Ifadọrọlemi

/ɪ̄.fá.dɔ́.ɾɔ̀.lé.mĩ̄/

From Ifá (“Ifá, the deity Ọ̀rúnmìlà”) + dá (“to bestow”) + ọrọ̀ (“wealth, honor”) + lé (“on”) + mi (“me”), literally “Ifá bestowed me with wealth”.

(Ekiti, rare) a male given name meaning “The deity Ifa bestowed me with wealth”


ajilẹ

/ā.d͡ʒí.lɛ̀/

From a- (“agent prefix”) + jí (“to wake, to revive”) + ilẹ̀ (“land”), literally “One that revives the land”.


pẹẹni

/k͡pɛ́ɛ̀.nì/


pẹẹni

/k͡pɛ́ɛ̀.nì/


atipo

mo ń ṣe àtìpó nù ilẹ̀ àjèjì

Àtìpó

A nickname for one who sojourns, a Yoruba surname


Ilara-Mọkin

head

Ìlárá-Mọ̀kín

Ìlárá-Mọ̀kín

yo-pos

Ìlárá-Mọ̀kín

Ìlárá-Mọ̀kín

yo-prop

Ìlárá-Mọ̀kín

Ìlárá-Mọ̀kín

/ì.lá.ɾá.mɔ̃̀.kĩ́/

From Ìlárá + mọ̀kị́n, ultimately from ì- (“nominalizing prefixi”) + ní (“to have”) + ará (“relative, family”) + mọ̀ (“to know”) + ọ̀kị́n (“African paradise flycatcher”), literally “The ones who possess many relatives are as honorable as the ọ̀kín bird”.

compound

Ìlárá + mọ̀kị́n

af

Ilara-Mokin (an Ekiti Yoruba town in Ifedore, Ondo, Nigeria)

African paradise flycatcher
yo:Ìlárá-Mọ̀kín


ẹmu

From ẹ- (“nominalizing prefix”) + mu (“to drink”). Compare with Olukumi ẹmọ


takada

From Hausa takàr̃dā, from a Berber language. From Arabic قِرْطَاس (qirṭās), from Aramaic קַרְטֵיסָא / ܩܪܛܝܣܐ (qarṭīsā), from Ancient Greek χάρτης (khártēs). Compare with Nupe tákàda and Zarma takàrda. Doublet of ṣáàtì and káàdì.

der

Aramaic קַרְטֵיסָא


duniyan

From Hausa dūniyā̀ (“world”), from Arabic دُنْيَا (dunyā).


kanafuru

Ultimately from Arabic قَرَنْفُل (qaranful), via a language on the trans-Saharan trade routes.


opitan

From ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + pa (“to do, to tell”) + ìtàn (“story, history”), literally “The one who tells a story”


ijala

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + já (“to break, to strike”) + lá (“big, large”), literally “That which is a powerful strike”

A traditional form of oral Yoruba poetry and chants performed by hunters, often praising the orisha Ogun


waasu

From Hausa wa'àzī, from Arabic وَعْظ (waʕẓ).

(intransitive) to preach, to give a sermon

(transitive, intransitive) to give a speech, to harangue


ijapa

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jàpá (“the motion of one moving awkwardly”, ideophone), literally “That which moves around awkwardly”.

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ìjàpáview map

alábahunSWAPÌgbómìnàÌfẹ́lódùn LGAìjàpáSWAPÌrẹ́pọ̀dùn LGAalábaunSWAPÌsin LGAìjàpáSWAPÌlọrinÌlọrinìjàpáSWAP

áwìrìSWAPỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí-ÌjèỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí/ÌjèÌkpòbɛ́ògìdánSWAPOnigboloagidanSWAPKétu/ÀnàgóKétuògìdánSWAPIfɛ̀Akpáréègìɖã́SWAPAtakpamɛègìɖã́SWAPBokoègìdã́SWAPEst-Monoègìɖã́SWAPMoretanògìdã́SWAPTchettiègìɖã́SWAPKuraAwotébiahaowoSWAPSWAPPartagoabãõSWAPSWAPMɔ̄kɔ́léKandibaawɔ̃SWAPSWAPNorthern NagoKamboleàjàkpáSWAPSWAPManigriògìdã́SWAPSWAPNote: 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


iremọje

/ì.ɾè.mɔ̃̀.d͡ʒé/

A form of Yoruba traditional oral poetry and rites performed at the night of the funeral of a great hunter by worshippers of the orisha Ògún.


gọgọ

Possibly of a similar origin with Igala àbọ̀gọ́lí, see gọ́

fruit plucker, a long stick with metal cutter at its end used to pluck fruit


pagidende

Onomatopoeic, from the sounds of drums played during the dancing

(Ekiti) A traditional funeral dance and rite performed 8 days after the burial of a person.


ujaamẹṣẹ

/ù.d͡ʒāā.mɛ̀.ʃɛ̀/

From ùja + ìmẹ̀ṣẹ̀, ultimately from ùja (“chanting, chant”) + àri (“without”) + mọ̀ (“to know”) + ìṣẹ̀ (“origin, source”), literally “The chants that we do not know the origin of”.

compound

ùja + ìmẹ̀ṣẹ̀

affix

(Ekiti) A form of Yoruba oral poetry and chanting performed by the Ekiti people of the Ido-Osi local government in honor of the deity Ọlụ́a.


ẹkun-iyawo

From ẹkún ìyàwó (“Wailing of the bride”).

A form of traditional Yoruba oral poetry characterized by the singing of a bride during marital rites


iyẹrẹ Ifa

/ì.jɛ̀.ɾɛ̀ ī.fá/

A form of Yoruba oral poetry and chanting performed for the worship and praise of Ifá.


iwaju

From iwá (“front”) + ojú (“face”). Compare with Ifè iwádzú, Olukumi úgwázú, Itsekiri ugwájú, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *ʊ-gʷájú, from Proto-Edekiri *ʊ-gʷájú


apiiri

/à.k͡píì.ɾì/

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + píìrì (“pípìrì drum”), literally “The one that consists of the pípìrì drum”

(Ekiti) A form of Ekiti music and drum rhythm through the playing of the pípìrì drum.


ẹsa

From ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + sà (“to extol”).

af

akéwì ń pe ẹ̀sà

A genre of oríkì poetry performed by worshippers of the Egúngún consisting of chanting and invocation of the spirit of the Egúngún.


oyiya

ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yíyà (“partial reduplication of yà "to comb"”)


gaari

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


ọniyan

/ɔ̀.nĩ̀.jɔ̃̀/

Cognates with Yoruba ènìyàn, Ede Idaca ọ̀nìyàn


ogẹsinlẹṣin

head

ògẹṣinlẹ́ṣin

ògẹṣinlẹ́ṣin

yo-pos

ògẹṣinlẹ́ṣin

ògẹṣinlẹ́ṣin

yo-noun

ògẹṣinlẹ́ṣin

ògẹṣinlẹ́ṣin

/ò.ɡɛ̄.ʃĩ̄.lɛ́.ʃĩ̄/

starling, Poeoptera lugubris, Narrow tailed starling


parapandu

(Caprimulgus vexillarius), pennant-winged nightjar


oriki

From orí + kíkì, ultimately from orí (“head, destiny, conscience”) + kì (“to recite, praise”), literally “The act of praising one's existence”.

compound

This form of oriki is known as oríkì jáǹtìrẹrẹ, and are normally chanted or sang.

Oríkì ní ó gbajúmọ̀ jù nínú gbogbo ohùn-ẹnu Yorùbá

Oriki is the most popular of the Yoruba oral poetic genres

A form of Yoruba oral praise poetry, (ewì), it is characterized by long epithets praising and acknowledging the traits, accomplishments, and or attributes a specific person, family or lineage, town, animal, òrìṣà, subethnic group etc.

It is often given by one's grandmother or older relative, similar to a cognomen. These often are informal and not part of the official name of a person.

a kì í pe orúkọ ẹni k'á báni wí; a kì í porúkọ odò k'ódò gbéni lọ; bẹ́ẹ̀ náà ni a kì í sọ oríkì ọmọ kínúu rẹ̀ má yọ̀ síni
We do not call someone's name and begin to reprimand him; we do not cite the name of a river and get drowned by it; similarly we do not recite the praise name of a child and he does not rejoice at it (proverb on the importance of an oríkì name)

A class of Yoruba names, this form of oriki known as oríkì ṣókí, it consists of short single Yoruba praise names or nicknames.


alapaandẹdẹ

head

alápàáǹdẹ̀dẹ̀

alápàáǹdẹ̀dẹ̀

yo-pos

alápàáǹdẹ̀dẹ̀

alápàáǹdẹ̀dẹ̀

yo-noun

alápàáǹdẹ̀dẹ̀

alápàáǹdẹ̀dẹ̀

Compare with Igala ákpádedè, Ebira onyokpadede,

swallow, specifically the Ethiopian swallow (Hirundo aethiopica)


aṣanwewe

àṣáǹwéwé (canonical)
àṣáńwewé (canonical)

From àṣá (“hawk, kite”) + ǹ + wé (“to wrap”) + ewé (“leaf, plant”), literally “The kite is wrapping leaves”, perhaps referring to its nesting behaviors

compound

kite, (in particular) African Cuckoo-Hawk


alagoogo

/ā.lá.ɡòó.ɡó/

Perhaps from oní- (“one who has”) + àgógó (“beak”), literally “one who is characterized by its beak”

af

oxpecker, Buphagus africanus, yellow billed oxpecker


ogongo

/ò.ɡò.ŋ̀.ɡò/

From ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gòǹgò (“a physical entity being huge”).


kolekole

Crinifer piscator
Crinifer piscator#Translingual

Crinifer piscator (western plantain-eater)


kolekole

Reduplication of kólé (“to gather (the contents) of a house, to rob a house”, literally “One who robs a house”)


ragoliisi

/ɾá.ɡó.líì.sì/

1980s-1990s, from the name of a Nigerian spring water and bottle water company, Ragolis Waters Limited founded in 1981, known for circulating the first widespread bottled water in Nigeria, likely of French origin.

