subsection of the Èkìtì people


karakata

From kí (“subjunctive particle”) + a (“we”) + rà (“buy”) + kí (“subjunctive particle”) + a (“we”) + tà (“sell”).


Okun

Ọ̀wọ́rọ́ọ̀ Ọwọrọọ#Yoruba

An overarching term for a group of related Yoruba subethnic groups in Kogi State, consisting of the Ọ̀wọ́rọ́ọ̀, Ìyàgbà, Ìjùmú, Ìbùnú, Owé, and Gbẹdẹ.

A dialectal cluster of the dialects spoken by the Okun peoples


dabira

wọ́n dábírà lójú agbo

They performed several feats on the floor

Ifádábírà

A Yoruba name meaning, "Ifa performed a great feat"


okuta

From Proto-Yoruba *ɔ̀-kʊ́ta, from Proto-Edekiri *ɔ̀-kʊ́ta, ultimately from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ̀-kʊ́ta. Cognate with Igala òkwúta, Edo okuta, Olukumi òkúta, and Igbo òkutā.


dibo

From di (“to become”) + ìbò (“a system of divination by which a babaláwo, using bones or cowrie shells, to get yes-or-no responses for their client or an election”). Cognates include Ifè ɖi ìbò, Ifè ɖìbò

compound

(Yoruba religion) to do divination with yes-or-no responses with questions posed by a client

Èmi yóò dìbò fún àwọn òṣèlú ní ìdìbò tó ń bọ̀

I will vote for the politicians in the upcoming election


uko

From Proto-Yoruboid *ù-kó, equivalent to ù- (“nominalizing prefix”) + kó (“to gather, to scoop up”). While in Standard Yoruba and Northwest Yoruba, the alternative form ìkó only translates to the beak of the bird (with the term ètè referring to the mammalian lip), in the Central and Southeast Yoruba dialects ùkó, it retains its general meaning as a term for the lip of any mammal and the beak of a bird. Compare with Igala ùkó (“lip”).

af

(chiefly CY, anatomy, zootomy) beak; lip


gede

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *dede or Proto-Yoruba *gede, from Proto-Edekiri *dede, ultimately from Proto-Yoruba *dVdV, see Olukumi gèdè, Itsekiri dede, Igala dẹdẹ

(Ọwọ, Eastern Akoko) all, every, everyone, everything

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - gbogboview map


Ọlọrun

/ɔ̄.lɔ́.ꜜɾũ̄/

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

affix

Olorun, a nickname for the supreme divinity of the Yoruba religion, Olódùmarè

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


Olodumare

From oní- + òdùmarè. Many folk etymologies attempt to explain the origin of the term òdùmàrè, but the etymology is ultimately unclear
*A chapter from the Odù Ifa (Yoruba religious text), Ọ̀sá Ògúndá, explains that the etymology comes from the phrase oní odù tí ń tan òṣùmàrè, ultimately from oní- (“one who has”) + odù (“pot”) + òṣùmàrè (“rainbow”), literally “The owner of the pot from which the rainbow comes from”
*Another folk etymology explains it as ultimately meaning odù (“source of creation, pot”) + mà (“does not”) + rè (“to become exhausted, empty”), literally “The Owner of the Source of Creation that does not get exhausted; The All Sufficient One”
* Compare with Òṣùmàrè
*Another theory tends to link the term to àrè, referring to stranger or someone who has know background, referring to the mysterious origins associated with Olodumare, thus breaking down to oní- (“one who has”) + òdù (“pot, source”) + mọ̀ (“to know”) + àrè (“stranger, foreigner, one of know background”)

af

A primordial being of creation in the Yoruba pantheon, regarded as the supreme ruler of the universe and the highest ranking divinity of Ìṣẹ̀ṣe


okobo

Òkóbó ò lè fi alátọ̀sí ṣẹ̀sín.

The eunuch cannot tease the person with gonorrhoea.


kakiri

From ká (“to surround; everywhere”) + kiri (“to wander around (aimlessly)”)

compound

to go or wonder all over some place or everywhere


kurukuru

Noun sense derives from ideophone sense.

(of an entity) being opaque, foggy, or cloudy


ejika

Possibly from Proto-Yoruboid *á-ká (“arm, shoulder, wing”) and a Doublet of apá. Probably cognate with Igala ójíká


Naijiria

/nà.ì.d͡ʒí.ɾí.à/


jaye

→ Nigerian Pidgin: chop life (calque)

From jẹ (“to consume; to eat”) + ayé (“life”).

com

Jayéọba

A Yoruba name meaning, "Live the life of royalty"

Jayéọlá

A Yoruba name meaning, "Enjoy the privilege of wealth"

Kalẹ̀jayé

A Yoruba name meaning, "Sit and enjoy life"


aworo

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + wò (“to look”) + rò (“to tell”), literally “One who looks to the orisha and then utters its message”.

af

A male priest of the orisha, whom often leads the traditional rituals and sacrifices to a specific orisha.

An executioner, whom specifically serves the orisha Orò as one who kills the live animals brought as sacrifices


oyo

Mona monkey, often mistaken with the monkey known as ìjímèrè


iwin

forest fairy; magical creatures whom are believed to reside in the forest and aid in the preparation of ritual medicine (òògùn)

(by extension) person with weird attributes (in comparison to the supernatural creature)


iwin

Likely derived from Proto-Edekiri *i-wĩ́, compare with Proto-Yoruba *i-wĩ́ (Central Yoruba and Olukumi), also see Olukumi íwín. It is unclear but possible that this is also attested in NWY, or it is possible it is related to imí. The term "imi," has a much wider etymology with cognates found throughout Volta-Niger, so it is unlikely that only NWY maintained the word. While such a term is not attested in Igala, the term for the dung beetle, Igala ákítọ̀wúnyí may possibly suggest the root "yí" is of Proto-Yoruboid origin. See yímíyímí. Perhaps also related to Igbo oyī (“ugly, nauseating”).

(Ijebu, Ondo, Eastern Akoko, Ikalẹ) feces, excrement


iwin

Compare with Olukumi iwún, Ifè irṹ, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *i-wṹ, also see *sĩ́wṹ


abilekọ

*A compound incorporating ilé (“house”) and ọkọ (“husband”).
* From abi- (“prefix”) + ilé (“house”) + ọkọ (“husband”)

affix

married woman living with her husband; wife


egungun

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Yoruboid *égbṵ́gbṵ́, cognate with Igala ógwugwu.


fọ

àwọn ọdẹ ń fọ̀ sí araa wọn nínú igbó

The hunters are speaking to themselves in the forest

Kúwẹ ti fọ̀? ― What did you say? (Èkìtì)

Kí wofọ̀? ― What did you say? (Ìjẹ̀bú)


fọ

Lọ́ládé ń fọ abọ́


fọ

ògììrì ẹsẹ̀ẹ́ fọ̀


fọ

bí adìẹ́ bá dà ẹ́ lóògún nú, ìwọ náà a sì fọ́ ọ lẹ́yin

If a hen spills your medicine, you should break its eggs (proverb on revenge)

Àwọn ọmọ ogun Ìbàdàn fọ́ ìlú Èkìtì púpọ̀ láyé àtijọ́

In the past, soldiers of the town of Ibadan destroyed many Ekiti towns

(transitive, intransitive) to destroy (a town or nation by war)

ìgò ó fọ́ yángá

(intransitive) to become broken, to explode, to collapse

Ojú mi ti fọ́

I have become blind (literally, "my eyes have broken")

orí ń fọ́ mi

I have a headache (literally - "my head is breaking")

(idiomatic) to suffer from a headache or blindness


fọ

ọmọ́ fọ́ ẹ̀kọ mu

The child liquefied the ẹ̀kọ and drank it


fọ

(transitive) to slap, to hit (with a vessel)


fọ

ọmọ́ fọ́ táá


fọ

àìsán mú kí aláìsàn fọ́

The illness caused the sick person to lose weight

(intransitive) to lose weight, to shrink in body size, to emaciate


kọ

O kọ̀ láti kí àgbà yẹn


kọ

Mò ń bá àwọn olùkọ́ yẹn kọ́ ọmọdé wọ̀nyí

I'm helping the teacher teach these children


kọ

Èmi kọ́ ló ṣe é!

a negation particle, used specifically with emphatic pronouns and nouns

Irun kọ́, ọ̀run ni

a negation particle, used with ni to create sarcastic statements


kọ

Mo kọ́ aṣo mi láti okùn yẹn


kọ

Ó ń bá wọn kọ ọ́


kọ

Mo fẹsẹ̀ kọ òkúta yẹn


kọ

Orin náà ni mo kọ


imale

→ Portuguese: malê

Of unclear origin, but likely from Hausa mālàmī (“[Islamic] teacher”). A common folk etymology connects the term with the Mali Empire.


fanimọra

→ English: fanimorous

From fa (“pull”) + ẹni (“person”) + mọ́ (“towards”) + ara (“body, self”)


wure

From wú (“to bring forth”) + ire (“goodness, good fortune”).

(intransitive) to pray; especially in the Yoruba religion


akata

(sometimes derogatory) A term for African-Americans. It was coined by Nigerian students in the U.S. during the 60s-70s in honor of the Black Panther Party; but now perceived as having derogatory connotations.


Oluwa

→ Haitian Creole: lwa
→ English: loa

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


famu

fà (“to pull”) + mu (“drink”), literally “To draw up and then consume”


agho

(Ọwọ, Eastern Akoko) Ọ̀wọ̀, Eastern Àkókó form of awó (“guinea fowl”)


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 àdúmáadán yí éè mà bí Èdùmàrè se húre ghan ― These dark and shining men are unaware how the Creator blessed them (Ìkálẹ̀ variety)

(Ilajẹ, Ikalẹ, Usẹn, Ondo, Ọwọ) Precedes a noun to mark it as plural.


aghan

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)


gho

(Ọwọ, Ilajẹ, Ikalẹ) Alternative form of wò (“to look; to watch”)


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

kíyàABERRANTProto-YorubaCentral YorubaÈkìtìÈkìtìÀdó Èkìtìibi síABERRANT

ibi síABERRANTÌjẹ̀ṣàIléṣàkàríABERRANTÒkè IgbóÒkè Igbóka ibiABERRANT

ibo niABERRANTÌgbẹsàibu síABERRANTỌ̀tàibu síABERRANTAgégeibu síABERRANTÌlogbò Erémiibu síABERRANTẸ̀gbáAbẹ́òkútaubo síABERRANTÈkóÈkóníboABERRANT

ibo niABERRANTOǹkóÒtùńbo niABERRANTÌwéré IléńboABERRANTÒkèhòníbo niABERRANT

ńbo niABERRANTÌsẹ́yìnńbo niABERRANTṢakíńbo niABERRANTTedéńbo niABERRANTÌgbẹ́tìńbo niABERRANTỌ̀yọ́Ọ̀yọ́níboABERRANT

ibo niABERRANTNortheast Yoruba/OkunÌyàgbàÌsánlú Ìtẹ̀dóibi síABERRANTOwéKabbakáABERRANTEde Languages/Southwest YorubaIfɛ̀AkpáréńbisíABERRANTAtakpamɛńbisíABERRANTEst-MonońbisíABERRANTTchettińbisíABERRANTNote: 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


dinku

From dín (“to subtract”) + kù (“to remain”), literally “To remove an amount from something but quantity still remains”.

(transitive) to reduce the quantity or scale of something, to decrease

(intransitive) to become decreased or reduced


dumbu

Wọ́n máa ń dúḿbú màlúù fọ́dún Iléyá.

They typically butcher cows for Eid al-Adha.

A-ṣe-kó-súni, Ìmàle Adọ̀dọ̀/ Ó ní ‘Bí wọn kò dúńbú omi/ Òun kò ní mu!/ Bí wọn kò dúńbú ẹja/ Òun kò ní jẹ!

2020, Thematic Preoccupations of D. A. Ọbasá and Ṣóbọ̀ Aróbíodù on Religion and Colonialism:

One who makes things hard for others, an extremist Muslim/ Who says if water was not slaughtered/ He would not drink!/ If fish was not slaughtered/ He would not eat!

(transitive) to butcher, to slaughter (in particular) in the halal method


saraki

Borrowed from Hausa sarkī. Doublet of sáákì and Doublet of séríkí


Oko

Oko (orisha), the orisha of farming and agriculture, in his male form, he is regarded as a sorcerer. The root, oṣó (“sorcerer”) in many names among the Ẹ̀gbá and Ìjẹ̀bú refers to Oko.


Ganbia

/ɡá.ŋ́.bí.à/

Nonstandard spelling of Gáḿbíà (“Gambia (a country in West Africa)”).

Nonstandard spelling of Gáḿbíà (“River Gambia (a river in West Africa)”).


alubarika

From Hausa àlbar̃kā̀, ultimately from Arabic بَرَكَة (baraka). Doublet of báríkà.

Olúwa yóò fi àlùbàríkà sí iṣẹ́ẹ wa


aṣiri

From Hausa àsīr̃ī, ultimately from Arabic سِرّ (sirr).


alaafia

→ Krio: alafia

Ṣé àlàáfíà ni?

good health, peace (often used in salutations)


alujọnnu

/à.lù.d͡ʒɔ̃̀.nṹ/

From Hausa àljan, from Arabic جَانّ (jānn).

jinn, imp, malevolent spirit, a person with special powers

àǹjànnú onímọ̀-ìjìnlẹ̀

àǹjànnú onímọ̀-ìjìnlẹ̀


erinmi

From erin (“elephant”) + omi (“water”), literally “water elephant”, see Urhobo eníame


rakunmi

/ɾà.kũ̄.mĩ́/


ehoro

Perhaps related to Igala áfolo, compare with Ifè aworo, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *á-folo

rabbit, hare; (in particular) African savanna hare


ọmọ odu

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄ ō.dù/

one of the two hundred and forty minor signs of the Ifa divination system


maluu

→ Edo: emẹlu (“bull”)

→ Urhobo: imelu (“cattle”)

Possibly from an older form màlúwù. It is a very old loan word, likely from a language of what is now Northern Nigeria (as that is how cows likely arrived to Yorubaland, perhaps from Fula. Cognate words do not exist or have not been found in the modern vocabulary of Northern languages that have vocabulary borrowed by the Yoruba (Baatonum, Fulfulde, Hausa, Nupe), thus possibly suggesting it may have likely borrowed from a now extinct language, or a word no longer used in the vocabulary of the original language.

cow, ox, cattle; (in particular) zebu cow


alangba

/ā.lá.ŋ̀.ɡ͡bá/

Possibly from oní- (“one who has”) + à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ǹ + gbá (“to sway, to strut while walking”), literally “The one who sways while walking”


eṣinṣin

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *V́-cĩcĩ, cognate with Igala áchichi, Olukumi esinsin, Ifè etsĩtsĩ, see Yoruboid reconstruction for more, likely also related to English tsetse


oju odu

/ō.d͡ʒú ō.dù/

From ojú (“eye, main, center”) + odù (“Odu Ifa”), literally “The main Odu”.

affix

one of the sixteen principal signs of the Ifa divination system

ojú odù

The first and most important sixteen chapters of the odù Ifá


adiẹ

Cognate with Ìjẹ̀bú Yoruba ẹdùwẹ, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *á-dɪ̀wɛ, compare with Yoruba ẹyẹ.

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - adìẹview map

adìyɛABAWEDNortheast Yoruba/OkunOwéKabbaadiyẹ́ABAWEDEde Languages/Southwest YorubaCábɛ̀ɛ́Cábɛ̀ɛ́adìɛABAWEDTchaourouadìɛABAWEDÌcàBantèadìɛABAWEDÌdàácàBeninIgbó ÌdàácàedìyɛABAWEDỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí-ÌjèỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí/ÌjèÌkpòbɛ́adìyɛABAWEDOnigboloedìyɛABAWEDKétu/ÀnàgóKétuadìyɛABAWEDIfɛ̀Akpáréadɛ̀ɛABAWEDAtakpamɛadɛ̀ɛABAWEDBokoadɛ̀ɛABAWEDMoretanadɛ̀ɛABAWEDTchettiaɖɛ̀ɛABAWEDKuraAwotébiadɛ́ABAWEDABAWEDPartagoádɛ̀ABAWEDABAWEDMɔ̄kɔ́léKandiajɛ̀ɛABAWEDNorthern NagoKamboleadɛ̀ɛABAWEDManigriadɛABAWEDABAWEDNote: 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


Ifa

From Proto-Yoruboid *ɪ́-fá, Ifa divination can be traced linguistically to Volta-Niger, see Proto-Volta-Niger *-fa, however the ultimately etymology of the root is of unknown origin. Cognates exist across Volta-Niger languages, see Igbo Afa, Ewe Afá, Fon Fá, Igala Ífá, Edo Iha, Ebira Eva, Urhobo Epha, and Nupe Eba. Several theories exist among worshippers of Ifá

A complex system of divination in Yoruba religion.


Ifa

the spirit associated with divination, wisdom, and the oracle


ayọ

a- (“agent prefix”) + yọ̀ (“to rejoice”). Cognates include Itsekiri ọ̀yọ̀, Ede Idaca ayɔ̀

af

Orin ayọ̀ ló ń dùn lẹ́ẹ̀kan yẹn

Joyful music was playing a short while ago


alubọsa

From Hausa albasa, ultimately from Arabic بَصَل (baṣal). Cognates with Emai àlùbásà


Otua

Alternative form of Òtúrá (“The thirteenth principal sign of the Ifa divination system and thirteenth chapter of the Odù Ifá corpus”)


agbọrin

/à.ɡ͡bɔ̀.ɾĩ́/

Alternative form of àgbọ̀nrín (“bushbuck”)


Ọsẹ

Possibly from ọ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + sẹ́ (“to snap, to break, to deny”), cognate with Idoma Oche

The fifteenth principal sign of the Ifa divination system

The fifteenth of the àpólà or sixteen categories in the Odù Ifá, consisting of the fifteenth principal chapter, (Ọ̀sẹ́ méjì) and the other fifteen chapters of Ọ̀sẹ́.

The fifteenth chapter of the Odù Ifá corpus, and one of the major ojú odù

The spirit and divinity associated with the Ọ̀sẹ́ divination sign


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.


Ọọni

Etymology is unknown, the deletion of the /w/ (also /ɣ/) phoneme in the Ifẹ̀ and Èkìtì dialects of Yoruba may suggest the original form as Proto-Yoruba Proto-Yoruba *ɔ̀-ɣɔ̀nɪ̃, equivalent to ọ̀ọ̀ (“respect”) + ọni (“person”). Cognate with Edo Ọ́ghẹ̀nnẹ́ and Urhobo Ọ́ghẹ̀nẹ́, where the term is also used in reference to a Supreme being synonymous with Odùduwà

the title of the traditional monarch of the town of Ifẹ (Ifẹ̀) and the Ifẹ̀ people, they are regarded as one the highest ranking Yoruba monarchs, and is the chief priest of the worship of Odùduwà


maleka

From Arabic مَلَائِكَة (malāʔika), the plural of مَلْأَك (malʔak), perhaps by way of an intermediary like Hausa màlā'ikā̀.


Ogbeyẹku

The seventeenth sign of the Ifa divination system, it is the first and most important, of the signs of the ọmọ odù; the 240 minor signs

The seventeenth chapter of the Odù Ifá corpus. It is one of the sixteen chapters in the Ogbè category (àpólà) and the first and most important of the 240 minor chapters, or àmúlù of the Odù Ifá.


Ọwọ

From Ọ̀ghọ̀, ultimately from ọ̀ghọ̀ (“respect”), equivalent to ọ̀wọ̀ (“respect”)

The Ọwọ subethnic group of the Yoruba people


Oṣogbo

Folk etymology states it comes from oṣó (“sorcerer”) + igbó (“forest”), literally “Sorcerer of the forest”, however this is unlikely the real etymology


Ọbara

Cognate across Volta-Niger, the term has remained relatively constant across all the languages in that group, making it potentially possible to reconstruct the root all the way to Proto-Volta-Niger, (see Proto-Volta-Niger *-bàlà). Cognate with Igala Ọ̀bàlà, Itsekiri Ọ̀bàrà, ultimately derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ̀-bàlà, see there for more cognates.

The seventh principal sign of the Ifa divination system

The seventh of the àpólà or sixteen categories in the odù Ifá, consisting of the seventh principal chapter, (Ọ̀bàrà méjì) and the other fifteen chapters of Ọ̀bàrà

The seventh chapter of the Odù Ifá corpus, and one of the major ojú odù

The spirit associated with the Ọ̀bàrà sign


Ilọrin

A common folk etymology suggests, ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + lọ̀ (“to grind”) + irin (“iron”), literally “The place where iron is processed”

af

A Yoruba dialect spoken by the Ìlọrin people


Ọya

A common folk etymology links her name to ọ- (“agent prefix”) + ya (“to tear, to rip open”), literally “She tore”, referring to her representation as violent whirlwinds. Also possibly from aya (“wife”), as she is strongly associated as the wife of Ṣàngó

Ọya-pípè

Chanting and invocations during the praise of Ọya

Ọyábìyìí

A Yoruba name meaning Ọya has given birth to this child

Ọyágbọlá

A Yoruba name meaning Ọya received honor

Ọyágbèmí

A Yoruba name meaning Ọya has favored me

Ọyátọ́pẹ́

A Yoruba name meaning Ọya is worthy of praise

Òkè Ọya

The northern region of Nigeria, the region of Nigeria above the Niger river

She is regarded as the favorite of Ṣàngó's wife because of their similar tempers.

Ọyá pé méjì. Ọya kìíní ni èyí tí ó bá àwọn Irúnmọlẹ̀ wá sí ayé; èkejì sì ni Ọya tí ó jẹ́ ìyàwóo Ṣàngó Ìtí-olú Olúkòso tíí ṣe Aláàfin ní Ọyọ́-ilé

There are two forms of Oya. The first Oya is the primordial deity who accompanied the four hundred other deities to earth, and the second is Oya the orisha who was the wife of Shango the Alaafin of Oyo

A female orisha and one of the irúnmọlẹ̀ in the Yoruba religion, she is believed to be the spirit of the Niger river, and is the goddess of storms, winds. She is the wife of Ṣàngó, and was also an ayaba (“queen”), when he was the Aláàfin of Ọ̀yọ́.

Niger (a major river in West Africa, that flows into the Gulf of Guinea in Nigeria)


Irẹtẹ

The fourteenth principal sign of the Ifa divination system

The fourteenth of the àpólà or sixteen categories in the Odù Ifá, consisting of the fourteenth principal chapter, (Ìrẹ̀tẹ̀ méjì) and the other fifteen chapters of Ìrẹ̀tẹ̀.

The fourteenth chapter of the Odù Ifá corpus, and one of the major ojú odù

The spirit and divinity associated with the Ìrẹtẹ̀ divination sign.


Ijẹbu-Ode

From Ìjẹ̀bú (“Ijebu”) + òde (“town”), literally “The town of the Ìjẹ̀bú”


Ileṣa

Original term in the Ijesha dialect is Uléṣà. Several folk etymologies exist, the most prominent being from ulé (“home”) + ṣà (“to choose, to select”), literally “The home that we chose” or ulé (“home”) + òòṣà (“orisha”), literally “Home of the orisha”, compare with Ìjẹ̀ṣà, Ùjẹ̀ṣà

compound

Ilesa (a city in Nigeria), the capital city of the Ijesha people.


Ọwọnrin

/ɔ̀.wɔ̃́.ɾĩ́/

The sixth principal sign of the Ifa divination system

The sixth of the àpólà or sixteen categories in the Odù Ifá, consisting of the sixth principal chapter, (Ọ̀wọ́nrín méjì) and the other fifteen chapters of Ọ̀wọ́nrín

The sixth chapter of the Odù Ifá corpus, and one of the major ojú odù

The spirit associated with the Ọ̀wọ́nrín sign, believed to have been born in the Kétu region.


Musulumi

From Hausa mùsùlmī, ultimately from Arabic مُسْلِم (muslim).


Ogbomọṣọ

/ò.ɡ͡bó.mɔ̃̀.ʃɔ́/

Several folk etymologies exist, one of which suggests ògbó (“a type of sword”) + mọ̀ (“to know, to be familiar with”) + ọ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣọ́ (“to protect”), literally “The ogbo sword knows how to protect”


Alake

From oní- (“one who has”) + Aké (“Ake”), literally “One who has Aké”.

affix

the traditional ruler of the Egba people

(historical) the traditional ruler of the Ẹ̀gbá Aké section of the Ẹ̀gbá people.


Ika

Cognate across Volta-Niger, where it the term has remained relatively constant across all the languages, making it potentially possible to reconstruct the root all the way to Proto-Volta-Niger, (see Proto-Volta-Niger *-ká). Cognate with Igala Ẹ̀ká, Itsekiri Ẹ̀ká ultimately derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ̀-ká, see there for more cognates.

The eleventh principal sign of the Ifa divination system

The eleventh of the àpólà or sixteen categories in the odù Ifá, consisting of the eleventh principal chapter, (Ìká méjì) and the other fifteen chapters of Ìká

The eleventh chapter of the Odù Ifá corpus, and one of the major ojú odù


fadaka

silver, (chemical element, Ag, atomical number 47)


Odi

Cognate across Volta-Niger, where it has consistently remained constant across almost all the languages, making it potentially possible to reconstruct the root all the way to Proto-Volta-Niger, (see Proto-Volta-Niger *-dí). Cognate with Igala Òjí, ultimately derived from Proto-Yoruboid *Ò-dí, see there for more cognates.
* Folk etymologies found in the verses assigned to this chapter are plentiful for example, ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dí (“to block”), literally “That which blocks evil”.

af

The fourth principal sign of the Ifa divination system

The fourth of the àpólà or sixteen categories in the odù Ifá, consisting of the fourth principal chapter, (Òdí méjì) and the other fifteen chapters of Òdí.

The fourth chapter of the odù Ifá corpus, and one of the major ojú odù

The spirit associated with the Òdí sign, he is believed to have born in a place near Ìlọrin


mọṣalaṣi

/mɔ̃́.ʃá.lá.ʃí/

From Hausa masallācī, ultimately from Arabic مَسْجِد (masjid)


ẹpa

Cognate with Igbo ọ̀kpà, Igala ọ̀kpà, likely originally referring to the Bambara groundnut


Ọkanran

/ɔ̀.kã̀.ɾã̀/

Possibly from ọ̀kàn (“heart, mind, soul”) + ràn (“to help, to aid”), literally “The soul helps”, from a folk etymology. Cognate with Idoma Okana

compound

The eighth principal sign of the Ifa divination system

The eighth of the àpólà or sixteen categories in the odù Ifá, consisting of the eighth principal chapter, (Ọ̀kànràn méjì) and the other fifteen chapters of Ọ̀kànràn

The eighth chapter of the Odù Ifá corpus, and one of the major ojú odù


Abẹokuta

From abẹ́ (“under”) + òkúta (“rock (referring to the Olúmọ rock)”), literally “Under the rock”.


Ṣabẹẹ

A Yoruba subethnic group whom live in the city of Savè.

A Yoruba dialect spoken by the Ṣábẹ̀ẹ́ people


Akurẹ

→ English: Akure

→ Edo: Ẹkuẹ

A widely known folk etymology popularized by Akure king Adesida I states it comes from àkún (“royal beads”) + rẹ́ (“to fall, to snap”), literally “The place where the beads snapped”.

A subdialect of the Èkìtì dialect spoken by the people of Àkúrẹ́ and its surrounding towns (sometimes categorized as a distinct dialect of Yoruba)


Ẹgbado

/ɛ̀.ɡ͡bá.dò/

ẹ̀ gbá odò (“Wanderers to the river”). Compare Ẹ̀gbá

the Egbado people, a subgroup of the Yoruba

the Ẹ̀gbádò dialect spoken by the Yéwa people


Iwori

From Proto-Yoruboid *ò-ɣòlì, across Volta-Niger, the term has not changed from what could be its original form where, making it potentially possible to reconstruct the root all the way to Proto-Volta-Niger, (see Proto-Volta-Niger *-ɣòlì or Proto-Volta-Niger *-gòlì). Cognate with Igala Ògòlì, Itsekiri Òɣòlì, Edo Òɣòì, Urhobo Òɣòrì, Igbo Ògori (Nsuka), Igbo Òyori (Nri), Nupe Gòrì, Gun Wolì.