genericized trademark
genericized trademark

(genericized trademark) plastic water bottle, bottle, plastic


ile awoṣifila

head

ilé àwòṣífìlà

ilé àwòṣífìlà

yo-pos

ilé àwòṣífìlà

ilé àwòṣífìlà

yo-noun

ilé àwòṣífìlà

ilé àwòṣífìlà

ilé (“house,building”) + a- (“nominalizing prefix”) + wò (“to look”) + ṣí (“to open, to fall off”) + fìlà (“hat”), literally “The building that when we look up to see it, our hat falls off”


Abimbọla

From a (“we”) + bí (“to give birth to”) + mi (“me”) + bí (“with”) + ọlá (“wealth”), "I was born with wealth".


olulu

Centropus senegalensis
Centropus senegalensis#Translingual


uderegbe

/ù.dé.ɾè.ɡ͡bè/

(Ekiti) Alternative form of ìdérègbè (“goat”)


alatagba

Falco cuvierii
Falco cuvierii#Translingual


tẹlifiṣọn

/tɛ̄.lī.fí.ʃɔ̃̀/


ẹlulu

Alternative form of ẹ̀lúùlú (“Senegal coucal”)


agbigbo

/à.ɡ͡bì.ɡ͡bò/

The african grey hornbill, Lophoceros nasutus


ideegbe

/ì.déè.ɡ͡bè/


lekeleke

Likely ideophonic, compare with Igbo chekeleke

Bubulcus ibis
Bubulcus ibis#Translingual


olongo

/ō.lō.ŋ̄.ɡō/

orange-cheeked waxbill (Estrilda melpoda)

red-billed firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala)


ideregbe

/ì.dé.ɾè.ɡ͡bè/

Likely cognate with Edo odegbe, Itsekiri ekerégbè, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *ì-dérègbè


aluko

Compare with Igala ùlòkò (“Crested malimbe”)

Tauraco macrorhynchus
Tauraco macrorhynchus#Translingual

yellow billed turaco (Tauraco macrorhynchus)


obeje

the Yoruba alphabet of the ajami script (as adapted for writing Yoruba).


ẹrọ amohunmaworan

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ā.mó.hũ̀.má.wò.ɾã́/

ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + a- (“agent prefix”) + mú (“bring”) + ohùn (“sound”) + mú (“bring”) + àwòrán (“image”), "Machine that produces sound and image."


aadọta

/àá.dɔ́.ꜜtā/

From ẹ̀wá (“ten”) + dín (“to subtract”) + ní (“in”) + ọta (“sixty”), "Ten subtracted from sixty.".


laada

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


wadowado

Reduplication of wá odò (“search river”). Literally, river searcher.


Abikẹ

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bí (“to give birth, to be born”) + kẹ́ (“to cherish, to care for”), literally “One who is born to be cared for”

affix

A female oríkì name, meaning "One who is born to be cared for".


Ibidunmoye

From ìbí (“birth”) + dùn (“to be sweet, to be enjoyable”) + mọ́ (“with, in combination with”) + oyè (“chieftancy title, honor”), "Birth is good with honor.".

com

a male or female given name meaning, "Birth is good with honor".


Ọmọbọsẹde

head

Ọmọ́bọ́sẹ̀dé

Ọmọ́bọ́sẹ̀dé

yo-pos

Ọmọ́bọ́sẹ̀dé

Ọmọ́bọ́sẹ̀dé

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃́.bɔ́.sɛ̀.dé/

From ọmọ + bá + ọsẹ̀ + dé, "The child born at the start of a new week", usually given to children born on a Sunday.

compound

ọmọ + bá + ọsẹ̀ + dé


Ṣoyinka

head

Ṣóyínká or Ṣóyín̄ká

Ṣóyínká (canonical)
Ṣóyín̄ká (canonical)

Blend of oṣó (“sorcerer, a symbol of the deity Òrìṣàokó”) + yíká (“to surround”) + mi (“me”), literally “The sorcerer surrounded me; the deity Òrìṣàokó surrounds me”

blend

a male given name meaning “the sorcerer surrounded me; Òrìṣàokó surrounds me”


Fagunwa

From Clipping of Ifágúnwà, ultimately from Blend of Ifá (“the deity Ifa”) + gún (“to climb”) + ùwà (“throne, palace”), literally “Ifá sits on the throne”.

(Ondo) a male given name meaning “The deity Ifa sits on the throne”

(Ondo) a surname, from the given name Fágúnwà


dafa

dá (“to cast, to divinate”) + ifá (“Ifá, the Yoruba process of divination”)


Isiaka

bor

Arabic إِسْحَاق (ʔisḥāq)

a male given name from Arabic, equivalent to English Isaac


ẹyun

ẹ- (“agent prefix”) + yún (“to itch, to scratch”), literally “That which is itchy”


jẹjẹrẹ

/d͡ʒɛ̄.d͡ʒɛ̄.ɾɛ̄/

Noun sense is derived from ideophone sense


kewu

Perhaps from Baatonum kéù (“teaching, studying”)


kewu

To recite the Qur'an, to recite an Arabic prayer


imọ ijinlẹ

head

ìmọ̀ ìjìnlẹ̀

ìmọ̀ ìjìnlẹ̀

yo-pos

ìmọ̀ ìjìnlẹ̀

ìmọ̀ ìjìnlẹ̀

yo-noun

ìmọ̀ ìjìnlẹ̀

ìmọ̀ ìjìnlẹ̀

/ì.mɔ̃̀ ì.d͡ʒĩ̀.lɛ̀/

From ìmọ̀ + ìjìnlẹ̀, literally “deep or profound knowledge”.


Bọsẹde

A Clipping of Abọ́sẹ̀dé and Clipping of Ọmọ́bọ́sẹ̀dé, or other form, ultimately from bá + ọsẹ̀ + dé, literally “Come with the start of a new week”, given to children born at the start of the week (traditionally Sunday)

clipping

Ọmọ́bọ́sẹ̀dé

compound

a female given name meaning “[One who] comes with the start of a new week”

(rare) a male given name, with the same meaning as the female name Bọ́sẹ̀dé

A nickname or root for names with longer meanings, see Abọ́sẹ̀dé, Ọmọ́bọ́sẹ̀dé.


ẹkọ

From ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + kọ́ (“to learn; to teach”)


ẹkọ

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ẹ̀kọview map


agodongbo

/ā.ɡó.dó.ŋ́.ɡ͡bó/


akẹkọọ

/ā.kɛ́.kɔ̀ɔ́/

From a- (“agent prefix”) + kọ́ (“to learn”) + ẹ̀kọ́ (“lesson, teaching, education”), hence "one who learns (via teaching)."


epiya

tilapia, (in particular) Nile tilapia and Oreochromis aureus


jẹlesinmi

/d͡ʒɛ́.lé.sĩ̄.mĩ̄/

Alternative form of jẹ́léósinmi (“nursery, kindergarten”)


ekura

a species of large fish, usually identified as a swordfish or barracuda


timitimi

Alternative form of tìmùtìmù (“mattress, pillow”)


jẹleosinmi

/d͡ʒɛ́.lé.ó.sĩ̄.mĩ̄/

From jẹ́ (“let”) + ilé (“house”) + ó (“will”) + sinmi (“to rest”), literally “let the house rest”.

compound

(idiomatic) nursery, kindergarten, pre-school, nursery school


arun rọmọlaparọmọlẹsẹ

head

àrùn rọmọlápárọmọlẹ́sẹ̀

àrùn rọmọlápárọmọlẹ́sẹ̀

yo-pos

àrùn rọmọlápárọmọlẹ́sẹ̀

àrùn rọmọlápárọmọlẹ́sẹ̀

yo-noun

àrùn rọmọlápárọmọlẹ́sẹ̀

àrùn rọmọlápárọmọlẹ́sẹ̀

/à.ɾũ̀ ɾɔ̄.mɔ̃̄.lá.k͡pá.ɾɔ̄.mɔ̃̄.lɛ́.sɛ̀/

From àrùn (“disease”) + rọ (“to paralyze, to cripple”) + ọmọ (“child”) + ní (“in”) + apá (“arm”) + rọ (“to paralyze, to cripple”) + ọmọ (“child”) + ní (“in”) + ẹsẹ̀ (“foot”), literally “Disease that cripples both the arms and feet of the child”.


ọsijin

/ɔ́.sí.d͡ʒĩ̀/

oxygen (chemical element, O, atomical number 8)


niturojini

/nĩ́.tú.ɾó.d͡ʒí.nĩ̀/

nitrogen (chemical element, N, atomical number 7)


Ilẹ Adulawọ

head

Ilẹ̀ Adúláwọ̀

Ilẹ̀ Adúláwọ̀

yo-pos

Ilẹ̀ Adúláwọ̀

Ilẹ̀ Adúláwọ̀

ilẹ̀ (“land”) + a (“one who”) + dú (“to be black”) + ní (“in”) + àwọ̀ (“skin”), "Land of the people with Black skin."


ọlẹ

From ọ- (“agent prefix”) + lẹ̀ (“to reproduce”).


ọlẹ

ọ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + lẹ (“to be idle, to be lazy”)


olukọ

From olù- (“non-productive agent prefix”) + kọ́ (“to teach”), literally “the one who teaches”.

Màmá mi kì í ṣe olùkọ.

Mo gbọ́ pé ẹ jẹ́ olùkọ́ ní Yunifásítì ti Ìbàdàn, ẹ sì ní ọmọ márùnún pẹ̀lú ọ̀kọ̀ yín.

1993 November 24, Antonia Yétúndé Fọlárìn Schleicher, Jẹ́ K'Á Sọ Yorùbá [Let's Speak Yoruba], Yale University Press, →ISBN, page 257:

I heard that you're a professor at the University of Ibadan and that you have five children with your husband.