èèwọ̀ ni, Ìwòrì kì í rẹ̀kú, eégun kò gbọ́dọ̀ na babaláwo

It is a taboo, Iwori does not carry an egúngún costume; an egúngún must not beat an Ifá priest

The third principal sign of the Ifa divination system

The third of the àpólà or sixteen categories in the Odù Ifá, consisting of the third principal chapter, (Ìwòrì Méjì) and the other fifteen chapters of Ìwòrì.

The third chapter of the Odù Ifá corpus, and one of the major ojú odù

The spirit and divinity associated with the Ìwòrì divination sign


Ajaṣẹ

Gun: Àjàṣẹ́

/à.d͡ʒà.ʃɛ́/

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jà (“to fight”) + ṣẹ́ (“to be victorious”).

af

a name for several towns in Yorubaland. The towns are often suffixed by a unique identifying term as a way of differentiating them.

Àjàṣẹ́ people, a subgroup of the Yoruba people who live in the town of Porto-Novo and who speak the Àjàṣẹ́ dialect of Yoruba

The dialect of the Yoruba language spoken in the town of Àjàṣẹ́ (Porto-Novo).


Ọyẹku

Folk etymology suggests it comes from ọ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yẹ̀ (“to avoid, to dodge”) + ikú (“death”), literally “That which avoids death”. It is a possibility that the root term may relate to kú (to die) as the second part of the term stays relatively consistently throughout Volta-Niger languages, and kwu or ku is generally associated with old roots for death, however, in some cognate terms, it changes, so that assertion is unlikely, but possible. See Gun Ìyẹ̀kú, Itsekiri Akú, Igala Ọyẹkwu, Igala Akwu, Edo Àkó, Urhobo Àkó, Igbo Àhwụ, Nupe Eyako, Ebira Ọ̀hàkú. Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *V-kwú

affix

The second principal sign of the Ifa divination system

The second of the àpólà or sixteen categories in the Odù Ifá, consisting of the second principal chapter, (Ọ̀yẹ̀kú méjì) and the other fifteen chapters of Ọ̀yẹ̀kú (beginning with Ọ̀yẹ̀kúlógbè).

The second chapter of the Odù Ifá corpus, and one of the major ojú odù

The spirit and divinity associated with the Ọ̀yẹ̀kú divination sign


Otuurupọn

/ò.túú.ɾú.k͡pɔ̃̀/

Cognate terms across Volta-Niger, the term has not changed from what could be its original form where, making it potentially possible to reconstruct the root all the way to Proto-Volta-Niger, (see Proto-Volta-Niger *-túrúkpà). Cognate with Igala Àtúnúkpà, Itsekiri Àtúkpà, ultimately derived from Proto-Yoruboid *À-túlúkpɔ̃̀, see there for more cognates.

inh

*À-túlúkpɔ̃̀

The twelfth principal sign of the Ifa divination system

The twelfth of the àpólà or sixteen categories in the Odù Ifá, consisting of the twelfth principal chapter, (Òtúúrúpọ̀n méjì) and the other fifteen chapters of Òtúúrúpọ̀n.

The twelfth chapter of the Odù Ifá corpus, and one of the major ojú odù


Ọyọ

→ Gun: Ayɔ̀

Folk etymology states it comes from ọ̀- (nominalizing prefix) + yọ́ (“to slide off”), literally “The place that we slide off of (in reference to the slipperiness of the ground)”.

Ọ̀yọ́mèsì

A senior class of chiefs of the Ọ̀yọ́ empire that served as advisors to the Aláàfin

The Ọ̀yọ́ they were the first Yoruba speaking group to be referred to by the name "Yoruba"

A Yoruba subethnic group who speaks the Ọ̀yọ́ dialect

a dialect of the Yoruba language spoken by the Ọ̀yọ́ people, it serves as the basis for the modern Standard Yoruba koine (Yorùbá Àjùmọ̀lò)

Oyo (a city in Nigeria), the modern city of Ọ̀yọ́ founded after the destruction of Ọ̀yọ́-Ilé

(historical) Old Oyo, the capital of the Ọ̀yọ́ empire until its destruction during the Eleduwe War, (Ogun Elédùwẹ̀) in 1835


Irosun

Possibly, but unlikely from ìròsùn (“camwood”). Cognate with Idoma Orosu, Itsekiri Ùròsùn, Igala Òlòrù, Edo Òrúùhù, Urhobo Ùɹ̝̊ùɹ̝̊ù, Igbo Ùrúrù, Igbo Ùlúshù, Nupe Rùsù, Ebira Òròsù, Fon Lósò. Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ò-lòsũ̀, it has remained consistent across Volta-Niger, with the exception of the variation between /s/, /r/, and /h/, a common occurrence. Perhaps ultimately from a root similar to Proto-Volta-Niger *-lòsù

cog

Urhobo Ùɹ̝̊ùɹ̝̊ù

The fifth principal sign of the Ifa divination system

The fifth of the àpólà or sixteen categories in the odù Ifá, consisting of the fifth principal chapter, (Ìrosùn méjì) and the other fifteen chapters of Ìrosùn.

The fifth chapter of the odù Ifá corpus, and one of the major ojú odù

The spirit associated with the Ìrosùn sign, he is believed to have born in the town of Ìdèrè in the Ìbàràpá Yoruba region


Ifọn

A Yoruba subethnic group whom live in the city of Ifọ́n in Oǹdó state

A Yoruba dialect spoken by the Ifọ́n people of Oǹdó state


alumọni

Ultimately from Arabic مَال (māl, “possessions; wealth”), through an uncertain intermediate, likely a Songhay language (compare Koyraboro Senni alman (“wealth”)).


Ofun

Cognate across Volta-Niger, the term has remained relatively constant across all the languages in that group, making it potentially possible to reconstruct the root all the way to Proto-Volta-Niger, (see Proto-Volta-Niger *-fú). Cognate with Igala Òfú, Itsekiri Òfún, ultimately derived from Proto-Yoruboid *Ò-fṹ, see there for more cognates.

The sixteenth principal sign of the Ifa divination system

The sixteenth and final of the àpólà or sixteen categories in the Odù Ifá, consisting of the final principal chapter, (Òfún méjì) and the other fifteen chapters of Òfún.

The sixteenth chapter of the Odù Ifá corpus, and the last of the major ojú odù

The spirit and divinity associated with the Òfún divination sign


aluwala

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


alukawani

From Hausa àlkawàr̃ī, ultimately from Arabic قَوْل (qawl).


Larubawa

From Hausa Lār̃abāwā (“Arabs”), ultimately from Arabic عَرَب (ʕarab).


Ọsa

Compare with Igala Ọ̀rá, Itsekiri Ọ̀sá, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *Ɔ̀-sá, see there for cognates across Volta-Niger

The tenth principal sign of the Ifa divination system

The tenth of the àpólà or sixteen categories in the odù Ifá, consisting of the tenth principal chapter, (Ọ̀sá méjì) and the other fifteen chapters of Ọ̀sá

The tenth chapter of the Odù Ifá corpus, and one of the major ojú odù


Ado Ekiti

From a- (“agent prefix”) + dó (“to establish a settlement”), literally “the place we settled”.

af

Ado Ekiti (a city, the state capital of Ekiti State, Nigeria)


aago

aogo

Èkìtì, Ìjẹ̀ṣà

kí ni aago wí?

what time is it? (literally, “what does the clock say?”)

ẹ máa waago

aago kan


ṣibi

→ Gun: cíví, ṣíví

→ Fon: cíví

From Hausa cibī, compare with Baatonum sibi and Nupe shíbí.


Ẹgba

Perhaps from the phrase ẹ̀- + gbá + lé + igbó, literally “Ones who wander and hit the forest”, compare with Ẹ̀gbádò

the Egba people, a subgroup of the Yoruba people, historically consisting of three sections, the Gbágùrá or Ẹ̀gbá-Àgùrá, the Ẹ̀gbá Òkè-Ọ̀nà, and the Ẹ̀gbá Aké (also known as, and after 1840, the Òwú and Ìbarà have also been regarded as a subgroup within the Ẹ̀gbá capital of Abeokuta).

The dialect of Yoruba spoken by the Ẹ̀gbá people


Ogunda

An ancient term associated with the majority of the Ifa-divination systems of other Volta-Niger groups. Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ò-gʷṹtã́, where it has a synonymous name Èjítọ́n, used currently in Yoruba only in the Ekiti dialect, but is regarded as this term in other languages. See Igala Ògwútọ, Igbo Ògúte, Nupe Gúta, Ebira Ògútá, Gun Ègúdá, Fon Gùdá, ultimately from a common Volta-Niger root, perhaps Proto-Volta-Niger *-gúta, but the etymology is not known beyond there. Folk etymologies associate with the deity Yoruba Ògún, which could suggest a link to Igala ògwú.

The ninth principal sign of the Ifa divination system

The ninth of the àpólà or sixteen categories in the odù Ifá, consisting of the ninth principal chapter, (Ògúndá méjì) and the other fifteen chapters of Ògúndá

The ninth chapter of the Odù Ifá corpus, and one of the major ojú odù


Saro

Borrowed from English Sierra Leone. Doublet of Siria Lóònù.

(historical) The Saro people; formerly enslaved returnees from Sierra Leone or Liberia predominantly of Yoruba decent


ṣẹkẹrẹ

→ English: sekere

→ Portuguese: xequerê

→ Spanish: chekeré

/ʃɛ̀.kɛ̀.ɾɛ̀/


ẹpa roro

/ɛ̀.k͡pà ɾò.ɾō/


Ejigbo

/è.d͡ʒì.ɡ͡bò/

There is some historical significance to the name of this town, it features in a legendary ancient market of Ifẹ̀, Èjìgbòmẹkùn, which features prominently in Yoruba oral history. In addition, several other locations throughout Yorubaland bear an alternate version of the name, Ìjìgbò, which is almost always used interchangeably with Èjìgbò. Èjìgbòmẹkùn in Ifẹ̀ oral tradition is regarded as the first market in Ifẹ̀, is closely associated with many Yoruba divinities, including Ajé, Ọ̀rúnmìlà, and features prominently in many verses of the Odù Ifá. While there is a clear relationship between the name Èjìgbòmẹkùn and the locations known as Èjìgbò or Ìjìgbò, the historical relationship between them are not clear, except that like many Yorùbá towns, most ones named Èjìgbò claim to be descended from Ifẹ̀. The name Ùgbòmẹkùn, an ancient name for the region that is now Ifẹ̀, is also clearly related. Thus, a link between Èjìgbò and the Ùgbò people has also been hypothesized, which is the most common explanation for ancient Ifẹ̀ terms with "gbò," see Ọ̀ṣẹ̀rẹ̀màgbò.


mọsalasi

From Hausa masallācī, ultimately from Arabic مصلى.

Alternative form of mọ́ṣáláṣí (“mosque”)


Ifẹ

From Ufẹ̀. Several folk etymologies existed including i- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fẹ̀ + [Term?] (“to widen, to spread”), literally “The Land that widens”
*Possibly from i- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fẹ̀ (“to be prosperous, to be successful”), literally “Land of prosperity”

mythological origin place of the Yoruba people

Ife, a subgroup of the Yoruba people, who speak the Ifẹ̀ dialect of Yoruba


danṣiki

→ English: dashiki

From Hausa ɗan ciki (literally “inner garment”).


Ogbe

Cognate terms are found throughout Volta-Niger languages, and cognates also show evidence of the o- and e- prefixes, which are likely obsolete plural markers. See Itsekiri Ogbìn, Igala Ébì, Edo Ógbì, Igbo Ógbì, Igbo Óbì (Nsukka), Idoma Ébì, Fon Gbè, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ó-gbì. In sister divination systems, this signature is known as Osika, Osinkan, and Osinkara.

The first principal sign of the Ifa divination system.

The first of the àpólà or sixteen categories in the Odù Ifá, consisting of the first principal chapter, (Èjì Ogbè) and the other fifteen chapters of Ogbè.

The first and most important chapter of the Odù Ifá

The spirit and divinity associated with the Ogbè divination sign, he is believed to be a son of Ọ̀ṣun and Ọ̀rúnmìlà and was born in the town of Ọ̀tùn, where the king was his maternal grandfather.


Eko

→ Hausa: Ìkko

From Edo Eko (“Lagos”), from Edo eko (“temporary camp”).

A Yoruba dialect spoken in Lagos by the people of Èkó


alumọgaji

/à.lù.mɔ̃́.ɡà.d͡ʒí/

From Hausa àlmakàshī, from Arabic مَقَصّ (maqaṣṣ).


Ọṣun

→ Portuguese: Oxum

→ English: Osun, Oshun

> Lucumí: Oshún (inherited)

From ọ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣun (“to ooze, to flow from”), literally “The one who water flows from”.

affix

Ìṣẹ́lẹ̀rú àgbo, àgbàrá àgbo, l'Ọ̀ṣún fi ń womọ ọ rẹ̀ kí dókítà ó tóó dé
The freshwater turned into a potion, the drainage water turned into a potion, this is was what Ọ̀ṣun used to cure her children before western doctors arrived

Oshun, an orisha in Yoruba religion, she is regarded as the Yoruba deity of fertility, freshwater, love, beauty, motherhood, healing, and jewelry, and is the spirit of the Osun river.

Ọ̀ṣun Òṣogbo

A grove and shrine of Ọ̀ṣun in the town of Òṣogbo that serves as the center of her worship

Ọ̀ṣún-pípè

A form of chanting used when praising Ọ̀ṣun

Ọ̀ṣúnbùnmi

A Yoruba name meaning, "Ọ̀ṣun gifted me (with a child)"

Ọ̀ṣúndíyà

A Yoruba name meaning, "Ọ̀ṣun compensated for my suffering"

Ọ̀ṣúnfúnkẹ́

A Yoruba female name meaning, "Ọ̀ṣun gave me her to care for"

Ọ̀ṣúngbẹ́kún

A Yoruba name meaning, "Ọ̀ṣun heard my crying"

Ọ̀ṣúngbèmí

A Yoruba name meaning, "Ọ̀ṣun favored me"

Ọ̀ṣúntókun

A Yoruba name meaning, "Ọ̀ṣun is as powerful as the ocean"

Ọ̀ṣúnwẹ̀ẹ̀dé

A Yoruba female name meaning, "Ọ̀ṣun has flowed and arrived"

Ọ̀ṣúnyọmí

A Yoruba name meaning, "Ọ̀ṣun rescued me"


Anago

→ Fon: anagó (“Yoruba”)

→ French: Nagot

→ Haitian Creole: Nago

→ Portuguese: nagô

→ Spanish: nagó

> Lucumí: anagó (inherited)

Possibly from Fon Anagó, compare with Ewe Anagó

A subgroup of the Yoruba people mainly living in the town of Kétu in the Republic of Benin and southwest Yorubaland

The Ànàgó dialect spoken by the Ànàgó people of Kétu


ọba

→ English: oba

→ Portuguese: obá

Folk etymology states that it comes from ọ- (“agent prefix”) + ba (“to watch over”). Other etymological theories suggest it coming from the same root as father, compare with baba (“father”), ọbàkan (“paternal half sibling”), ọmọba, but is usually gender neutral when referring to a monarch. Cognate with Arigidi ɔba, Edo ọba

ọbabìnrin

queen (as in a queen who rules in her own right, rather as the wife of a king)

Ọbańta

A senior chieftaincy title and the name of the founder of the Ìjẹ̀bú kingdom


Ondo

Folk etymology says it comes from the phrase èdó è dùdó (literally “the yam stake did not stick”). Also proposed to come from òǹ- (“agent prefix”) + ì (“nominalizing prefix”) + dó (“to settle”), literally “That which is settled”

af

Ondo Kingdom (a historical kingdom in Nigeria).


agbado

→ Hausa: àgwā̀dō

Possibly cognate with Fon agbadé, Gun gbàdó, Igbo ọ̀gbàdụ

Bí agbada ò bá gbóná, àgbàdo ò lè ta

If the pan isn't hot, the corn won't pop


amọ

From Hausa àmmā, from Arabic أَمَّا (ʔammā).


amọ

Cognates include Igala ámá, Itsekiri amà, Ifè amà


imọle

Of unclear origin, but likely from Hausa mālàmī (“[Islamic] teacher”). A common folk etymology connects the term with the Mali Empire.


iṣana

→ Hausa: àshānā

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣáná (“to ignite”).


ajeji

→ Portuguese: jeje

/à.d͡ʒè.d͡ʒì/


ireke

→ Hausa: ràkē

A kì í bá kíkan láàrin ìrèké

2008 December 19, Yiwola Awoyale, Global Yoruba Lexical Database v. 1.0, number LDC2008L03, Philadelphia: Linguistic Data Consortium, →DOI, →ISBN:

We do not find sourness inside a sugarcane (proverb on sugar cane as symbolizing sweetness).


ẹran

Proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́-lɔ̃, cognate with Igala ẹ́la and Arigidi árọn


aṣọ-ẹbi

/ā.ʃɔ̄.ɛ̄.bí/


ẹbi

àìlówó ni ẹbí kò sí, bí a bá di olówó tán, tajá-tẹran níí di ẹbí ẹni

it is when one does not have money that there are no relatives, when one becomes wealthy, everybody becomes one's relatives (proverb against parasitic relatives)


ẹbi

From ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bi (“to do evil, to reap a reward for being evil”).

af

wọ́n dá a ní ẹ̀bi


ẹbi

From ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bí (“to give birth”).

the act of childbirth, the act of giving birth


aṣọ

Cognate with Ede Idaca acɔ, compare with Itsekiri aṣọ, perhaps derived from Proto-Edekiri *a-cɔ


faari

From Hausa fahàr̃ī, ultimately from Arabic فَخْر (faḵr).


abọriṣa

/ā.bɔ̀.ɾì.ʃà/

From a- (“agentive prefix”) + bọ (“to worship”) + òrìṣà (“orisha”).


Eebo

Alternative form of Òyìnbó (“European, white person”)


Oyinbo

→ English: oyinbo

→ Igbo: òyìbo

→ Nigerian Pidgin: oyìbo

A folk etymology states it is from ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yìn (“to scratch”) + bó (“to peel”), literally “The ones who have have scratched and peeled off skin”.

(sometimes derogatory) A black person who has adopted a European lifestyle or traits


mọmọ

Alternative form of màmá (“mother, mom”)

Alternative form of màmá (“A term of respect for an elderly female relative, an older woman, or a woman of higher rank or importance”)


irọlẹ

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rọ̀ (“to be at ease, to be soft”) + alẹ́ (“evening”), literally “The soft (early) part of the evening”.


owurọ

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *ɔ̀-wʊ́rɔ̀, *ò-wúrɔ̀

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


ẹgbọn

(by extension) older blood relative on the same level as oneself


kuurọlẹ

/kúù.ɾɔ̀.lɛ́/

kú + ìrọ̀lẹ́

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


kaasan

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

good afternoon! (used between noon and 4pm)


aarọ

Contraction of àwúrọ̀, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *ɔ̀-wʊ́rɔ̀


ọsan

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ̀-sã́, possibly from ọ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + sán (“to shine powerfully, to strike, to be powerful”). Cognate with Igala ọ̀rọ́ka, Itsekiri ọ̀sọ́n.


ọsan

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

(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.


alẹ

Cognate with Igala ánẹ́, equivalent to a- (“non-gerundive nominalizing prefix”) + lẹ́ (“to approach the night, to be at dusk”).

(idiomatic, euphemistic) one's deathbed, the end of one's life


alẹ

Cognate with Igala ánẹ̀ and possibly Igbo ala, Igbo ànị̀, Igbo ànà, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *á-lɛ̀, possibly related to dawn breaking over the land, see Igala nẹ̀

Alẹ̀

personification of the land as a female deity


wọn

they (third-person plural or honorific personal pronoun)

[preceding vowel repeated for monosyllabic verbs]


wọn

their (third-person plural or honorific possessive pronoun)


wọn

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

Iṣu ti wọ́n jù


aṣẹ

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣẹ́ (“to eject”)


aṣẹ

→ Spanish: aché

→ Portuguese: axé

→ English: ase

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

àṣẹkáṣẹ

reckless or misaligned command, authority, or spell; any command, authority or spell

Ọba wọn pa àṣẹ fún wa.

Ó ti ta àṣẹ lé wa.


ọja

Proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *á-jà (“village, homestead”), cognate with Olukumi ọzà (“market”), Igala ájà (“residence. compound, homestead, settlement”), Itsekiri aja (“village”), Ifè adzà (“market”), where the semantic meaning shifted from "village," "homestead," or "home" to market, likely as towns grew bigger and markets became a feature of an established town. This semantic meaning seems to still exist in compound terms like ọlọ́jà (“king”), literally meaning "ruler of the town." The semantic shift may have appeared after the split of Itsekiri from Proto-Edekiri. Likely related to Igala ájá (“market”)

cog

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ọjàview map

Southwest YorubaÌdàácàBeninIgbó ÌdàácàɔjàFREINote: 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

ariwo àwọn èrò ọjà ń hó kùù

The noise of the market people was very loud

ọmọ́ ń polówó ọjà

The child was inviting buyers to buy merchandise

(by extension) market commodities, merchandise; products


ọja

belt, sash, often used to denotate membership or rank within a group

abiyamọ́ fi ọ̀já gbé ọmọ pọ̀n

The mother used a cloth sash to carry her child on her back

baby sling; an additional cloth sash used to secure the ìpọnmọ when backing infants


ọja

ọ̀- (“negation prefix”) + jà (“to fight”), literally “That who cannot fight”

affix

(Ekiti) princess in the town of Ado Ekiti and surrounding towns


pẹlẹ

sorry (used to apologize or express condolence)

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


pẹlẹ

ọ̀rọ̀ pẹ̀lẹ́ níí yọ obì lápò; ọ̀rọ̀ líle níí yọ ọfà lápó

Gentle words yield an offer of kolanuts from the pockets; harsh words bring out arrows from the quiver (proverb on gentleness as a virtue)


rẹ

your (second-person singular possessive pronoun)


rẹ

his/her/its (third-person singular possessive pronoun)


ẹranko

From ẹran (“animal, meat”) + oko (“farm, wild”).


ọga

→ Hausa: ògā

→ Igbo: ọgá

→ English: oga

→ Nigerian Pidgin: oga


ọjọ

Cognate with Igala ọ́jọ́, ultimately proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ́-jɔ́, equivalent to *ɔ́- (“nominalizing prefix”) + *jɔ́. The meaning of the verb *jɔ́ could relate to the traditional significance of the symbolic of the sunrise and the "beginning," that the day brings. The divine nature of the day is reflected in the Igala and Yoruba traditional religions, where the personification of the day serves as the Supreme divinity of the Igala religion Ọ́jọ́ and as a primordial divinity in Ìṣẹ̀ṣe, Ọlọ́jọ́. See ọdún Ọlọ́jọ́.


iṣẹ

Possibly from Proto-Yoruboid *ʊ-cɛ́, cognate with Igala úchẹ́ (“farm, farm work”), equivalent to i- (“non-gerundive nominalizing prefix”) + ṣẹ́ (“to do farmwork;to work”)

affix

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - iṣẹ́view map

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


iṣẹ

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣẹ̀ (“to originate”)


iṣẹ

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣẹ́ (“to suffer poverty or deprivation”).


awọn

a- (“agent-creating prefix”) + wọ́n (“to be expensive”)


awọn

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


awọn

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - àwọnview map

Southwest YorubaIfɛ̀AkpáréàŋaSWOPNote: 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

they (emphatic third-person plural personal pronoun)

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


orukọ

→ Portuguese: oruncó

Lucumí: oruko

Compare with Olukumi órúkọ, Ifè ɛ́kọ, and possibly Igala ódú, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ó-ɗú. Likely ultimately Westerman's reconstruction to Proto-Volta-Congo *-ni, with a possible transition from /d/ to /r/ (unclear if this r is still the /ɾ/ flap/tap used in modern Yoruba). See reconstructed Proto-Yoruboid form for more cognates

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - orúkọview map

ékɔABDESTABDESTManigriekɔABDESTABDESTSouthern NagoÌsakétéerúkɔABDESTABDESTÌfànyìnerúkɔABDESTABDESTNote: 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


orukọ

Alternative form of òbúkọ (“billy, billy goat”)


eyin

Proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *é-ɲĩ́. Cognate with Ayere éyĩ́, Àhàn eɲĩ, Igala ényí, Arigidi eɲĩ, and Ebira aɲɪ́. Possibly related to Bu enyiri and Tarok ìnyin, ultimately from a common Proto-Volta-Congo [Term?] source.


Ṣango

→ English: Shango

→ Edo: Esago

→ Portuguese: Xangô

→ Spanish: Changó

→ Haitian Creole: Chango

> Lucumí: Changó (inherited)

From a very old borrowing from the 12th century, from Nupe Sòkó, a high ranking deity of the sky and rain, who was also closely associated with lightning. This may be the origin of the stories that associate Ṣàngó with the Nupe people, including stating his mother to be of Nupe origin. Compare with Gbagyi shengo. His worship was possibly absorbed by older Yoruba cults of lightning, thunder, jurisprudence divinities like Jàkúta and Ọ̀ràm̀fẹ̀, merging to become the "modern" Ṣàngó cult.

Shango, (orisha of thunder, vitality, lighting, justice, energy, force, explosions in Yoruba religion), he is also believed to have been the fourth Aláàfin of Ọ̀yọ́, and the husband of Ọ̀ṣun, Ọya, and Ọbà

Ṣàngó-pípè

Invocation and chanting during the worship of Ṣàngó

Ṣàngóbíyìí

A Yoruba name meaning Ṣàngó gave birth to this child

Ṣàngóbùnmi

A Yoruba name meaning Ṣàngó gave me a gift

Ṣàngódáyìíró

A Yoruba name meaning Ṣàngó spared this child

Ṣàngódélé

A Yoruba name meaning Ṣàngó has arrived home

Ṣàngóṣẹ́gun

A Yoruba name meaning Ṣàngó was victorious


Tapa

> Lucumí: Tacuá (inherited)

*Said to refer to a style of scarification/tribal marks traditionally adorned by the Nupe people


ẹba

→ English: eba

Possibly from ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bà (“to ferment”)

af

a swallow made with cassava flour (gàrí)

(by extension, idiomatic) food, sustenance


Ekiti

From èkìtì (“hills”), which describes the landscape of the Èkìtì homeland. Perhaps from an obsolete plural form, compare with Yoruba òkìtì

A state of Nigeria in the South West geopolitical zone

A historical country in Yorubaland in West Africa

(collectively) Ekiti people, a subgroup of the Yoruba people


iranti

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rántí (“to remember”)


Audu

Borrowed from Hausa Audù, ultimately from Arabic عَبْدُ (ʕabdu).

a male given name from Hausa, equivalent to English Abdul


Araba

the title of the highest-ranking Ifa priest in a town or region; chief Ifa priest


powe

From pa (“to tell”) + òwe (“a proverb”).


Atalaata

From Hausa Tàlātà, ultimately from Arabic الثُّلَاثَاء (aṯ-ṯulāṯāʔ).

der

الثُّلَاثَاء

Arabic الثُّلَاثَاء (aṯ-ṯulāṯāʔ)


Alamisi

From Hausa Àlhàmîs, ultimately from Arabic الْخَمِيس (al-ḵamīs).