ẹjẹ

Cognates include Igala ẹ̀bìẹ̀, ultimately proposed to have derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ̀-byɛ̀, equivalent *ɛ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + *byɛ̀. Compare Nupe egyà

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ẹ̀jẹ̀view map

amaráABIDERỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí-ÌjèỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí/ÌjèÌkpòbɛ́ɛ̀jɛ̀ABIDEROnigboloɛ̀jɛ̀ABIDERKétu/ÀnàgóKétuɛ̀jɛ̀ABIDERIfɛ̀Akpáréàm̀baraABIDERAtakpamɛàm̀baraABIDERBokoàm̀baraABIDEREst-MonoàmbaraABIDERMoretanàm̀baraABIDERTchettiàmbaraABIDERKuraAledjo-Kouraejɛ́ABIDERABIDERAwotébiejɛ́ABIDERABIDERPartagoejɛ́ABIDERABIDERMɔ̄kɔ́léKandiǹjɛ̀ABIDERABIDERNorthern NagoKamboleɛ̀jɛ̀ABIDERManigriɛ̀jɛ̀ABIDERSouthern NagoÌsakétéɛ̀jɛ̀ABIDERÌfànyìnɛ̀jɛ̀ABIDEROverseas YorubaLucumíHavanaejeABIDERNote: 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


ijimere

/ì.d͡ʒí.mè.ɾè/

compound

ìjí + mọ + èrè

Erythrocebus patas
Erythrocebus patas#Translingual


iṣẹju-aaya

/ì.ʃɛ́.d͡ʒú.àá.já/

From ìṣẹ́jú (“minute”) + àáyá (“the green monkey, Chlorocebus sabaeus, known for its speed”).


eṣi

Cognate with Igala èchí, perhaps a false cognate with Igbo echi (“tomorrow”)


ọwaara

precipitation, rain showers, sudden showers of rain


ẹrọ ayarabiaṣa

head

ẹ̀rọ ayárabíàṣá

ẹ̀rọ ayárabíàṣá

yo-pos

ẹ̀rọ ayárabíàṣá

ẹ̀rọ ayárabíàṣá

yo-noun

ẹ̀rọ ayárabíàṣá

ẹ̀rọ ayárabíàṣá

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ā.já.ɾā.bí.à.ʃá/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + a (“one who, that which is”) + yára (“to be fast”) + bí (“as, like”) + àṣá (“hawk”), literally “The machine as fast as a hawk”.


ayinrin

→ Ayere: ayinrin


ayinrin

A carnivorous animal similar to the fox that preys on fowl.


Mọdakẹkẹ

Onomatopoeic, From the sounds and calls of herons living in the area.


ẹrọ

ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rọ (“to manufacture using metal”), literally “That which is manufactured using metal”

ẹ̀rọ ìṣirò

calculator, mathematical computing device


bikita

(transitive) to care for, to have concern for


ẹrọ gbohungbohun

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ɡ͡bō.hũ̀.ɡ͡bō.hũ̀/

Reduplication of gbohùn (“to amplify a sound/voice”).


ẹrọ amuletutu

ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + a (“one who”) + mú (“to have an affect on”) + ilé (“house, home”) + tutù (“cool”), literally “Machine that cools the home”


ẹrọ asọrọmagbesi

head

ẹ̀rọ asọ̀rọ̀mágbèsì

ẹ̀rọ asọ̀rọ̀mágbèsì

yo-pos

ẹ̀rọ asọ̀rọ̀mágbèsì

ẹ̀rọ asọ̀rọ̀mágbèsì

yo-noun

ẹ̀rọ asọ̀rọ̀mágbèsì

ẹ̀rọ asọ̀rọ̀mágbèsì

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ā.sɔ̀.ɾɔ̀.má.ɡ͡bè.sì/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + a (“one who”) + sọ̀rọ̀ (“to talk”) + má (“do not”) + gbà (“to receive”) + èsì (“response”), literally “Machine that talks but does not receive a respond”.


ẹrọ agbeniroke

/ɛ̀.ɾɔ̄ ā.ɡ͡bé.nĩ̄.ɾò.kè/

From ẹ̀rọ (“machine”) + a- (“agent prefix”) + gbé (“to carry”) + ẹni (“person”) + rè (“to go”) + òkè (“top”), literally “Machine that carries a person to the top”.


atimọle

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + tì (“to lock”) + mọ́ (“into”) + ilé (“house; building”).

solitary confinement
solitary confinement

prison, detention centre, solitary confinement


Rọṣia

Russia (A transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and North Asia)


idunaadura

/ì.dú.nã̀ã́.dú.ɾà/

ì (“nominalizing prefix”) + dúnàádúrà (“to bargain, to negotiate”)


erongba

/è.ɾò.ŋ̀.ɡ͡bà/


dunaadura

From dú (“to argue, discuss”) + ìná (“spending”) + dú (“to argue, to discuss”) + ìrà (“buying”), "To discuss about spending and buying.".


inagijẹ

/ì.nã̄.ɡī.d͡ʒɛ̄/

Ṣàngó jẹ́ ìnagijẹ Aláàfin Ṣàngó ti Ọ̀yọ́, orúkọ àbísọ rẹ jẹ́ Arábam̄bí

The name Shango was a nickname of Shango the Alaafin of Oyo, his birth name was Arabambi

nickname, alias, a class of Yoruba names normally acquired later in life.


otente

From ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + téńté (“of an entity being located at the apex or climax”).


idije

/ì.dí.ꜜd͡ʒē/

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + da (“to organize”) + ìje (“race”)


alumọkọrọyi

head

àlùmọ̀kọ́rọ́yí

àlùmọ̀kọ́rọ́yí

yo-pos

àlùmọ̀kọ́rọ́yí

àlùmọ̀kọ́rọ́yí

yo-noun

àlùmọ̀kọ́rọ́yí

àlùmọ̀kọ́rọ́yí

/à.lù.mɔ̃̀.kɔ́.ɾɔ́.jí/

Borrowed from Arabic مَكْرُوه (makrūh), with a fused definite article.


ọda

ọ- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dá (“to be scarce”)


ọda

ọ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dà (“to pour”)


otitọ

From ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + títọ́ (“reduplication of tọ́ (“to be true”)”), literally “That which is true”

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - òtítọ́view map

òítọ́FALSE FRIENDOlùkùmiUgbódùọfọ̀tàFALSE FRIENDProto-YorubaCentral YorubaÈkìtìÈkìtìÀdó Èkìtìọ̀tị́tọ́FALSE FRIEND

ọ̀ị́tọ́FALSE FRIENDMọ̀bàỌ̀tùn Èkìtìọ̀tị́tọ́FALSE FRIEND

ọ̀ị́tọ́FALSE FRIENDIfẹ̀Ilé Ifẹ̀ọ̀títọ́FALSE FRIENDNorthwest YorubaÀwórìÈbúté Mẹ́tàòtítọ́FALSE FRIEND

òótọ́FALSE FRIENDÌwéré Iléòtítọ́FALSE FRIEND

òótọ́FALSE FRIENDStandard YorùbáNàìjíríàòtítọ́FALSE FRIEND

Southwest YorubaÌdàácàBeninIgbó Ìdàácàòtítɔ́FALSE FRIEND

èyítɔ́FALSE FRIENDIfɛ̀Akpáréòtítɔ́FALSE FRIENDAtakpamɛòtítɔ́FALSE FRIENDTchettiòtítɔ́FALSE FRIENDNote: 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


rogbodiyan

/ɾò.ɡ͡bò.dì.jã̀/


wolii

Borrowed from Hausa wàlî, ultimately from Arabic وَلِيّ (waliyy).


pọnun

Alternative form of pọ́n-ùn (“pound sterling, pound”)


wundia

Likely derived from Baatonum wɔndiɑ (“young woman”), compare with Zarma wandiya, Gourmanchéma wóndíáli (“virgin, virginity, hymen”), and Dendi wɔndiɑ. Displaced ọbuntun


gbedegbeyọ

/ɡ͡bé.dè.ɡ͡bé.jɔ̀/

gbọ́ (“to understand”) + èdè (“language, one's native dialect”) + gbọ́ (“to understand”) + ẹ̀yọ̀ (“Ẹ̀yọ̀ cultic language (which is almost unintelligible to Yoruba)”)

compound

interpreter, translator, a fluent speaker of a language, bilingual


ẹnu

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́-lʊ̃ or Proto-Yoruboid *á-rʊ̃ã. Cognates include Ifè arũ, Itsekiri arun, Igbo ọnụ (“mouth”), Igala álu (“mouth”), Ayere anu, Àhàn arũ, Akpes onu, Arigidi orũ, and Ewe nu (“mouth”)

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ẹnuview map

ẹruABERUNCATEẸ̀gbáAbẹ́òkútaẹrunABERUNCATEẸ̀gbádòÌjàkáẹnuABERUNCATEÈkóÈkóẹnuABERUNCATEÌbàdànÌbàdànẹnuABERUNCATEÌbọ̀lọ́ÒṣogboẹnuABERUNCATEÌgbómìnàÌfẹ́lódùn LGAarunABERUNCATEÌrẹ́pọ̀dùn LGAẹnuABERUNCATEÌsin LGAẹnuABERUNCATEÌlọrinÌlọrinẹnuABERUNCATEOǹkóÒtùẹnuABERUNCATEÌwéré IléẹnuABERUNCATEÒkèhòẹnuABERUNCATEÌsẹ́yìnẹnuABERUNCATEṢakíẹnuABERUNCATETedéẹnuABERUNCATEÌgbẹ́tìẹnuABERUNCATEỌ̀yọ́Ọ̀yọ́ẹnuABERUNCATEStandard YorùbáNàìjíríàẹnuABERUNCATEBɛ̀nɛ̀ɛnuABERUNCATENortheast Yoruba/OkunOwéKabbaarunABERUNCATEEde Languages/Southwest YorubaAnaSokodeanuABERUNCATECábɛ̀ɛ́Cábɛ̀ɛ́anuABERUNCATETchaourouanuABERUNCATEÌcàBantèanuABERUNCATEÌdàácàBeninIgbó ÌdàácàɔrunABERUNCATEỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí-ÌjèỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí/ÌjèÌkpòbɛ́ɛnuABERUNCATEOnigboloɛnuABERUNCATEKétu/ÀnàgóKétuɛnuABERUNCATEIfɛ̀AkpáréarũABERUNCATEAtakpamɛarũABERUNCATEBokoɔrũABERUNCATEMoretanarũABERUNCATETchettiarũABERUNCATEKuraAwotébiánɔ́ABERUNCATEABERUNCATEPartagoanɔABERUNCATEABERUNCATEMɔ̄kɔ́léKandiɡɛ́léABERUNCATENorthern NagoKamboleanuABERUNCATEABERUNCATEManigrianuABERUNCATEABERUNCATESouthern NagoÌsakétéɛnuABERUNCATEABERUNCATEÌfànyìnɛnuABERUNCATEABERUNCATEOverseas YorubaLucumíHavanaenuABERUNCATENote: 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


ọdun

Cognate with Ifè ɔɖɔ̃́, Igala ọ́dọ́ and Itsekiri ọdọ́n, proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ-dʊ̃́

ọdún ó yabo o!

wọ́n máa ń ṣe ọdún Igogo nílùú Ọ̀wọ̀ lọ́dọọdún láti ṣe ìrántí òrìṣà Ọ̀rọnṣẹ̀n tó jẹ́ aya Ọlọ́wọ̀ Rẹ̀nrẹ̀ngẹnjẹ̀n nígbà ìwásẹ̀

They hold the Igogo festival every year in remembrance of the deity Oronsen, who was the wife of King Renrengenjen in the past

festival, festivity, celebration, holiday


Ọlọfin

/ɔ̄.lɔ́.ꜜfĩ̄/

From oní- (“owner of”) + ọ̀fin (“palace”), literally “Owner of the palace”, compare with Aláàfin


Ọlọfin

/ɔ̄.lɔ́.ꜜfĩ̄/

the title of a king or ruler; equivalent to the title Aláàfin, most commonly used as in reference to Odùduwà when he was the Ọ̀ọ̀ni of Ile-Ife, also known as Ọlọ́fin Àdìmúlà

The title of several legendary founders of many Eastern Yoruba towns, such as Ìdànrè whom were later deified as local orisha.

(Idanre) a unisex given name, used by worshippers of the deity Ọlọ́fin. It also serves as a prefix for or shortening for longer given names


saraa

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


ọgbẹri

/ɔ̀.ɡ͡bɛ̀.ɾì/


erekuṣu

/ē.ɾé.kù.ʃù/


poporo

Noun sense derives from the ideophone sense

stalk of a plant, (in particular) cornstalk


takasufee

From tàka (“to snap”) + súfèé (“to whistle”).

beatboxing, hip-hop music, rap music, pop music


ẹdọforo

/ɛ̀.dɔ̀.fó.ɾó/

From ẹ̀dọ̀ (“liver”) + fóró (“the act of a light substance rushing in and out”).


ijalọ

/ì.d͡ʒà.lɔ̄/

From ìjà (“fighting”) + lọ (“going, traveling”).

affix

army ant or driver ant, such as those in the genus Dorylus


kindinrin

/kĩ́.dĩ̀.ɾĩ́/


abuubutan

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bù (“to dip out”) + àì- (“negating prefix”) + bù (“to dip out”) + tán (“to finish”), literally “scooping out without finish”


ilera

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + le (“to be firm”) + ara (“body”).


sobiya

Kí sòbìyà yóò bá dègbò, olúgàǹbe là á ké sí

Before guinea worm becomes a sore, it is the oluganbe plant that we will call too (proverb on tackling an issue before it gets out of hand)

(pathology, medicine) Guinea worm disease, dracunculiasis


ikin

The ọ̀pẹ̀lẹ̀ and ẹ̀rìndínlógún both serve similar purposes, with the ọ̀pẹ̀lẹ̀ being used for less formal situations and the ẹ̀rìndínlógún being used by aborisha that are not initiated into Ifá.

sacred palm nuts that are used as divination tools in the consulting of Ifa by babalawos. The using of the ikin is reserved for highly important ceremonies (such as during a Àkọsẹ̀jayé) and is how priests determine the signature of an odù Ifá.

Ṣọ́kinlójú

A Yoruba chieftancy title whose responsibility it is to keeps a close watch on the ikin


orooro

Cognate with Igala òlólò, Olukumi rírorò

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - òróòroview map

òróǹroABECEDARYEde Languages/Southwest YorubaIfɛ̀AkpáréòróòròABECEDARYAtakpamɛòróòròABECEDARYEst-MonoòróòròABECEDARYTchettiòróòròABECEDARYNote: 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


ọgba

wọ́n ra ọgbà yí oko náà ká

(by extension) a fenced enclosure, garden, park


ọgba

àsákú ni tọgbá

The act of running and suddenly stopping is that of the ogba snake

a type of yellow or brown non-venomous snake


digbolugi

From di ìgbò lu igi (“To collide into a standing tree (in reference to the erratic behavior of animals with rabies)”).


ọmọlanke

→ Hausa: amālanke

→ English: omolanke

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄.lā.ŋ̄.kē/


alupupu

From a- (“agent prefix”) + lù (“to beat”) + pùpù (“onomatopoeia”).


Ifabunmi

From Ifá (“Ifá, the deity Ọ̀rúnmìlà”) + bùn (“to give, to bless with”) + mi (“me”), "Ifá blessed me with this (child).".

compound

a male given name, meaning "The deity Ifa blessed me with this child"


Ifalọọrọ

/ī.fá.lɔ̀ɔ́.ɾɔ̀/

(Ekiti) a female given name, Alternative form of Ịfálọ̀ụ́rọ̀


Ifalaye

From Ifá (“Ifa, Yoruba god of prophecy, divination”) + à (“negation prefix”) + ní (“to have”) + ayè (“lie”), literally “Ifa does not harbour lies”

(Ekiti) a male given name meaning “Ifa does not harbour lies”

(Ekiti) a surname, from the given name Ifáláyè


gbọfungbọfun

/ɡ͡bɔ̀.fũ̄.ɡ͡bɔ̀.fũ̄/

Any form of pneumonitis or respiratory illness, such as whooping cough, pertussis, bronchitis.


ẹjẹ riru

/ɛ̀.d͡ʒɛ̀ ɾí.ɾū/

From ẹ̀jẹ̀ (“blood”) + ríru (“swelling”).


akunwọsilẹ

head

àkúnwọ́sílẹ̀

àkúnwọ́sílẹ̀

yo-pos

àkúnwọ́sílẹ̀

àkúnwọ́sílẹ̀

yo-noun

àkúnwọ́sílẹ̀

àkúnwọ́sílẹ̀

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + kún (“to fill”) + wọ́ (“to fall, to drizzle”) + sílẹ̀ (“to the ground”), literally “That which fills and then begins to drizzle over”


iwuri

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + wú (“to swell”) + orí (“head”), literally “To cause one's head to swell (in encouragement and pride)”


ifẹhonuhan

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fi (“to use”) + ẹ̀hónú (“grievance, complaint, concern”) + hàn (“to show”), literally “The act of expressing one's grievances”


ipilẹṣẹ

/ì.k͡pī.lɛ̀.ʃɛ̀/

From ìpilẹ̀ (“base, root”) + ṣẹ̀ (“to originate”), ultimately from ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + pa (“to open”) + ilẹ̀ (“ground, starting point”).

af

èdè Yorùbá jẹ́ ìpilẹ̀sẹ̀ àṣà Yorùbá

The Yoruba language is the foundation of the Yoruba culture


ajao

Perhaps from à- + jà + wò, its ability to fly often has it mistaken for a bird or the bat among Yoruba speakers

Àjàò, kò ṣe eku kò ṣe ẹyẹ

The flying mammal, it's not a rat and yet it's not a bird

rodents known as anomalures, (specifically) two species of rodent in genus Anomalurus that occur in Nigeria, Beecroft's flying squirrel (Anomalurus beecrofti) and Lord Derby's scaly-tailed squirrel (Anomalurus derbianus), not closely related to the better-known group of flying squirrels of the Sciuridae (squirrel) family


ulẹ

Cognates with Igala ìlẹ̀ (people, mankind), Yoruba ilẹ̀ (earth)


Ọjọru

/ɔ̄.d͡ʒɔ́.ɾú/

From ọjọ́ (“day”) + ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rú (“to disrupt, to upend”), literally “Day of confusion”.


Ọjọbọ

/ɔ̄.d͡ʒɔ́.bɔ̀/

From ọjọ́ (“day”) + bọ̀ (“to come, to arrive”), literally “Day has arrived or Day of arrival”.


ọjọ Iṣẹgun

head

ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun

ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun

yo-pos

ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun

ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun

yo-noun

ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun

ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun

/ɔ̄.d͡ʒɔ́ ì.ʃɛ́.ɡũ̄/

From ọjọ́ (“day”) + ìṣẹ́gun (“victory”), literally “Day of victory”.


ọjọ Abamẹta

head

ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta

ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta

yo-pos

ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta

ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta

yo-noun

ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta

ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta

/ɔ̄.d͡ʒɔ́ à.bá.mɛ́.tā/

From ọjọ́ (“day”) + àbá (“idea, suggestion”) + mẹ́ta (“three”), literally “Day of three resolutions”.


ọjọ Aiku

/ɔ̄.d͡ʒɔ́ à.ì.kú/

From ọjọ́ (“day”) + àì- (“negation suffix”) + kú (“to die”), literally “Day of Immortality”.


ọjọ Ẹti

/ɔ̄.d͡ʒɔ́ ɛ̄.tì/

From ọjọ́ (“day”) + ẹtì (“impossibility, difficulty”), literally “Day of impossibility, Day of controversy”.


ọjọ Aje

/ɔ̄.d͡ʒɔ́ ā.d͡ʒé/

From ọjọ́ (“day”) + ajé (“economic success, trade”), literally “The day of economic success”.