ẹta

From Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ̀-ta or Proto-Yoruboid *à-ta. Cognate with Igala ẹ̀ta, Itsekiri ẹ̀ta, Ayere ita. The -ta root is widespread in many branches of Atlantic-Congo, see Ukaan táárh, Gade ɪ̀tá, Proto-Plateau *tat, Tee taa (see Proto-Lower Cross River *ìtá. Possibly related to Fon atɔ̀n, Edo eha, Baatonum ita.


ẹrin

Lucumí: erín

From Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ̀-lɪ̃, see there for other Niger-Congo cognates. Within Yoruboid, cognate with Ifè mɛ́ɛrɛ̃, Igala ẹ̀lẹ̀, Itsekiri mẹ́ẹrẹn, and Olukumi mẹ́rẹ̀n.
Proposed to be a distant doublet of erin, as they both are believed to be from the same root as Proto-Volta-Congo *-ni from earlier Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-nani.


ẹrin

From ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rín (“to smile; to laugh”).


ẹrin

Name of a plant. Further details are uncertain.


arun

àrùn l'à á wò, a kì í wo ikú

it a disease we cure, we do not cure death


arun

Likely from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ̀-lʊ́, cognate with Igala ẹ̀lú, Olukumi ẹ̀rú, Westerman proposes a reconstruction to Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-nu- (“five, hand”)


arun

Cognate with Olukumi ẹrun and Igbo ọ́nú, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́-lʊ̃


ẹfa

Cognate with Igala ẹ̀fà, Itsekiri ẹ̀fà, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ̀-fà, likely cognate with Edo eha.


ẹjọ

ẹjọ́ ikú


ẹẹkan

From adverbial prefix ẹ̀ẹ̀- + kan, the adjectival form of oókan.


ẹwa

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


ẹwa

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

The bean plant, usually referring to several members of the family Fabaceae and often specifically the cowpea plant

A general name for beans, peas, and legumes, often specifically referring to the black-eyed pea


ọkọọkan

/ɔ̀kɔ̀ɔ̀kɔ̃̄/

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


ọkọọkan

/ɔ̀kɔ̀ɔ̀kɔ̃̄/


ookan

Derived from owó (“cowrie”) + ọ̀kan (“one”).

Oókan, eéjì, ẹẹ́ta, ẹẹ́rin, aárùn-ún, ẹẹ́fà...

Eélòó ni oókan àti oókan? — Oókan àti oókan jẹ́ eéjì.

How much is one plus one? — One plus one equals two.


ookan

Ebi kò mọ̀ pé oókan kò sí lọ́wọ́, bí ojúmọ́ bá ti mọ́, ebi a máa pani

Hunger does not know that one is in penury, each waking day, one is bound to be hungry

Ṣẹ́ aṣọ funfun po dé oókan àyà òkú

2008 December 19, Yiwola Awoyale, quoting C. L. Adéoyè, Àṣà àti Ìṣe Yoruba, number LDC2008L03, 1979, Ibadan: Oxford University Press, page 324, quoted in Global Yoruba Lexical Database v. 1.0, Philadelphia: Linguistic Data Consortium, →DOI, →ISBN:

Fold over the white cloth to reach the center of the corpse's chest


mejeeji

/méd͡ʒèèd͡ʒì/


mejeeji

/méd͡ʒèèd͡ʒì/


meji meji

/méd͡ʒì méd͡ʒì/

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


meji meji

/méd͡ʒì méd͡ʒì/

two each (followed by nouns to be distributed to)


ẹẹmeji

/ɛ̀ɛ̀mēd͡ʒì/

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

prefix

ẹ̀ẹ̀- + méjì


idaji

Contraction of ìdá méjì (“two fractions, two units”).


idaji

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dá (“to be alone in doing something”) + jí (“to wake up”), literally “The act of waking up alone (because most people are sleeping at this time)”.

af

(idiomatic) dawn, early in the morning, daybreak


aake

mo fi àáké gé igi

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - àákéview map

kàtàkàrígíPATRONAGENote: 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


mẹtẹẹta

/mɛ́tɛ̀ɛ̀tā/


mẹtẹẹta

/mɛ́tɛ̀ɛ̀tā/


ẹẹmẹta

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

prefix

ẹ̀ẹ̀- + mẹ́ta


mẹta mẹta

/mɛ́.ꜜtā mɛ́.ꜜtā/

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


mẹta mẹta

/mɛ́.ꜜtā mɛ́.ꜜtā/

three each (followed by nouns to be distributed to)


mẹrẹẹrin

/mɛ́ɾɛ̀ɛ̀ɾĩ̄/


mẹrẹẹrin

/mɛ́ɾɛ̀ɛ̀ɾĩ̄/


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”).


mẹrin mẹrin

/mɛ́.ꜜɾĩ̄ mɛ́.ꜜɾĩ̄/

four each (followed by nouns to be distributed to)


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”).


marun-un marun-un

/má.ꜜɾṹ má.ꜜɾṹ/

five each (followed by nouns to be distributed to)


mẹrin

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - mẹ́rinview map

mɛ́ɛABBESSÌdàácàBeninIgbó ÌdàácàmírinABBESSỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí-ÌjèỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí/ÌjèÌkpòbɛ́mɛ́rinABBESSOnigbolomɛ́rɛnABBESSKétu/ÀnàgóKétumɛ́rinABBESSIfɛ̀AkpárémírĩABBESSAtakpamɛmɛ́ɛrɛ̃ABBESSBokomɛ́rɛ̃ABBESSMoretanmɛ́rɛ̃ABBESSTchettimɛ́ɛrɛ̃ABBESSKuraPartagomɛ́ɛrɛ̃̀ABBESSMɔ̄kɔ́léKandimɛ́ɛ̃ɛ̃̀ABBESSNorthern NagoKambolemɛ́ɛ̃ABBESSNote: 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


olila

From olí- (“one who has”) + ilá (“okra”).

(Ọwọ, Ikalẹ) Alternative form of onílá (“okra seller”)


mẹfẹẹfa

/mɛ́fɛ̀ɛ̀fà/


mẹfẹẹfa

/mɛ́fɛ̀ɛ̀fà/


ẹẹmẹfa

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

ẹ̀ẹ̀- + mẹ́fà


mẹfa mẹfa

/mɛ́fà mɛ́fà/

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


mẹfa mẹfa

/mɛ́fà mɛ́fà/

six each (followed by nouns to be distributed to)


afaa

(Islam) An imam, a Muslim religious leader.


gaasi

ipò gáàsì

gáàsì olóró

Ẹ súnmọ́ mi ńbí, gbogbo ẹ̀yin idán onífèrè. Ǹjẹ́ ẹ tiẹ̀ mọ gáàsì tẹ́ ẹ máa ń fi sínú fèrè kó tó di wá di pé ẹ ń gbé e fúnra yín tẹ́ ẹ wá ń fà á símú kákàkiri?

2023, Arojinle, 0:08–0:44 from the start, in "Balloon Gas" inhalation is dangerous:

Come close, all you ballon gas inhailers. Do you even know the gas you put inside the balloons before you now come and be inhaling it everywhere?

Wọ́n sọ wí pé púpọ̀ nínú àwọn orílẹ̀-èdè Yúróòpù ló ń gbe ìṣèjọba Russia lọ́wọ́ nípasẹ̀ ríra epo àti gáàsì Russia.

2022, “Ohùn-kẹ́lẹ́kẹ́lẹ́: Ìlọ́wọ́sí àwọn ìlú apá Ìwọ̀-Oòrùn nínú ìkógunjàlú tí Russia gbé ko Ukraine”, in Global Voices ní-Yorùbá:

They argue that multiple European countries have been enabling the Russian regime by buying Russian oil and gas.


maraarun-un

/má.ɾàà.ɾũ̀ṹ/


maraarun-un

/má.ɾàà.ɾũ̀ṹ/


ozu

(Ào) Alternative form of ojú (“face, eye”)


meje meje

/mé.ꜜd͡ʒē mé.ꜜd͡ʒē/

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


meje meje

/mé.ꜜd͡ʒē mé.ꜜd͡ʒē/

seven each (followed by nouns to be distributed to)


mejeeje

/méd͡ʒèèd͡ʒē/


mejeeje

/méd͡ʒèèd͡ʒē/


ẹẹmeje

/ɛ̀ɛ̀mēd͡ʒē/

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

ẹ̀ẹ̀- + méje


mẹjọ

/mɛ́.ꜜd͡ʒɔ̄/


ẹẹjọ

/ɛ̄ɛ́.ꜜd͡ʒɔ̄/


mẹjẹẹjọ

/mɛ́d͡ʒɛ̀ɛ̀d͡ʒɔ̄/


mẹjẹẹjọ

/mɛ́d͡ʒɛ̀ɛ̀d͡ʒɔ̄/


idamẹjọ

/ì.dá.mɛ́.ꜜd͡ʒɔ̄/


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”).


mẹjọ mẹjọ

/mɛ́.ꜜd͡ʒɔ̄ mɛ́.ꜜd͡ʒɔ̄/

eight each (followed by nouns to be distributed to)


nikan

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - nìkanview map


mẹsan-an

/mɛ́sɔ̃̀ɔ̃́/


idamẹsan-an

head

ìdámẹ́sàn-án

ìdámẹ́sàn-án

yo-pos

ìdámẹ́sàn-án

ìdámẹ́sàn-án


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”).


mẹsan-an mẹsan-an

/mɛ́.ꜜsã́ mɛ́.ꜜsã́/

nine each (followed by nouns to be distributed to)


mẹsẹẹsan-an

head

mẹ́sẹ̀ẹ̀sàn-án

mẹ́sẹ̀ẹ̀sàn-án

yo-pos

mẹ́sẹ̀ẹ̀sàn-án

mẹ́sẹ̀ẹ̀sàn-án

/mɛ́sɛ̀ɛ̀sɔ̃̀ɔ̃́/


mẹsẹẹsan-an

head

mẹ́sẹ̀ẹ̀sàn-án

mẹ́sẹ̀ẹ̀sàn-án

yo-pos

mẹ́sẹ̀ẹ̀sàn-án

mẹ́sẹ̀ẹ̀sàn-án

/mɛ́sɛ̀ɛ̀sɔ̃̀ɔ̃́/


iyawo

→ Krio: yawo

→ Nupe: yawo

A Folk etymology suggests it is from ìyà (“suffering, punishment”) + Ìwó (“Iwo town”), literally “The suffering I experienced in Ìwó town”. The story originates from several verses of the odù Ifá chapter Ogbèyọ̀nú, in which the orisha Ọ̀rúnmìlà married a woman in the town of Ìwó and she proceeds to mistreated him severely, yet he still maintained his patience.
* Compare Nupe yàwó.

compound

(dated) junior wife; (the other wives in a polygamous marriage not the senior wife)


ntori

Alternative form of nítorí (“on account of; because”)


dakun

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


alikama

From Hausa àlkamā̀, from Arabic الْقَمْح (al-qamḥ).


ẹẹmẹwaa

/ɛ̀ɛ̀.mɛ̄.ꜜwá/

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

prefix

ẹ̀ẹ̀- + mẹ́wàá


mẹwẹẹwaa

/mɛ́wɛ̀ɛ̀wàá/

Assimilation of mẹ́wàá mẹ́wàá, a reduplication of mẹ́wàá.


mẹwẹẹwaa

/mɛ́wɛ̀ɛ̀wàá/


mẹwaa mẹwaa

head

mẹ́wàá mẹ́wàá

mẹ́wàá mẹ́wàá

yo-pos

mẹ́wàá mẹ́wàá

mẹ́wàá mẹ́wàá

/mɛ́.ꜜwá mɛ́.ꜜwá/

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


mẹwaa mẹwaa

head

mẹ́wàá mẹ́wàá

mẹ́wàá mẹ́wàá

yo-pos

mẹ́wàá mẹ́wàá

mẹ́wàá mẹ́wàá

/mɛ́.ꜜwá mɛ́.ꜜwá/

ten each (followed by nouns to be distributed to)


gbi

The name of the Latin-script letter Gb/gb.


gb

The eighth letter of the Yoruba alphabet, called gbì and written in the Latin script.


ṣi

The name of the Latin-script letter Ṣ/ṣ.


ṣi

(intransitive) to become dull in appearance


atọ

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + tọ̀ (“to urinate”), from Proto-Yoruba *à-tɔ̀, from Proto-Edekiri *à-tɔ̀, ultimately from Proto-Yoruboid *à-tɔ̀, Doublet of ìtọ̀


atọ

a small gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) with a long thin neck used as a musical instrument or used to store medicine


atọ

From a- (“agent prefix”) + tọ́ (“be lasting, live a long life”).


atọ

From a- (“agent prefix”) + tọ́ (“be on a straight line”).

one that is straight, right, or appropriate


nnu

Contraction of nínú (“inside”), from ní inú

Òjò ń rọ̀, ṣeré ńnú ilé.


okun

òògùn yìí mì ara ní okun


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


okun

(idiomatic, figurative) connection, relationship

(by extension) a term for plants with thin, stringlike stems

This definition is often used as a prefix in Yoruba given names (ex. Okùnọlá).


okun

A prefix used in Yoruba given names (ex. Òkúnríbidó)


akala

àkàlà á ṣá ojú ìkà jẹ

The hornbill gouge out the eyes of the wicked

A general term for the various species of hornbill


apola

The sense "phrase" was coined by Yoruba Metalanguage (Èdè-ìperí Yorùbá)


ẹgusi

→ English: egusi

→ Fon: goussi

→ Hausa: àgushī

→ Igbo: ègwusi, ègusi

Possibly from ẹ̀gún (“thorn”) + esí (“melon, pumpkin”), literally “Thorns of the melon”?

compound

The name of two species of melon
Cucumeropsis Mannii

The name of two species of melon
watermelon

egusi (The seeds of the egusi melon used to make soup)


اُ

The twenty-third letter of the Yoruba alphabet in the ajami script, equivalent to Latin script u.


اِ

The tenth letter of the Yoruba alphabet in the ajami script, equivalent to Latin script i.


ụmụ

Proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *ɪ́-ŋmʊ̃́, compare with Igbo imi


ọkanla

From ọ̀kan (“one”) + la (“to surpass”) + ẹ̀wá (“ten”).


ihoho

From Contraction of ìhòrìhò, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *ì-wòrìwò, from Proto-Edekiri *ì-wòrìwò


ejila

From èjì (“two”) + lé ní (“more than”) + ẹ̀wá (“ten”).