ọsẹ

ọ̀sẹ̀ Ifá

second day in the traditional 4-day Yoruba week

ọ̀sẹ̀ Jàkúta

fourth and final day in the traditional 4-day Yoruba week

ọ̀sẹ̀ Ọbàtálá

first day in the traditional 4-day Yoruba week

ọ̀sẹ̀ Ògún

third day in the traditional 4-day Yoruba week

day of the week in the traditional Yoruba 4-day week


ọsẹ

Adé á pẹ́ nórí, bàtà á pẹ́ nọ́sẹ̀

May the crown last long on the head, and the shoes long on the feet


ọwun

Alternative form of ọ̀wọ̀n (“Black-necked spitting cobra”)


Ọbaluaye

From ọba (“King, ruler”) + olú (“the prominent one, leader”) + ayé (“world”), literally “The King and leader of the World”.

af

Babalú-Ayé (god of disease, smallpox, healing, and health)


iyẹfun

powder, flour, sometimes specifically yam flour


Yemọja

→ Portuguese: Yemanjá, Iemanjá, Iemenjá

→ Spanish: Yemayá, Yemallá

→ English: Yemoja

Lucumí: Yemayá

/jē.mɔ̃̄.d͡ʒā/

From iye (“Mother”) + ọmọ (“child”) + ẹja (“fish”), literally “Mother of the fishes”, this etymology is also said to be a metaphor relating to the fact that Yemọja is a mother to children as numerous as all the fish of the oceans.

compound

A powerful river orisha of creation, water, fertility, motherhood, sometimes regarded as the adoptive mother of all the orisha. She is believed to be the spirit of the Ògùn river.


irẹsi

Borrowed from English rice. Doublet of ráìsì.


arun mẹdọwu

head

àrùn mẹ́dọ̀wú

àrùn mẹ́dọ̀wú

yo-pos

àrùn mẹ́dọ̀wú

àrùn mẹ́dọ̀wú

yo-noun

àrùn mẹ́dọ̀wú

àrùn mẹ́dọ̀wú

/à.ɾũ̀ mɛ́.dɔ̀.wú/

From àrùn (“disease”) + mú (“to make”) + ẹ̀dọ̀ (“liver”) + wú (“to swell”), literally “Disease that makes the liver swell”.


irinwo

(after a noun) four hundredth, number four

four hundred
four hundredth, number four


ọgbọn

Hypothesized to be from Proto-Edekiri *ɔ-gbã̀, Cognates include Edo ọgban, Itsekiri ọgban


ọgbọn

From ọ- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbọ́n (“to be wise”), compare with Nupe egbán


oogun

Likely from Contraction of ogùngùn, possibly derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ó-gũ̀, cognate with Igala ógwù and Igbo ọgwù

olóògùn

a supernatural man whom possess supernatural charms

ritual medicine, supernatural charms or spells, juju; sometimes used to inflict harm or death

ogbó kò lóògùn


oogun

Possibly from ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gígùn (“partial reduplication of gùn "to sweat"”). Ultimately, likely derived from Proto-Yoruboid *(ò)úgwṵ̀, likely formed from *ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + *gwṵ̀ (“to sweat”), cognate with Igala úgwù.


rikiṣi

Borrowed from Hausa rìkicī (“deceit, intrigue, cheat”).


anfaani

/à.ŋ̀.fàà.nĩ́/

Borrowed from Hausa anfani (“profit, to gain advantage”), cognate with Baatonum arufãani and Nupe àǹfàni.


Ọbaala

From ọba (“king, father”) + lá (“to be large, mighty”), literally “Mighty king; Mighty father”.

compound

(Ekiti) A senior chieftaincy title in the royal council of many Eaatern Yoruba kingdoms


gbe

Ẹ bá mi gbé Jésù ga.

(transitive) to carry; to lift
(transitive) to exalt

Ẹ jẹ́ a gbé e yẹ̀ wò.

Wá gbé àpò yìí sí yàrá ìyá ẹ.

Come and take this bag to your mum's room.

Dáńfó yẹn ń gbé èèyàn lọ sí Muṣin

That Danfo is transporting people to Mushin

(transitive) to carry; to lift
to take; to transport

Gbé fóònù sórí tébù.

Gbé dígí ẹ sójú, kí o lè kà á dáadáa.

Put on your glasses so you can read it well

Wárápá gbé Ṣadé.

Ṣadé had epilepsy. (literally, “Epilepsy overcame Ṣadé”)

Oorun ti gbé e lọ.

She's fast asleep. (literally, “Sleep has overcome her.”)

(transitive) to carry; to lift
(transitive) to overcome; to overpower

to carry; to lift
to overcome; to overpower

Àpọ́n ṣì ni o, kò ì tíì gbé ìyàwó.

He's still single o, he hasn't yet married a bride.

Gbígbé ni mo gbé e.

Ràkúnmí ò lè gbé ẹrù yín, ẹ̀ ìbá fi í sílẹ̀.

A camel cannot carry your luggage, you should've left it.


gbe

Bàbá mi gbé ní Amẹ́ríkà fúngbà díẹ̀.

My dad lived in the US for a short while.

Ilé tí Bọ́lá ń gbé ò tóbi tó.

The house Bọ́lá lives in isn't big enough.

Abíọ́dún ò gbé nílùú Ìbàdàn mọ́, Èkó ló ń gbé.

Abiodun doesn't live in Ibadan anymore, she lives in Lagos.

Àìná gbélé pẹ̀tẹ́ẹ̀sì.


gbe

Òrìṣà, bí o ò bá lè gbè mí, ṣe mí bí o ti bá mi

Orisha, if you cannot support me, leave me as you met me.

Òwò kan ò lè gbe gbogbo èèyàn.

A single business cannot support everyone.

Ìṣẹ̀ṣe á gbè wá o!

Iṣẹ́ olùkọ́ ò lè gbè mí.

Iṣẹ́ náà gbè mí

(intransitive) to be favorable, to be profitable


gbe

orin tí kò ṣòroó dá kò níí ṣòroó gbè

A song that is not difficult to sing will not be difficult to sing a refrain for (proverb on easy handling or response)


gbe

ẹja yìí gbè

to be spoiled, to be in an unsatisfactory condition or state


gbe

ọmọ yìí jókòó gbè mí

to be next or adjacent to something, to be a successor to something (literally next in line)


gbe

Ibẹ̀ la gbé ń ṣeré wa.

Ṣáínà ni wọ́n gbé ṣe é.

Níbo lo gbé rà á?


ụgbade

/ʊ̀.ɡ͡bà.dè/

(obsolete, Àkúrẹ́) porch, balcony, veranda


njẹ

Placed before a sentence to make it a yes-no question.


pẹja

/k͡pɛ̄.d͡ʒā/


Joṣua

a male given name originating from the Bible


Igbara-oke

/ì.ɡ͡bà.ɾà.ò.kè/

Local folk etymology states it originates from Àìgbàrà (“Aigbara forest”) + òkè (“mountain, north”), literally “The northern part of the Aigbara forest”, compare with Ìgbàrà-Odò, sister town of Igbara-Oke

Ilara-Mokin (an Ekiti Yoruba town in Ifedore, Ondo, Nigeria)


miliiki gbẹrẹfu

/mĩ́.líì.kì ɡ͡bɛ̄.ɾɛ̄.fū/


baba baba

Reduplication of bàbá (“father's father”).

reduplication

paternal grandfather
paternal grandfather


baba iya

From bàbá (“father”) + ìyá (“mother”), "Mother's father".

maternal grandfather
maternal grandfather


ijọba

/ì.d͡ʒɔ̄.bā/

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jọba (“to rule, to govern”), ultimately from jẹ (“to be”) + ọba + [Term?] (“ruler, king”).


pẹjapẹja

/k͡pɛ̄.d͡ʒā.k͡pɛ̄.d͡ʒā/

Reduplication of pẹja (“to kill fish”), literally "fish killer".


eso ajara

/è.sō à.d͡ʒà.ɾà/

From èso (“fruit”) + àjàrà (“vine”), literally “vine fruit”.


apẹja

/ā.k͡pɛ̄.d͡ʒā/

a- (“agent prefix”) + pẹja (“to kill fish, to fish”), literally “One who fishes”


gbaguuda

/ɡ͡bá.ɡùú.dá/


rẹkorẹko

/ɾɛ́.kó.ɾɛ́.kó/

Reduplication of rẹ́kó (“to smear the penis”, literally “that which smears the penis (with sores)”)


Ajalemogun

Many folk etymologies attempt to explain the origin of the name, such as Blend of ajá (“dog”) + ni (“is”) + mọ̀ (“to know”) + Ògún (“Ogun”), literally “It is the dog that knows Ògún”. Compare with Ìrèmògún, Ẹkímògún

blend

(Ekiti) an Earth spirit (imọlẹ̀) or orisha. He is the guardian spirit of the town of Ìlárá-Mọ̀kín and other Èkìtì towns

(by extension) a festival held in honor of Àjàlémògún.


ọọdunrun

/ɔ̀ɔ́.dṹ.ɾṹ/

From ọ̀rún (“one hundred”) + dín (“to subtract”) + ní (“in”) + irín (“four hundred”), "One hundred subtracted from four hundred.".

compound

(after a noun) three hundredth, number 300

three hundred
three hundredth, number 300


lọya

Má lọ́yà mi

(transitive) to unnecessarily argue, to interrogate


agbẹjọro

/ā.ɡ͡bɛ̄.d͡ʒɔ́.ɾò/

From a- (agent prefix) + gbà (“to take”) + ẹjọ́ (“law”) + rò (“to think about, consider”).

affix

Agbẹjọ́rò ìjọba

lawyer, advocate, barrister, counsel, solicitor


ipolowo

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + polówó (“to proclaim”).


polowo

From pè (“to call”) + olówó (“one with money, a person with money”).


ẹkọ ile

/ɛ̀.kɔ́ ī.lé/


akikaragba

(Ekiti) a broken calabash, a broken plate, a badly damaged dish no longer suitable for eating.