ẹtala

From ẹ̀tà (“three”) + lé ní (“more than”) + ẹ̀wá (“ten”).


ẹrinla

From ẹ̀rìn (“four”) + lé ní (“more than”) + ẹ̀wá (“ten”).


pọtọpọtọ

head

pọ̀tọ̀pọ́tọ̀

pọ̀tọ̀pọ́tọ̀

yo-pos

pọ̀tọ̀pọ́tọ̀

pọ̀tọ̀pọ́tọ̀

yo-noun

pọ̀tọ̀pọ́tọ̀

pọ̀tọ̀pọ́tọ̀


pẹtẹpẹtẹ

of continuous mid-pitched noises of light walking on a muddy substance


pẹtẹpẹtẹ

compound

pẹtẹ + pẹ́tẹ́

of distinct mid-pitched or high-pitched noises of light walking on a muddy substance


pẹtẹpẹtẹ

head

pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ̀tẹ̀

pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ̀tẹ̀

yo-pos

pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ̀tẹ̀

pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ̀tẹ̀

of continuous low-pitched noises of light walking on a muddy substance


pẹtẹpẹtẹ

head

pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ́tẹ̀

pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ́tẹ̀

yo-pos

pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ́tẹ̀

pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ́tẹ̀

Noun sense derives from ideophone sense, ultimately from pẹ̀tẹ̀ + pẹ́tẹ̀

compound

pẹ̀tẹ̀ + pẹ́tẹ̀

of distinct low-pitched noises of light walking on a muddy substance


pẹtẹpẹtẹ

head

pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ́tẹ̀

pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ́tẹ̀

yo-pos

pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ́tẹ̀

pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ́tẹ̀

yo-noun

pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ́tẹ̀

pẹ̀tẹ̀pẹ́tẹ̀

compound

pẹ̀tẹ̀ + pẹ́tẹ̀


Jamani

Germany (a country in Central Europe, formed in 1949 as West Germany, with its provisional capital Bonn until 1990, when it incorporated East Germany)


yauyauu

Derived from a reduplication of yàúù, from English Yahoo!. Compare English Yahoo boy.

Ẹ̀yin yàtọ̀ sáwọn ọmọ yàúyàúù tó ń ya bébà lóní yanya

2015, Dayo Akanmu, quoting Babalọlá, “New Yoruba Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions: A New Mode of Communicating New Concepts and Ideas on Radio”, in Journal of Mass Communication & Journalism, →DOI:

You are different from the Yahoo boys (Internet fraudsters) who spend extravagantly


irọkẹ

a tapper used by priests to do Ifa divination


afojusun

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fojúsùn (“gaze upon or focus on with one's eyes”)


ẹkun

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́-kʊ̃̀, equivalent to ẹ- (“agent prefix”) + kùn (“to growl, grumble”), literally “That which growls”. Cognate with Igala ẹ́kọ̀, Igbo agụ


ẹkun

From ẹ- (“nominalizing prefix”) + kún (“to cry”)


ẹkun

From ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + kún (“to fill”), literally “That which is fill, that which is complete”.


oṣumare

/ò.ʃù.mà.ɾè/

Of unclear origin. From òṣù + mọ̀ + àrè, ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣù (“to clump, curve”) + mọ̀ (“to know”) + àrè. The root for àrè is unclear, some folk etymologies link it to Àrè, an ancient crown of the Ooni of Ife. Other theories link it to the "re" part of Olódùmarè

compound

òṣù + mọ̀ + àrè

af

àwọ̀ méje l'ó wà nínú òṣùmàrè

python, specifically, it is regarded as the serpent symbol of the spirit of the rainbow, Òṣùmàrè. Its excrement is used in traditional medicine preparations.


ṣẹju

(intransitive, idiomatic) to blink, to wink


Oṣumare

→ Portuguese: Oxumaré

→ Spanish: Ochumaré

/ò.ʃù.mà.ɾè/

From the common noun òṣùmàrè (“rainbow”).

The orisha and spirit of the rainbow, he is symbolized by a python (òṣùmàrè).


iṣẹju

/ì.ʃɛ́.d͡ʒú/

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣẹ́jú (“to blink, wink”).


ojubọ

/ō.d͡ʒú.ꜜbɔ̄/

From ojú (“face, surface”) + ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bọ (“to offer, to sacrifice”), literally “surface of offering”.


oju ọjọ

/ōd͡ʒú ɔ̄d͡ʒɔ́/


oju ọrun

/ōd͡ʒú ɔ̀ɾũ/

From ojú (“face”, “surface”) + ọ̀run (“Heaven”, “sky”). Literally “The face of Heaven”.


ojola

From ò- + jò + lá (“big”), literally “Big snake”, the root jò likely is the same in ejò

af

python; (in particular) African rock python (Python sebae) and the Ball python


ẹyinju

/ɛ̄.jĩ̄.d͡ʒú/

From ẹyin (“egg”) + ojú (“eye, face”). Literally “the egg of the eye”.


agbọn

a- (“agent-creating prefix”) + gbọ́n (“to be wise, intelligent”)


agbọn

Alágbọ̀n

place near Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́, Ọ̀yọ́ State, Nigeria


agbọn

a- (“agent-creating prefix”) + gbọ̀n (“to shake, shiver”)


agbọn

Unclear etymology, from à- + gbọn, likely a Yoruba coinage as the words for coconut in Central Yoruba or related languages like Itsekiri, Igala, Edo, Igbo, Nupe, are not related from this (most come from a Portuguese root). Other languages that don't have borrowings from Portuguese usually use a variation or compounding with a word for the oil palm tree, which is similar to the coconut. This may also suggest that Western Yoruba speakers did not receive coconuts from the Portuguese, and instead may have gotten it from another source. Compare with Ifè àgbã.
*Unlikely, but possibly from à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbọ̀n (“to shake”)?

af

Alágbọn

Nigeria Police Headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria


agbọn

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *à-gbã̀. Cognates exist in most other Volta-Niger languages (where it is often translated as chin or jaw), suggesting what is likely a common Volta-Niger origin, see Igala àgbà, Ayere àngbà, Yekhee agba, Itsekiri agba, Arigidi àmgbà, Arigidi àgbɔ̀̃, Edo agbanmwẹn, Idoma agba, Fon gbà, Igbo àgbà, and Urhobo egba, and potentially Oko-Eni-Osayen akã̂, perhaps from Proto-Volta-Niger *à-gbà. The possible Benue-Congo cognates Ibibio mban̄, Ahwai akpaal, and Ahwai áŋkpàn may suggest a pre-Volta-Niger origin, which is uncertain.


upole

From ù- (“nominalizing prefix”) + pó + ulé (“home”)

(Ekiti, Ijesha) ancestral homeland, origin location of a town, (especially) if the town has migrated to a different location


eniyan

Possibly from Proto-Yoruboid *Vnḭ. A folk etymology states it comes from eni (“being, person”) + ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yàn (“to choose”), literally “Chosen beings”, in comparison to earlier pre-human earthly beings called eníyán, translated as "the one's who were expelled."

compound

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ènìyànview map

ịráyéABDALMọ̀bàỌ̀tùn Èkìtìọ̀nị̀yọ̀nABDALÌjẹ̀ṣàIléṣàònìyànABDALNorthwest YorubaÀwórìÈbúté Mẹ́tàènìyànABDAL

èèyànABDALEde Languages/Southwest YorubaÌdàácàBeninIgbó ÌdàácàònìyànABDALỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí-ÌjèỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí/ÌjèÌkpòbɛ́ònìyànABDALOnigboloònìyànABDALKétu/ÀnàgóKétuònìyànABDALIfɛ̀Akpáréɔ̀nyàABDALAtakpamɛɔ̀nyàABDALEst-Monoɔ̀nyàABDALTchettiɔ̀nyàABDALSouthern NagoÌsakétéònìyànABDALABDALÌfànyìnònìyànABDALABDALNote: 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


Adio

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dì (“to bundle up”) + ró (“to stand erect”), literally “One who is bound to stay erect”, referring to a child who stands strong and tall against enemies, see Àdìsá for another common name with a similar etymology

af

A male oríkì name, meaning "One who is bound up to stay erect".


ojukokoro

/ōd͡ʒúkòkòɾò/


oju sanma

/ōd͡ʒú sɔ̃́mɔ̃̀/


irere

Probably related to the second etymology 2


irere

a species of hawk or kite similar to the àwòdì (Yellow-billed kite), likely the European honey buzzard


Idowu

→ Yoruba: Idowu

orúkọ àmútọ̀runwá
orukọ amutọrunwa#Yoruba

a unisex given name, an orúkọ àmútọ̀runwá given to a child born directly after a set of twins


mọinmọin

English: moimoi

/mɔ̃́.ĩ́.mɔ̃́.ĩ́/

moimoi, A traditional Nigerian steamed bean pudding made from onions, black-eyed beans, red peppers, and other ingredients of choice.


lonii

Kí l'ẹ jẹun lónìí?


dọla

Eélòó ni kọ́bọ́ọ̀dù yìí? Dọ́là márùn-úndínláàádọ́rùn-ún ($85) ni.

How much is this cupboard? It's 85 dollars.


Adebayọ

→ English: Adebayo

Either adé (“crown, royalty”) + bá (“to meet”) + ayọ̀ (“joy”), literally “Royalty meets joy” or a- (“agent prefix”) + dé (“to arrive”) + bá (“to meet”) + ayọ̀ (“joy”), literally “The one who arrives and is met with joy”.

af

a male given name meaning “Royalty meets joy or One who arrives and is met with joy”


orita

From orí (“head, surface”) + ìta (“outside, crossroad”)


Amẹrika

yo:Orílẹ̀-èdè Ìṣọ̀kan àwọn Ìpínlẹ̀ Amẹ́ríkà

United States of America
United States of America#English

United States of America (a country in North America)


Ṣaina

Bí wọn ti ń pè é ni Rọ́ṣíà ní wọn n bèèrè rẹ̀ ní Amẹ́ríkà, àwọn ìjọba Ṣáínà fé bá orílè̟-èdè Bóluwatife ṣe nítorí Ìwàlewà.

2008, Lérè Adèyẹmí, Kò sáyè làáfin, page 2:

Olú-ìlú ìṣòwò orílè-èdè Ṣáínà ní Shanghai ti kìlọ̀ pé ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá rú àwọn òfin ìgbélé ààrùn còrónà yóò jẹyán ẹ̀ níṣu.

2022 April 13, Eyitayọ Fauziat Oyetunji, “Shanghai pinnu láti fìyà jẹ ẹnikẹ́ni tó bá tàpá sófin ìgbélé ààrùn còrónà [Shanghai promises punishment for COVID-19 lockdown violators]”, in Ilé Akéde Nàìjíríà (Voice of Nigeria), archived from the original on 2024-01-16:

The Chinese commercial capital of Shanghai warned that anyone who violates COVID-19 lockdown rules will be dealt with strictly.

yo:Orílẹ̀-èdè Olómìnira àwọn Ará ilẹ̀ Ṣáínà


orombo

/ò.ɾō.ŋ̀.bó/


kọmputa

Nonstandard spelling of kọ̀ǹpútà (“computer”).


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/)

[preceding vowel repeated for monosyllabic verbs]


ewu

From Proto-Yoruba *i-ɣú, Proto-Yoruboid *í-ɓṹ, possibly cognate with Igala ímú.

Ẹ ó fọwọ́ pawú

May you use your hand to rub gray hair (a prayer for old age)


ewu

From e- (“agent prefix”) + wu (“to undergo or face serious danger”).

af

ewu ńlá wu wá


ewu

Ọmọ amúkàrà sábẹ̀ èwù jẹ ― One who sneaks akara under their clothes to eat (oríkì of Adó-Èkìtì)

(Ekiti, Ifẹ) Alternative form of ẹ̀wù (“clothes”)


Faranse

Faran̄sé (canonical)
Faransé (canonical)


harafi

Likely borrowed from Hausa har̃àfī, ultimately from Arabic حَرْف (ḥarf, “letter”).

Háràfí kìíní lédè Yorùbá jẹ́ "A"

The first letter in the Yoruba language is "A"


rọra

From rọ̀ (“to be soft”) + ara (“one's body”).

Máa rọra o!


ejidinlogun

/è.d͡ʒì.dĩ́.ló.ɡṹ/

Contraction of èjì dín ní ogún (“two reduced from twenty”).


arundinlogun

/à.ɾṹ.dĩ́.ló.ɡṹ/

Contraction of àrún dín ní ogún (“five removed from twenty”).


ọkandinlogun

/ɔ̀.kã̀.dĩ́.ló.ɡṹ/

Contraction of ọ̀kan dín ní ogún (“one reduced from twenty”).


linguisiiki

Mo ń kọ́ lìǹgúísíìkì ní yunifásitì ti Ìbàdàn.

I'm studying linguistics at the University of Ibadan.


ẹtadinlogun

head

ẹ̀tàdínlógún

ẹ̀tàdínlógún

yo-pos

ẹ̀tàdínlógún

ẹ̀tàdínlógún

/ɛ̀.tã̀.dĩ́.ló.ɡṹ/

Compound of ẹ̀tà + dín + ní + ogún, literally “three reduced from twenty”.


ẹrindinlogun

Lucumí: erilogún

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ̀.dĩ́.ló.ɡṹ/

Compound of ẹ̀rin + dín + ní + ogún, literally “four reduced from twenty”. Compare Edo enẹ́irrọ́vbugiè and Ifè mɛ́ɛdógú òŋú ɔ̀kã.

cog

mɛ́ɛdógú òŋú ɔ̀kã

Ifè mɛ́ɛdógú òŋú ɔ̀kã


ẹrindinlogun

Lucumí: diloggún

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ̀.dĩ́.ló.ɡṹ/

mɛ́ɛdógú òŋú ɔ̀kã

Ifè mɛ́ɛdógú òŋú ɔ̀kã

(Ìṣẹ̀ṣe) a form of divination consisting of the casting of sixteen cowries (ẹyọ). It is primarily by all priests of the orisha; with the exception of babalawos (Ifá priests to divinate to their respective orishas (ex. Èṣù, Ọbàtálá), however, the tool can still be used to consult Ifá. It also consists of a different order of the Odù (in comparison to the Odù Ifá). (For example, the first Odù from the ẹ̀rìndínlógún is Ọ̀kànràn, as opposed to the Ejì Ogbè in the Odù Ifá)


ogun

→ Gullah: ogun

→ Lucumí: ogún

→ Trinidadian Creole English: ogun

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ó-gwũ. Cognates include Ifè ogu, Igala ógwu, and Olukumi ogun. Likely related to Nupe ekun and Gbari ekun.

ogun àgbáyé

Ogun ti ja gbogbo ilú wa.

Ìlérí ilé kò mọ ti à ń jagun; kùfẹ̀kùfẹ̀ kò mọ ìjà; ijọ́ tí a bá rí ogun là á mọ ojo.

Boasting at home has nothing to do with waging a war; bragging has nothing to do with fighting; it is the day of battle that we know the coward. (proverb against boasting or bragging)

Ọ̀rẹ́ẹ̀ mí gbogun tì mí lẹ́nu iṣẹ́.

My friend was waging a war against me at work.

adágundúródàgbàlagbà

one who stops a war from reaching the elderly


ogun

a black mangrove tree (Avicennia africana)


ogun

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ōgwṵ́. Cognates include Ifè ogú, Igbo ọgụ, Igala ógwú, Itsekiri ogun, and Olukumi ọgbọ.

ogún náírà

Eélòó ni ìwé yìí? — Ogún dọ́là ni.

How much is this book? — It's twenty dollars.

Ogún ọmọ ni mo bí, ọmọọ koríko; ọgbọ̀n ọmọ ni mo bí, ọmọ èrùwà; kàkà kì a bí ẹgbàá ọ̀bùn, bí a bí ọ̀kan ṣoṣo ọ̀gá, ó tó.

2008 December 19, Yiwola Awoyale, quoting C. L. Adéoyè, Àṣà àti Ìṣe Yoruba, number LDC2008L03, 1979, Ibadan: Oxford University Press, page 46, quoted in Global Yoruba Lexical Database v. 1.0, Philadelphia: Linguistic Data Consortium, →DOI, →ISBN:

(If I boast that) it was twenty children that I gave birth to, they are weeds children; (if I boast that) it was thirty children that I gave birth to, they are grass children; rather than give birth to two thousand children, if we give birth to one distinguished children, that is enough. (proverb on quality children)

Ojú ewé kelòó l'a kà kẹ́hìn? — Ojú ewé ogún l'a kà.

Which page did we read last? — We read the twentieth page last.


ogun

Cognates include Ifè ogú and Igala ógwú, from Proto-Yoruboid *ó-gwṹ.

owó-orí sísan lórí ogún

Agbójúlógún faraa rẹ̀ fòṣì ta

Anyone who builds his hope on some future legacy will become vulnerable to destitution. (proverb against irrational expectation)


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”).


nkọ

Mo wà dáadáa o! Ẹ̀yin ńkọ́?

Used after a noun to signify "What about...?"

Mo wà dáadáa o! Ẹ̀yin ńkọ́?

Used after a noun to signify "Where is...?"


nkọ

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ńkọ́view map

OkunÌyàgbàÌsánlú Ìtẹ̀dón̄kọ́ABDOMENNote: 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

Ẹ̀ghin n̄kọ́?

(Yagba) Used after a noun to signify "What about...?"

Ìyàò rẹ̀ n̄kọ́?

(Yagba) Used after a noun to signify "Where is...?"


igba

From Proto-Yoruboid *ʊ́-gbá, cognate with Igbo ụgbā.

Lagenaria siceraria
Lagenaria siceraria#Translingual


igba

From a distinct root unlike most related languages, possibly a late innovation, from i- + gba, but see Nupe gba (“two thousand”)


igba

bitter tomato, Solanum aethiopicum; garden egg, eggplant


igba

Parkia biglobosa
Parkia biglobosa#Translingual


daadaa

Ṣé ẹ sùn dáadáa?

A máa ń jẹ ẹ̀bà dáadáa.


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”).


kabukabu

→ Nigerian Pidgin: kabukabu

→ English: kabukabu

cab; taxi (in particular) a private car operating as an unlicensed taxi.


edekoyede

èdè (“language”) + kò (“negation prefix”) + yé (“to understand”) + èdè (“language”), literally “language doesn't understand language”


ẹyẹle

From ẹyẹ (“bird”) + ilé (“house”), literally “house bird”.


ọkin

The ọ̀kín bird originally referred to the white morph of the African Paradise flycatcher, which has extremely long, white wings. It is praised as "king of the birds." Upon the introduction of peacocks to Nigeria sometime in the mid-1900s, ọ̀kín became a neologism referring to the peacock, and now it is widely used.

Ọ̀kín bàbá ẹiyẹ, ọ̀kín ẹlẹ́wà àlà

Okin the father of the birds, okin, the one with the beautiful white feathers

(dated) African paradise flycatcher, especially the white morph form with white tail feathers; cattle egret

(modern) peafowl; peacock (peacocks did not live in the range of Yorubaland in the past, and were introduced in recent times)


ẹtu

(in particular) Maxwell's duiker (Philantomba maxwellii)


ẹdun

Cognate with Igala ẹ́dọ, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *ɛ-dʊ̃, from Proto-Edekiri *ɛ-dʊ̃, ultimately from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́-dʊ̃

ọmọ ẹdun tí ń ṣeré lórí igi
The child of the ursine colobus monkey that is playing on the tree (part of the oríkì of ìbejì (twins))

colobus monkey (Colobus vellerosus), known for its deep cultural association with twins


ẹdun

(usually with àrá) thunderbolt; thunderstone, associated with the orisha Ṣàngó


ẹdun

Cognate with Igala ẹ́dọ̀, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ-dʊ̃̀ or Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́-dʊ̃̀, equivalent to *ɛ́- (“nominalizing prefix”) + *dʊ̃̀ (“to chop”). The verb *dʊ̃̀ likely means to chop or cut down, compare with ké (“to axe”) in àkíké (“axe”)


ẹja

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́-ja, cognates include Olukumi ẹ́zá and Igala ẹ́ja, likely related to Igbo azu


kọnsonanti

Kọ́ńsónáǹtì méjìdínlógún l'ó wà ní édè Yorùbá: B, D, F, G, GB, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, Ṣ, T, W, àti Y.
In Yoruba, there are 18 consonants: B, D, F, G, GB, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, Ṣ, T, W, and Y.


fawẹli

Fáwẹ̀lì méjìlá l'ó wà ní èdè Yorùbá. Fáwẹ̀lì àìránmúpè méje: A, E, Ẹ, I, O, Ọ, U, àti fáwẹ̀lì àránmúpè márùn-ún: AN, ẸN, IN, ỌN, UN.
In Yoruba, there are 12 vowels. 7 oral vowels: A, E, Ẹ, I, O, Ọ, U, and 5 nasal vowels: AN, ẸN, IN, ỌN, UN.


sababi

From Hausa sabàbī, ultimately from Arabic سَبَب (sabab).


tadawa

Borrowed from Hausa tàdawā̀, from a Berber language, ultimately from Arabic دَوَاة (dawāh, “inkwell”).


gogoro

Ó ga gogoro

igi gogoro má gún mi lójú, òkèèrè la ti ń wò ó


ejilelogun

Contraction of èjì lé ní ogún (“two more than twenty”).


ọkanlelogun

head

ọ̀kànlélógún

ọ̀kànlélógún

yo-pos

ọ̀kànlélógún

ọ̀kànlélógún

Contraction of ọ̀kàn lé ní ogún (“one more than twenty”).


ẹtalelogun

Contraction of ẹ̀tà lé ní ogún (“three more than twenty”).

ẹ̀tà lé ní ogún


ẹrinlelogun

head

ẹ̀rìnlélógún

ẹ̀rìnlélógún

yo-pos

ẹ̀rìnlélógún

ẹ̀rìnlélógún

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ̀.lé.ló.ɡṹ/

Contraction of ẹ̀rìn lé ní ogún (“four more than twenty”).


arundinlọgbọn

/à.ɾṹ.dĩ́.lɔ́.ɡ͡bɔ̃̀/

Contraction of àrún dín ní ọgbọ̀n (“five reduced from thirty”).


Ogboni

English: Ogboni

/ò.ɡ͡bó.nĩ̄/

From ògbóni, from ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbó (“matured, experienced”) + ẹni (“people”), literally “The wise ones”.

af

They consisted of three classes of chiefs, the Ògbóni in charge of administration, Pàràkòyì in charge of trade and commerce, and the Ológun, in charge of security and war, and their leaders were the Ìwàrẹ́fà.

(Ìjẹ̀bú)

(historical) In precolonial Yorubaland, a male secret society of chiefs that performed religious, judicial, and legislative functions, including the advising and checking of a monarch. They were also the main worshippers of the orisha Ẹdan, and in some towns, they were also the cult of the orisha Orò.


olodo

→ Nigerian Pidgin: olodo

oní- (“one who possesses”) + òdo (“zero”)

prefix

(sometimes offensive) a dunce, a stupid person, one who receives poor grades


olodo

oní- (“one who possesses”) + odó (“mortar”)

a seller, owner, bearer or maker of mortars


ẹrindinlọgbọn

head

ẹ̀rìndínlọ́gbọ̀n

ẹ̀rìndínlọ́gbọ̀n

yo-pos

ẹ̀rìndínlọ́gbọ̀n

ẹ̀rìndínlọ́gbọ̀n

/ɛ̀.ɾĩ̀.dĩ́.lɔ́.ɡ͡bɔ̃̀/

Contraction of ẹ̀rin dín ní ọgbọ̀n (“four reduced from thirty”).


Abiọdun

Blend of a- (“agent prefix”) + bí (“to be born”) + ní (“on”) + ọdún (“festival, holiday”), literally “One who was born on a festival”

blend

a unisex given name meaning “Born a festival”


iyalẹta

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yá (“to borrow”) + ilẹ̀ (“land”) + ta (“to shine”), literally “The act of borrowing sunlight from the ground to shine”.


ẹrẹja

/ɛ̄.ɾɛ́.d͡ʒà/

According to Débọ̀ Awẹ́, from a folk etymology, ẹrẹ́ jà (“the place where Ẹrẹ́ fought”). Possibly from ẹrẹ́ + ọjà (“market”)

ọmọ olúlé ẹrẹ́jà kẹ́ráàbọ̀ ìsinmi ẹyẹ ― The child of the house in the central market where you will see many bird nests (family oríkì)

(Ekiti) market square; the central market in an Èkìtì Yorùbá town. It normally opens every five days.


amulu

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + mú (“to take”) + lù (“to beat”), literally “That which is used to beat something”.

af

The 240 minor signs of the Ifa divination system.

The minor 240 chapters of the Odù Ifá corpus after the 16 oju odu, beginning with Ogbeyẹku.


egure

Compare with Itsekiri igùrè (“village”), see Oǹdó Yoruba eguè, probably from Proto-Edekiri *i-gùrè


kadara

From Hausa ƙàddar̃ā̀, from Arabic قَدَر (qadar).


Iṣẹṣe

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

Ìṣẹ̀ṣe làgbà

Isese is the most senior of the Yoruba institutions

The Yoruba religion, the combination of the religious practices and traditions associated with the worship of the orisa and Ifa divination.


Ọsanyin

Ọ̀sanyìn (canonical)
Ọ̀sányìn (canonical)

/ɔ̀.sã̄.jĩ̀/

/ɔ̀.sã́.jĩ̀/

From ọ̀san + yìn, of unclear origin. A few etymological theories exist:
* An origin myth of Ọ̀sanyìn attributes it from the phrase ẹ̀san ẹyìn (“the reward for palm nuts”). A similar myth is repeated in the Odù Ifá chapter Ọ̀sẹ́ Ọ̀wọ́nrín (#232), where the name is said to come from the phrase ẹ̀sán ẹyìn (“the 9 palm nuts”). Both these myths identify the name as being associated Ọ̀rúnmìlà's role in his birth, with the second myth attributing Ọ̀sanyìn as his younger brother.

Ọsanyìn (god of plants, herbs, healing, medicine, and magic). He is closely associated with divination and the orisha Ọ̀rúnmìlà.

Ọ̀sanyíndọlá

A Yoruba name meaning Ọ̀sanyìn has become honorable

Ọ̀sanyíndọrọ̀

A Yoruba name meaning Ọ̀sanyìn has become wealth

Ọ̀sanyíngbèmí

A Yoruba name meaning Ọ̀sanyìn supports me

Ọ̀sanyínladé

A Yoruba name meaning Ọ̀sanyìn is the crown

Ọ̀sanyínlókun

A Yoruba name meaning the worshipper of Ọ̀sanyìn has strength

Ọ̀sanyínlúsì

A Yoruba name meaning Ọ̀sanyìn is honorable

Ọ̀sanyínmúkò

A Yoruba name meaning Ọ̀sanyìn gave (him) to me

Ọ̀sanyínró

A Yoruba name meaning Ọ̀sanyìn stands strong

Ọ̀sanyínrótìmí

A Yoruba name meaning Ọ̀sanyìn stays with me

Ọ̀sanyínṣawo

A Yoruba name meaning Ọ̀sanyìn worships Ifa

Ọ̀sanyíntilé

A Yoruba name meaning Ọ̀sanyìn stands with the house

Ọ̀sanyíntọba

A Yoruba name meaning Ọ̀sanyìn is enough for a king

Ọ̀sanyíntọ́lá

A Yoruba name meaning Ọ̀sanyìn is worthy of honor

Ọ̀sanyíntádé

A Yoruba name meaning Ọ̀sanyìn is worthy of a crown

Ọ̀sanyíntólú

A Yoruba name meaning Ọ̀sanyìn is worthy of becoming a leader

Ọ̀sanyíntúyì

A Yoruba name meaning Ọ̀sanyìn is worthy of praise, honor


ọrọ

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ̀-là, compare with Igala ọ̀là


ọrọ

Ọmọ yìí ti ya ọ̀rọ̀

This child has become a mysterious being.