ọmọ ile iwe

/ɔ̄.mɔ̃̄ ī.lé ì.wé/

From ọmọ (“child”) + ilé-ìwé (“school”), literally “School child”.


mudunmudun

Compare with Ifè mɔ̀nɔ̀mɔ́nɔ̀, ultimately of ideophonic or onomatopoeic origin.

cog

mɔ̀nɔ̀mɔ́nɔ̀

Ifè mɔ̀nɔ̀mɔ́nɔ̀

any soft internal organ or body part
(anatomy) bone marrow, marrow

any soft internal organ or body part
bone marrow, marrow

any soft internal organ or body part
(anatomy) brain

any soft internal organ or body part
brain


Kabiyesi

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

blend

A term of address for royalty and kings, equivalent to the term His Majesty or Her Majesty.


upepe

(Ekiti) A bench or seat made from mud and clay attached to the floor of a traditional Ekiti home

(Ekiti) The living room or passageway of a traditional Ekiti home


ile ẹkọ

/ī.lé ɛ̀.kɔ́/


afẹmọjumọ

head

àfẹ̀mọ́júmọ́

àfẹ̀mọ́júmọ́

yo-pos

àfẹ̀mọ́júmọ́

àfẹ̀mọ́júmọ́

yo-noun

àfẹ̀mọ́júmọ́

àfẹ̀mọ́júmọ́

/à.fɛ̀.mɔ̃́.d͡ʒú.mɔ̃́/

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fẹ̀rẹ̀ (“almost”) + mọ́ (“reach”) + ojúmọ́ (“dawn”), literally “That which is almost dawn”.


ilọwọọrọ

head

ìlọ́wọ́ọ́rọ́

ìlọ́wọ́ọ́rọ́

yo-pos

ìlọ́wọ́ọ́rọ́

ìlọ́wọ́ọ́rọ́

yo-noun

ìlọ́wọ́ọ́rọ́

ìlọ́wọ́ọ́rọ́

/ì.lɔ́.wɔ́ɔ́.ɾɔ́/


oniṣegun

/ō.nĩ́.ʃè.ɡũ̀/

From oní- (“owner of, one who”) + ṣe (“to do”) + òògùn (“medicine”), literally “One who does medicine”.


Isobo

Ùsòbò

Ìkálẹ̀, Oǹdó


atẹlẹọ

/à.tɛ́.lɛ̄.ɔ́/

(Ekiti) Alternative form of àtẹ́lẹwọ́ (“palm”)


Ajari

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jà (“to fight”) + rí (“to see”), literally “One who fought to be seen”, compare with Àjàyí

af

(Ekiti) a unisex given name given to children born facing downwards

(Ekiti) A unisex oríkì name given to children born facing downwards


ekikanna

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Edekiri *ɛ̀-kɪ́kɪ̃ã́nã́, *ɛ̀-kɪ́kɪ̃ã́lã́

inh

*ɛ̀-kɪ́kɪ̃ã́nã́


atawe

From a- (“agent prefix”) + tàwé (“to sell books”).

prefix

Atàwé ni Ọgbẹni Láwànì. Ó ngba làádà ìdá-ọrún 5 lórí ọjà-títà. Èló ni làádà rẹ lórí ọjà-títà N30,000.00

2015?, Fakinlede K, “MONEY: COMMISSION AND DISCOUNT OWÓ: LÀÁDÀ ÀT’ẸDÍNWÓ”, in Yoruba Science and Technology Encyclopedia:

Mr. Lawani sells books. He earns 5% commission on sales. How much does he earn on sales of N30,000.00?


ọgụnrụn ọọ

head

ọ̀gụ̀nrụ̀n ọọ́

ọ̀gụ̀nrụ̀n ọọ́

yo-pos

ọ̀gụ̀nrụ̀n ọọ́

ọ̀gụ̀nrụ̀n ọọ́

yo-noun

ọ̀gụ̀nrụ̀n ọọ́

ọ̀gụ̀nrụ̀n ọọ́

/ɔ̀.ɡʊ̃̀.ɾʊ̃̀ ɔ̄.ɔ́/

From ọ̀gụ̀nrụ̀n (“neck, joint”) + ọọ́ (“hand”), literally “neck of the hand”


edidu

è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dídú (“partial reduplication of dú "to be black"”), literally “That which is black”

af

(Ekiti) Alternative form of èédú (“charcoal, coal”)


tanganran

/tã́.ɡã̄.ɾã̄/

*Onomatopoeic, from the sound which the plate makes when it is either put on concrete floor or when it breaks as a result of being dashed to the concrete floor
*Possibly from Hausa tamgaram (“glass dish”)


ọọ

(Ekiti) Alternative form of ọwọ́ (“hand”)


ọọ

Proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ́-wɔ̀


irọri

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rọ̀ (“to be soft, to be tender, to feel at ease”) + orí (“head”), literally “That which is tender to the head”.


ipolongo

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + polon̄go (“to proclaim, to announce”)


mangoro

/má.ŋ́.ɡò.ɾò/

Borrowed from Portuguese manga, cognate with Hausa mangoro.


karọọti

/ká.ɾɔ́ɔ̀.tì/


ogiri

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ògiriview map

ìgànnáABIETINEde Languages/Southwest YorubaIfɛ̀AkpáréàŋgĩrĩABIETINAtakpamɛàŋgĩrĩABIETINEst-MonoàŋgĩrĩABIETINTchettiàŋgĩrĩABIETINNote: 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


ogiri

Fermented egusi seeds used as a seasoning in soups and stews

A soup made from fermented and cooked egusi seeds


turari

From Hausa tùrā̀rē, cognate with Chakali túlààdí.

Commiphora myrrha
Commiphora myrrha#Translingual

the trees Commiphora africana and Commiphora myrrha, of which their dried sap is used to make myrrh


tawe-tawe

Kò pẹ́ kò jìnnà, ìlú Antwerp ti ọ̀rúndún kẹrìndínlógún wá di ilé fún àwọn òǹtẹ̀wé, òǹṣèwé, àtàwọn tàwétàwé tí iye wọ́n jẹ́ igba ó lé mọ́kànléláàádọ́rin [271]

2002?, “Ibi Ìsádi Fún Títẹ Bíbélì”, in ÀKÁ ÌWÉ ORÍ ÍŃTÁNẸ́Ẹ̀TÌ ti Watchtower:

Before long, 16th-century Antwerp was the home of 271 printers, publishers, and booksellers.


ẹlẹha

oní (“owner of, one has”) + ẹ̀ (“nominalizing prefix”) + hà (“to be hidden, to be locked away”), "One who is hidden."


atumọ-ede

From atúmọ̀ (“one that interprets or defines utterances”) + èdè (“language”), literally “one that gives the meanings of languages”.

compound

Ẹ sí ìwé atúmọ̀-èdè yín.


ọrọ-orukọ

/ɔ̀.ɾɔ̀.ō.ɾú.kɔ̄/

From ọ̀rọ̀ (“word”) + orúkọ (“name”), literally “naming word”.

Àpètúnpè ọ̀rọ̀-orúkọ

Lédè Hébérù, ọ̀rọ̀ orúkọ tí a túmọ̀ sí “èéhù” tọ́ka sí ‘ohun tó rú, ọ̀mùnú, tàbí ẹ̀ka.’

(Can we date this quote?), “Jèhófà Ọlọ́run Ṣàánú Àṣẹ́kù Kan”, in ÀKÁ ÌWÉ ORÍ ÍŃTÁNẸ́Ẹ̀TÌ ti Watchtower:

The Hebrew noun rendered “sprout” refers to ‘that which springs up, a shoot, a branch.’


Ajewọle

Ajé (“the deity of wealth and economic enterprise”) + wọlé (“to enter”), literally “The deity Ajé has entered the house”

a male given name, meaning The deity Ajé has entered the household.


Aje

The orisha of wealth, economic enterprise, business, economic success in the Yoruba religion, believed to be a daughter of Olókun.

Ajédọlá

Yoruba name, meaning "Ajé has become honor

Ajéwọlé

Yoruba name, meaning "Ajé has entered the household


adagba

(Ekiti) a wide shallow pan or pot, used for frying foods like akara


Ọlamiọbọ

/ɔ.lá.mɪ̃́.ɔ̀.bɔ́/

From Blend of ọlá (“honor, prestige”) + mí (“my”) + ọ̀ (“negation prefix”) + bọ́ (“to fall, to drop, to leave”), literally “My honor did not fall off”.

blend

(Ekiti) a female given name meaning “My honor did not fall away, My honor did not leave me”


ọla

From ọ- (“nominalizing prefix”) + là (“to be rich”), cognate with Igala ùrà


ọla

Ọ̀la

name given to a child born after one called Òní


Taiwo

From tọ́ (“to taste”) + ayé (“the world, life”) + wò (“to try”), literally “To taste life first”
*This comes from a Yoruba story in which it is believed the first twin is sent to the world first by its older sibling (Kẹ́hìndé) to see if the world is good to enter.

compound

orúkọ àmútọ̀runwá
orukọ amutọrunwa#Yoruba

a unisex given name, an orúkọ àmútọ̀runwá given to the first child in a set of twins or triplet


baọlọji

/bà.ɔ́.lɔ́.d͡ʒì/

Àwọn sáyẹ́ǹsì-bàọ́lọ́jì


alarabara

From oní- (“one who has”) + àràbarà (“remarkable”), ultimately from àrà (“wonder”) + -bí- (“infix”) + àrà (“wonder”).


afara oyin

/ā.fá.ɾá ō.jĩ̄/


ọpọlọ okun

head

ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ òkun

ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ òkun

yo-pos

ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ òkun

ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ òkun

yo-noun

ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ òkun

ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ òkun

/ɔ̀.k͡pɔ̀.lɔ́ ò.kũ̄/

From ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ (“toad”) + òkun (“sea”). Literally ‘‘sea toad’’.


ọna

A prefix used in Yoruba given names and surnames.


ọna

Possibly from ọ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + nà (“to extend, to stretch out”), cognate with Igala ọ̀ọ́nà


ọna

(Ketu) Alternative form of àná (“yesterday”)


ọkada

1990s, from the now defunct Nigerian airline, Okada Air, nicknamed so because they could maneuver through the heavy traffic of Lagos and take passengers to their destinations in a timely manner, in the same way as the airline. Term originates from the Ẹ̀dó town of Okada.


ọpẹ-oyinbo

head

ọ̀pẹ̀-òyìnbó

ọ̀pẹ̀-òyìnbó

yo-pos

ọ̀pẹ̀-òyìnbó

ọ̀pẹ̀-òyìnbó

yo-noun

ọ̀pẹ̀-òyìnbó

ọ̀pẹ̀-òyìnbó

ọ̀pẹ̀ (“palm tree”) + òyìnbó (“European”), literally “palm from the Europeans”.


gbolohun

From gbó (“to de developed”) + ní (“in”) + ohùn (“sound”)


laraarọ

/lá.ɾàá.ɾɔ̀/

Contraction of ní àràárọ̀ (“every morning”)


mariwo

→ Portuguese: mariô

palm frond (in particular) young unwilted palm fronds tied around the body at festivals, such as the Ọlọ́jọ́ festival, by Ògún worshippers.

raffia, (in particular) the dried fronds of the raffia palm


ọrọ-iṣe

/ɔ̀.ɾɔ̀.ì.ʃē/

From ọ̀rọ̀ (“word”) + ìṣe (“action”), literally “action word”.

compound

Kí ni ìtumọ̀ ọ̀rọ̀-ìṣe èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sí "to meet"?

What is the meaning of the English verb, "to meet"?

Oriṣìí Ọ̀rọ̀-ìṣe (Verb Types)
Oríṣìí ọ̀rọ̀-ìṣe (verb) mẹ́ta ni ó wà. Àwọn náà ni aláìgbàbọ̀ (intransitive), asopọ̀ (linking) àti agbàbọ̀ (transitive).

2015 April 27, L.O. Adéwọlé, “Gírámà Gẹ̀ẹ́sì fún Àwọn Alákọ̀ọ́bẹ̀rẹ̀ (English Grammar for Beginners) - Ìdánilẹ́kọ̀ọ́ Kejì (Second Lecture)”, in Yoruba for Academic Purpose:

Verb Types
There are three types of verbs. They are intransitive verbs, linking verbs, and transitive verbs.

Inú ọ̀rọ̀ ìṣe èdè Hébérù tó túmọ̀ sí “láti di” ni orúkọ náà, Jèhófà ti wá.

(Can we date this quote?), “Orúkọ Ọlọ́run Nínú Ìwé Mímọ́ Lédè Hébérù”, in ÀKÁ ÌWÉ ORÍ ÍŃTÁNẸ́Ẹ̀TÌ ti Watchtower:

The name Jehovah comes from a Hebrew verb that means “to become.”


ọpẹ

Cognate with Itsekiri ọkpẹ́. Compare with Gun okpɛ́, Fon kpɛ́, Saxwe Gbe ɛkpɛ́, Western Xwla Gbe ɛkpɛ́, Ewe akpé, Adja akpe


ọpẹ

Compare with Olukumi ọ̀kpẹ̀, Igala ẹ̀kpẹ̀, possibly related to Edo òkpe (“palm wine tapper”)


owo oṣu

From owó (“money”) + oṣù (“month”). Literally ‘‘month money’’.


owo ori

From owó (“money”) + orí (“head”), literally “head money”.


Ulaa

Contraction of Ùlárá, from ulé (“home”) + ará (“Ará people, family”).

compound

(Ekiti) Ilara-Mọkin, (a Yoruba town in Nigeria).


kọkọrọ

/kɔ́.kɔ́.ɾɔ́/


Epo

(historical) the southwest division of the old Ọ̀yọ́ empire consisting of the Ẹ̀gbá people and the towns Ìbàdàn and Ìjàyè


isinmi

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + sinmi (“to rest”).


Ileya

Likely from Hausa layya (“Eid al-Adha, sacrificing a ram”). A common folk etymology links it to ilé (“house”) + yá (“to be ready”), literally “It is time to return to the house”.


ọkanjuwa

/ɔ̀.kã́.d͡ʒú.wà/


kanwun

From Hausa kanwā, cognate with Igbo àkanwụ.

Alternative form of kán-ún (“rocksalt; potash”)

Alternative form of kán-ún (“potassium”)


ṣingọọmu

/ʃĩ̄.ɡɔ́ɔ̀.mũ̀/


papoda

From pa ipò dà (“to switch from life to death”, literally “to switch position”).


akunyungba

/ā.kũ̀.jũ̀.ɡ͡bà/

From a- (“agent prefix”) + kùn (“to hum, grumble”) + yùngbà (“yungba poetry”)

af

female royal court bards or poets who primarily sing the poetry form of ikin and yùngbà in entertainment and praise for the king


ṣalaisi

Contraction of ṣe aláìsí, from ṣe (“to do, to make”) + oní- (“one who has”) + àì- (“negation prefix”) + sí (“to exist”), literally “to do the act of no longer existing”.


lojoojumọ

/ló.d͡ʒōō.d͡ʒú.mɔ̃́/

Contraction of ní ojoojúmọ́ (“every day”)


ojumọ

/ō.d͡ʒú.mɔ̃́/

From ojú (“surface, face”) + mọ́ (“clear”), literally “the surface (of the day) is clear”


ojoojumọ

/ō.d͡ʒōō.d͡ʒú.mɔ̃́/


lọtun-un-la

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

contraction

Kí lo fẹ́ ṣe lọ́tùn-ún-la?

What do you want to do the day after tomorrow?


ọka

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ́-kà (“millet, sorghum”), from Proto-Volta-Niger *kà, ultimately reconstructed to Proto-Volta-Congo *-ka. Cognate with Igbo ọkà (“corn”), Yekhee ọ̀ka (“corn”), Urhobo ọ́ka (“corn”), Igala ọ́kà (“millet”), and Edo ọ́ka (“corn”), Ayere ɛkà


ọka

From ọ- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ká (“to coil”).


rin-ọn

(Ekiti), their Alternative form of wọn (“(third-person plural possessive pronoun)”)


ojiji

/ò.d͡ʒì.d͡ʒī/

Cognate with Igala òjìji, Ayere àyèyè, Olukumi òzìnzìn


ojiji

/ò.d͡ʒī.d͡ʒì/


ojiji

/ò.d͡ʒí.d͡ʒí/

electric eel, fish with electric properties


rin-in

(Ekiti, Ijesha) your, Alternative form of yín (“(second-person plural or honorific possessive pronoun)”)


kuuṣẹ

→ Krio: kushɛ

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


alaamu

Gbogbo aláàmù l'ó danú délẹ̀, a kò mọ èyí tí inú ń run.

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

All lizards lie down on their bellies, we do not know whose bellies ache (proverb on personal sorrow).


Jepaani

/d͡ʒè.k͡páà.nĩ̀/


ami ohun

/à.mĩ̀ ō.hũ̀/

From àmì (“sign, symbol, marking”) + ohùn (“tone”).

Ẹ fi àmì ohùn s'órí "orilẹ-ede".
"Orílẹ̀-èdè": re-mí-dò-dò-dò.
Put the tone marks on the word "orilẹ-ede (country)".
"Orílẹ̀-èdè (country)": mid-high-low-low-low.

2019 November 28, “Yorùbá tone mark: Fífi àmì ohùn sí orí ọ̀rọ̀ Yorùbá ṣe pàtàkì. [Yoruba tone marks: Putting tone marks on Yoruba words is important.]”, in BBC Yorùbá:


afonifoji

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


tafatafa

Reduplication of tafà, extended definition, ta (“to shoot”) + ọfà (“arrow”)


ijakadi

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jàkadì (“to wrestle”)

affix

Ìjàkadì lorò Ọ̀fà


ọfa

ọ- (“non-gerundive nominalizer”) + fà (“to draw back, to pull (back)”), literally “That which is drawn”


alifabẹẹti

head

álífábẹ́ẹ̀tì

álífábẹ́ẹ̀tì

yo-pos

álífábẹ́ẹ̀tì

álífábẹ́ẹ̀tì

yo-noun

álífábẹ́ẹ̀tì

álífábẹ́ẹ̀tì


ọkẹ

Numeral sense derived from noun sense, as one ọ̀kẹ́ (bag), contained around twenty thousand cowries.


ọkẹ

Ọ̀kẹ́

Yoruba name, given to a child born with its amniotic sac intact via a en-caul birth

a bag, or sac, usually containing cowries


Aburahamu

a male given name, equivalent to English Abraham


agbelebuu

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbé (“to carry”) + lé (“to place on”) + ìbú (“breadth”).


abidi

From the names of the first three letters as pronounced aloud.

mo ti kọ́ abídí i Yorùbá sí orí


eluju

(Ekiti) Alternative form of ẹ̀lùjù (“savanna, forest, wilderness”)


atorin

a type of long whip or cane, derived from the àtòrìn plant


egbigbo

/è.ɡ͡bì.ɡ͡bò/

(Ekiti) Alternative form of egbò (“root”)


dẹdẹrẹkun

head

dẹ̀dẹ̀rẹ́kún

dẹ̀dẹ̀rẹ́kún

yo-pos

dẹ̀dẹ̀rẹ́kún

dẹ̀dẹ̀rẹ́kún

yo-noun

dẹ̀dẹ̀rẹ́kún

dẹ̀dẹ̀rẹ́kún

dẹ̀dẹ̀rẹkùn (canonical)
dẹ̀dẹ̀rẹ́kún (canonical)

/dɛ̀.dɛ̀.ɾɛ̄.kʊ̃̀/

/dɛ̀.dɛ̀.ɾɛ́.kʊ̃́/


Egigun

Contraction of Egúngún. Cognate with Igala Égwú.
Proposed to be a Doublet of Ògún


lukuluku

An Onomatopoeic description of the way a disease quickly strikes and kills the infected

(Ekiti) a term for extremely deadly childhood diseases, such as bird flu


igbi

Ìgbì ayé kò ní gbé wa lọ.