(mythological) a supernatural fairy or spirit, believed to reside in physical objects and possess people


ọrọ

An old Proto-Yoruboid form only maintained in the Ekiti dialect and Igala language, see Igala ọ̀dọ̀, perhaps derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ̀-ɗɔ̀. Some linguists of the Ekiti dialect suggest the r in this word is /ɽ/, differing from the usual /ɾ/


ọrọ

matters, a concern of great urgency, issue


ọrọ

The plants of the Euphorbia genus, specifically Euphorbia kamerunica, often misidentified as a cactus due to their similar appearances


ọrọ

Any of the various species of cactus, or a variety of other species of the Euphorbia genus and other genera erroneously identified as cactus

ọrọ́ agogo

a plant of the genus Euphorbia, specifically Euphorbia kamerunica


ọrọ

head

ọrọ́ or ọ̀rọ́

The plants Nesogordonia papaverifera and Sterculia rhinopetala of the former Sterculiaceae family


ẹtadinlọgbọn

ẹ̀tàdínlọ́gbọ̀n

ẹ̀tàdínlọ́gbọ̀n

yo-pos

ẹ̀tàdínlọ́gbọ̀n

ẹ̀tàdínlọ́gbọ̀n

/ɛ̀.tà.dĩ́.lɔ́.ɡ͡bɔ̃̀/

Contraction of ẹ̀ta dín ní ọgbọ̀n (“three reduced from thirty”).


ejidinlọgbọn

head

èjìdínlọ́gbọ̀n

èjìdínlọ́gbọ̀n

yo-pos

èjìdínlọ́gbọ̀n

èjìdínlọ́gbọ̀n

/è.d͡ʒì.dĩ́.lɔ́.ɡ͡bɔ̃̀/

Contraction of èjì dín ní ọgbọ̀n (“two reduced from thirty”).

contraction

èjì dín ní ọgbọ̀n


ọkandinlọgbọn

head

ọ̀kàndínlọ́gbọ̀n

ọ̀kàndínlọ́gbọ̀n

yo-pos

ọ̀kàndínlọ́gbọ̀n

ọ̀kàndínlọ́gbọ̀n

/ɔ̀.kã̀.dĩ́.lɔ́.ɡ͡bɔ̃̀/

Contraction of ọ̀kan dín ní ọgbọ̀n (“one removed from thirty”).


foonu

Fóònù mi ti kú


Intanẹẹti

head

Íntánẹ́ẹ̀tì or Íńtánẹ́ẹ̀tì

Íntánẹ́ẹ̀tì (canonical)
Íńtánẹ́ẹ̀tì (canonical)

/ĩ́.tá.nɛ́ɛ̀.tì/

/í.ŋ́.tá.nɛ́ɛ̀.tì/


atẹjiṣẹ

/à.tɛ̀.d͡ʒí.ʃɛ́/

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + tẹ̀ (“to type”) + jẹ́ (“to send, deliver”) + iṣẹ́ (“a message”), literally “that which is sent and delivered”.

affix

Àtẹ̀jíṣé tí a sẹ̀sẹ̀ gbà láti ọwọ́ ọmọ Nàìjíríà rere kan fi yé wa pé súnkẹrẹrẹ-fàkẹrẹrẹ ọkọ̀ wà láti Ajégúnlẹ̀ sí Mile Two pọ̀ díẹ̀ nítorí òjò tí ó rọ̀.

2015, Dayo Akanmu, quoting Bàṣírù Àdìsá reading a text message from an eyewitness for the program Lójú Pópó (on the road) on Fàájì 105.6 FM Lagos, “New Yoruba Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions: A New Mode of Communicating New Concepts and Ideas on Radio”, in Journal of Mass Communication & Journalism, volume 5, number 1, School of Languages, Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Nigeria, →DOI:

The text message we have just received from a good citizen of Nigeria informed us that there was a serious traffic jam from Ajégúnlẹ̀ to Mile Two because of the rain.


janjan

/d͡ʒã̄.d͡ʒã̄/


aṣa

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣá (“to slash, to strike, to peck”), literally “That which strikes”

af

A general name for the hawk or kite, but (in particular) the Black-winged kite


aṣa

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣà (“to select; to be specially chosen”), literally “that which is specially chosen to be practiced”


Iku

Death (the personified warrior spirit (Ajogun) of death)


Jameika

Ọ̀rẹ́ mi ń gbé n'ílú Jàméíkà.

Jamaica (an island and country in the Caribbean)


ọmọnile

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄.nĩ́.lé/

From ọmọ + ní + ilé ("child in the house").


ṣẹkẹṣẹkẹ

/ʃɛ̄.kɛ́.ʃɛ̄.kɛ̀/


aganrandi

/à.ɡã́.ɾã́.dì/

gate, a short door used to farm animals from entering a house


ẹfọnha

/ɛ̄.fɔ̃́.hà/

From ẹfọ́n (“oil palm midrib's back”) + ìhà (“side”).


ayegbe

Compare with Edo ùghègbè, Igbo ùgègbè, Itsekiri ughéngbè

(Ekiti, Ijesha, Ikalẹ, Ondo, Eastern Akoko) mirror, glass


orupo

a mud bed in a home used for sitting and sleeping


orupo

(Ekiti, Ijesha) inner chamber of a room; bedroom


epo

Compare with Itsekiri ekpo, Olukumi ekpo, Igala ékpo. Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *e-kpo, from Proto-Edekiri *e-kpo, ultimately from Proto-Yoruboid *e-kpo. Also see Ayere ekpú


epo

Annona senegalensis
Annona senegalensis#Translingual

Any plant of species Annona senegalensis


epo

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + pò (“to concoct”)


Ọgbẹni

/ɔ̀.ɡ͡bɛ́.nĩ̄/

Ọ̀gbẹ́ni Akínbíyìí

Ọ̀gbẹ́ni Àdàndé ti dé.

Mister, Mr. General title or respect of an adult male.


Abọsẹde

→ English: Abosede

From a- (“agent prefix”) + bá (“to join”) + ọ̀sẹ̀ (“week”) + dé (“to arrive”), "One born at the start of a new week", usually given to children born on a Sunday.


maapu

máàpù inú átíláàsì


nọmba

nọ́ḿbà ìdánimọ̀


ṣọọki

Fi ṣọ́ọ̀kì kọ orúkọ rẹ.


ṣọọki

to shock physically, such as with an electric current


Kọjọda

/kɔ́.d͡ʒɔ́.dā/

From kí (“may”) + ọjọ́ (“day”) + da (“to be clear”), literally “May the day be clear”.

compound

The Yoruba calendar, originally used among the Ìjẹ̀bú people. It originally was a lunar calendar consisting of 4 days, 91 weeks, and 13 months with 7 weeks in each month. The first month is Òkúdù (“June”). It was later modernized to be consistent with the Gregorian calendar


Ṣikago

Chicago (a large city in Illinois, United States)


jomijoke

/d͡ʒō.mĩ̄.d͡ʒò.kè/

From jẹ̀ (“to roam”) + omi (“water”) + jẹ̀ (“to roam”) + òkè (“upper”), literally “To roam the water and above the water”.


jomijoke

/d͡ʒō.mĩ̄.d͡ʒò.kè/


oruka

→ Nupe: rùka

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ́lṵ̀-ìka, cognate with Igala èlìka, Edo òròká, Izon ụrụká


litireṣọ

/lí.tí.ɾé.ʃɔ̀/


iwu

From Proto-Yoruboid *í-ɓṹ, cognate with Igala ímú.

Ín ó fọọ́ piwú

May you use your hand to rub gray hair (a prayer to reach old age)


ile-ikawe

From ilé (“house”) + ìkàwé (“act of reading books”), literally “the house of reading books”.

Mo ń lọ sí ilé-ìkàwé láti yá ìwé kíláàsì mi.

I'm going to the library to borrow a book for my class.

Òkè kelòó ni ilé-ìkàwé ilé wà? — Ó wà l'ókè kẹta.

What floor is this house's reading room on? — It's on the third floor.


ile-itawe

From ilé (“house”) + ìtàwé (“act of selling books”), literally “the house of selling books”.

Ó lọ sí ilé-ìtàwé láti ra ìwé mẹ́tàlélọ́gbọ̀n (33).

She went to the bookstore to buy 33 books.

DIALOUGE: Délé pàdé ọ̀rẹ́ rẹ̀ Tọ́lá ní ọ̀nà ilé-ìtàwé. […]
Délé: Níbo ni o tí ń bọ?
Tọ́lá: Mó ń bọ láti ilé-ìtàwé. Mo lọ ra ìwé yìí fún kíláàsì Báọ́lójì mi.

1993 November 24, Antonia Yétúndé Fọlárìn Schleicher, “Ẹ̀kọ́ Kejì: Family Members”, in Jẹ́ K'Á Sọ Yorùbá [Let's Speak Yoruba], Yale University Press, →ISBN, page 50:

DIALOUGE: Délé runs into their friend Tọ́lá on the route to the bookstore. […]
Délé: Where are you coming from?
Tọ́lá: I'm coming from the bookstore. I went to buy this book for my Biology class.


innsi

head

ínǹsì or ínńsì


itawe

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + tàwé (“to sell books”), literally “the act of selling books”.


ẹfun

ẹ- (“non-gerundive nominalizing prefix”) + fun (“to be white; light”)


ọmọge

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄.ɡē/


ọmọba

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄.bā/


oju ologbo

/ō.d͡ʒú ō.ló.ɡ͡bò/


Aguala

Àgùàlà ń bá òṣùpá rìn, wọ́n ní ajá ẹ̀ ló ń ṣe.

Venus and the moon can often be sighted together. (literally, “Venus walks with the moon, they say it's being its dog.”)

(astronomy) Venus; the second planet in the solar system. Symbol: ♀.


oṣupa

Lucumí: ochukuá

From Proto-Yoruba *ɔ̀-cʊ̀kpá, ultimately from Proto-Yoruboid *ó-cù (“moon”) + *kpá, equivalent to o- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣù (“to be round”) + pá. pá could perhaps refer to the shining of the moon or the clearness of the moon when it is full. Compare with Yoruba oṣù

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - òṣùpáview map

òcùCONNOTATIONỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí-ÌjèỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí/ÌjèÌkpòbɛ́òshùkpáCONNOTATIONỌ̀húnbẹ́òṣùpáCONNOTATIONOnigboloòshùkpáCONNOTATIONKétu/ÀnàgóÌláráòṣùpáCONNOTATIONÌdọ̀fàòṣùpáCONNOTATIONÌmẹ̀kọòṣùpáCONNOTATIONÌwòyè KétuòṣùpáCONNOTATIONKétuòshùkpáCONNOTATIONIfɛ̀AkpáréòtsùkpáCONNOTATIONAtakpamɛòtsùkpáCONNOTATIONBokoòtsùkpáCONNOTATIONEst-MonoòtsùkpáCONNOTATIONMoretanòtsùkpáCONNOTATIONTchettiòtsùkpáCONNOTATIONMɔ̄kɔ́léKandicukpáCONNOTATIONCONNOTATIONKpɛdɛcukpáCONNOTATIONCONNOTATIONNorthern NagoKamboleòsùkpáCONNOTATIONCONNOTATIONManigriòsùkpáCONNOTATIONCONNOTATIONSouthern NagoÌsakétéòshùkpáCONNOTATIONCONNOTATIONÌfànyìnòshùkpáCONNOTATIONCONNOTATIONOverseas YorubaLucumíHavanaochukuáCONNOTATIONNote: 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


onigbameji

/ō.nĩ́.ɡ͡bá.mé.d͡ʒì/

From oní- (“owner of”) + igbá (“calabash”) + méjì (“two”), literally “Bearer of two calabashes”
* The picture painted by this term is of someone holding a calabash to contain vomit and another for stool; the two symptoms of cholera.


eguru

sandstone, a generic name for any type of sedimentary rock

erégúrù

"on top of sandstone," a house or location built on sandstone


awọsanma

àwọsánmà (canonical)
àwọ̀sánmà (canonical)

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + wọ̀ (“to wear”) + sánmà (“sky”), literally “Covering of the sky”.


owusuwusu

From ò- + wúsúwusù, ultimately deriving from an ideophone sense.

òwúsúwusù ú gba gbogbo ojú ọ̀run

ọkùnrin alárèékérekèé fẹ́ẹ́ fi òwúsúwusù bò wá lójú

The cunning man wanted to use wool to cover our face

(idiomatic, by extension) something that is used to cover one's face or a surface; wool


warakaṣi

*From wàrà (“milk”) + kàṣì (“to become sour, to mold, to become stale”), "Sour milk."

wagasi, cow's milk cheese made by the Fulani people.


oolu

Contraction of òlìlù, from ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + lílù (“partial reduplication of lù to beat”)


ikuukuu

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + kùukùu (“of an entity being opaque or cloudy”), compare with kùrukùru (“fog, mist”).


midinmiidin

/mĩ̄.dĩ̄.mĩ́ĩ̀.dĩ̀/


Ilẹ kaaarọ-oojiire

/ī.lɛ̀ káàá.ɾɔ̀.ōò.d͡ʒíī.ɾē/

From ilẹ̀ (“land”) + káàárọ̀ (“Good morning (Greeting)”) + o (“you”) + ò (“nominalizer, the act of”) + jí (“to wake, to awake”) + ire (“goodness, blessing”). Literally, "Land of the people that greet you good morning, did you wake up well?".


ẹlẹrindodo

/ɛ̄.lɛ́.ɾĩ̀.dò.dò/


Igbomina

→ Portuguese: Ibomina

/ì.ɡ͡bó.mĩ̀.nã̀/

From ògbó (“a type of sword”) + mi (“mine, my”) + mọ̀ (“to knows”) + ọ̀nà (“the path, the way”), literally “My sword knows the way”.

Igbomina people, a subgroup of the Yoruba people

A dialect of the Yoruba language spoken by the Ìgbómìnà