The wave of life shall not carry us away.


adogan

A traditional Yoruba stove or stand often used in outside cooking


aigbe

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yí (“to turn, revolve, shift”) + gbè (“to support a position”)

af

Alternative form of àyígbè (“wooden bar used for locking or barricading a door”)


agbala

From à- + gbà + lá (“to be big”), the "gbà" root likely related to ọgbà (“fence, garden”)


kereyọọnu

/kē.ɾē.jɔ́ɔ̀.nũ̀/


ẹrun

Cognate with Olukumi ẹrun, Owé Yoruba arun, Èkìtì Yoruba ẹrụn, Oǹdó Yoruba ẹun, Yoruba ẹnu, and Igbo ọ́nú, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́-lʊ̃.
See Standard Yorùbá entry ẹnu for other terms used in the Yoruboid linguistic continuum.


panapana

Reduplication of paná (“to extinguish a fire”), literally "fire extinguisher".


yọyinyọyin

Reduplication of yọyín (“to extract teeth”, literally “tooth remover”)


gbẹrẹfuutu

/ɡ͡bɛ̄.ɾɛ̄.fúù.tù/


ọrọwa

a central large inward-facing, typically open roof, hall or courtyard that serves as the main connective and activity space for a dwelling.

(Ekiti) The center location of a traditional Èkìtì/Central Yorùbá home, consisting of a bathtub structure that is over an open hole in the house that collects water. Analogous to the Roman impluvium.


ogun abẹle

/ō.ɡũ̄ ā.bɛ́.lé/

ogun (“war”) + abẹ́ (“under”) + ilé (“house, home”)


Ọwọrin

/ɔ̀.wɔ́.ɾĩ́/

Alternative form of Ọ̀wọ́nrín (“The sixth chapter of the odù Ifá”)


ira kunnugba

/ì.ɾá kũ̀.nũ̀.ɡ͡bá/


saafula

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

der

Arabic ٱسْتِغْفَار (stiḡfār)

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

One woman in the crowd then exclaimed loudly.

An exclamation used to denote excitedness.


darandaran

/dā.ɾã̄.dā.ɾã̄/

Reduplication of daran (“to herd animals”, literally “Animal herder”)


darandaran

/dá.ɾã̀.dá.ɾã̀/

Reduplication of dáràn (“to cause trouble”, literally “One who causes trouble”)


Alaba

Possibly from à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + là (“to be wealthy, rich”) + bá (“to meet, to come with, to fit”), literally “That who is wealthy has met the rest of the children” or à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + là (“to overtake”) + bá (“to meet, to come with, to fit”), literally “Someone who is overtaken or overtakes after some pursuit”. Both of these refer to the fact that Àlàbá is the second child after a set of twins.

af

a unisex given name, an orúkọ àmútọ̀runwá given to the second child born after twins, born after a child named Ìdòwú


Kirisẹndọmu

/kī.ɾī.sɛ́.ŋ́.dɔ̀.mũ̀/


Deji

→ Edo: Udezi

Unclear, several folk etymologies exist. A common folk etymology claims it comes from the phrase "ọwá fadé yìí jì ọ", ultimately from ọwá (“king”) + fi (“to use”) + adé (“crown”) + yìí (“this”) + jì (“to gift, to entrust”), literally “The King gifted you a crown”.
* The title Déjì replaced the original title Àjàpadà. The story attached to this phrase comes from a future Déjì of Àkúrẹ́ being gifted a crown by his grandfather, usually attributed to the Ọwá Òbòkun (king of Ilesha Kingdom), and the title become a nickname that later developed into the title. The story of a grandfather-king giving his future king-grandson is a common story in Yorùbá folklore, see Asunkúngbadé.
Also possibly from Edo Udezi (“leopard hunter”)

compound

the title of the traditional ruler of the town of Àkúrẹ́.


kuromiọmu

/kú.ɾó.mĩ́.ɔ̃̀.mũ̀/

chromium (chemical element, Cr, atomical number 24)


fanadiọmu

vanadium (chemical element, V, atomical number 23)


abẹtẹlẹ

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bẹ̀ (“to beg”) + tẹ́lẹ̀ (“before”), literally “prior begging”.

af

Mi ò kí ń gbàbẹ̀tẹ́lẹ̀.


oṣe

The double-headed axe of the orisha Ṣàngó, often represented in statues and figurines of Ṣàngó, similar to a labrys.

Bámgbóṣé

A Yoruba name meaning, "Help me carry Ṣàngó's oṣé


oṣe

ọmọ oṣè kan mèyìn tị̀ là

The child of the baobab tree one rests on to succeed/survive


oṣe

hissing, the act of hissing, the act of sucking one's teeth


lameyitọ

From ọlá (“honor”) + mọ̀ (“to know”) + èyí (“the one”) + tó (“that”) + tọ́ (“to be truthful”), literally “Honor knows that which is true”.


Isikiẹli

a male given name originating from the Bible


Sitefanu

Borrowed from English Stephen and English Steven.


Eṣu

→ English: Eshu

→ Portuguese: Exu

→ Portuguese: exu

→ Krio: eshu

Etymology is unclear, some propose it may come from è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣù (“to bring together, to harmonize”), literally “The one who allows for coexistence”, though this may simply be a folk etymology.
* This is said to refer to the role of Èṣù as an intermediary between the evil and good forces of the universe.
Compare with Edo Èsù, Ede Idaca Èchù, Itsekiri Èṣù

Èṣúbíyìí

Yoruba name meaning, Èṣù gave birth to this child

Èṣù Láàlú, Èṣù Ọdàrà, Èṣù elépolẹ́nu; Èṣù Láàlú, Ògiri-òkò! ― Eshu Láàlú, Èṣù Ọdàrà, Èṣù who has red oil on his mouth; Èṣù Láàlú, the stone wall! (oríkì Èṣù)

The orisha and primordial divinity (irúnmọlẹ̀) of judgement, trickery, crossroads, and the messenger of Olódùmarè in the Yoruba religion. He is believed to epitomize the duality of goodness and malevolence, and is the intermediary between humanity and the evil forces, the Ajogun.


ọṣọ

Ọmọ́tọ́ṣọ̀ọ́

Yoruba name, "The child is worth ornaments."


imọlẹ

/ī.mɔ̃̄.lɛ̀/

i- (“nominalizing prefix”) + mọ (“to mold, to shape”) + ilẹ̀ (“land”), literally “The creators of the land”, compare with Itsekiri umalẹ̀, if the term existed in Proto-Yoruboid, perhaps it was Proto-Yoruboid *ʊ́-mɔlɛ̀

ugbómọlẹ̀

forbidden forest, forest inhabited by the imọlẹ̀

primordial spirits or energies in Ìṣẹ̀ṣe. The first four hundred and one of these spirits who were sent to Earth are regarded as the irúnmọlẹ̀. Humans chosen or inhabited by the imọlẹ̀ are known as òrìṣà

Àjàlémògún jẹ́ imọlẹ̀ tí ìlú Ìlárá-Mọ̀kín

Àjàlémògún is the patron earth spirit of the town of Ilara-Mokin

earth spirit, ancient ancestor (that are worshipped)


imọlẹ

/ì.mɔ̃́.lɛ̀/

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + mọ́lẹ̀ (“to shine, to light, to brighten, to make clear”)


apaadi

mo fi àpáàdì fọnná

I used a slice of a clay pot to carry away hot charcoal


Ihinrere

/ì.hĩ̀.ɾē.ɾē/

ìhìn (“news”) + rere (“good”), "Good news."


iwe agberoyinjade

/ì.wé ā.ɡ͡bé.ɾò.jĩ̀.d͡ʒá.dē/

ìwé (“paper”) + a (“agent prefix”) + gbé (“to carry”) + ìròyìn (“news, storytelling, report”) + jáde (“out”)


afinju

/ā.fĩ́.d͡ʒú/

From a- (“agent prefix”) + fín (“to be meticulous”) + ojú (“face”), literally “Someone who is beauty conscious”.

af

someone or something that is neat, clean, fashionable


afinju

/ā.fĩ́.d͡ʒú/


ironupiwada

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ronúpìwàdà (“to repent”)


iroyin

ì (“nominalizing prefix”) + rò (“to tell, to inform”) + ìyìn (“news”)


ronupiwada

From ronú (“to think”) + padà (“to change”) + ìwà (“behavior”), literally “To think and then change/alter one's behavior”.
Padà is a splitting verb which is split in this case by the noun ìwà


Igala

èdè Igálà


alalupayida

From oní- (“owner, one who”) + àlúpàyídà (“magic”), literally “Owner of magic”


iyọ oyinbo

From iyọ̀ (“salt”) + òyìnbó (“european, white man”), literally “European salt”


itọ ṣuga

/ì.tɔ̀ ʃú.ɡà/


alupayida

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + lú (“to mix”) + pa (“to make”) + èyí (“this”) + dà (“to change”), literally “Mixing things to conjure up a potion”


ominira

/ò.mĩ̀.nĩ̄.ɾā/

Likely from ò- + mì + ni + ara, cognate with Igala òmìnọlami, definition related to the concept of self-ownership of one's body, see ara


kurekure

(mythology) A supernatural forest or tree creature


pataki

Compare Nupe kpàtàkì, Edo kpataki, Fon kpàtàkì.


pataki

Akin pàtàkì ara ẹ̀.

(informal) to put to use; to make important


atọgbẹ

/à.tɔ̀.ɡ͡bɛ̄/

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + tọ̀ (“to urinate”) + gbẹ (“to be dry”)


iyọ

A much newer term for salt, to see more historic and older forms for salt, see Yoruba oghun (Owe)

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - iyọ̀view map

ínúFREIFREIMɔ̄kɔ́léKandiimuFREIFREINorthern NagoKamboleiyɔ̀FREIFREIManigriiyɔ̀FREIFREINote: 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


iyọ

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yọ (“to remove, to subtract”)


irawọ

→ Ayere: irawɔ

Proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *ìlàwɔ̀, cognate with Igala ìlàwò

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ìràwọ̀view map

àǹwéABDESTABDESTManigriaweABDESTABDESTSouthern NagoÌsakétéìràwɔ̀ABDESTABDESTÌfànyìnìràwɔ̀ABDESTABDESTNote: 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


irawọ

beetle, specifically the scarab beetle and Goliath beetle


pidanpidan

Reduplication of pidán (“to do magic”), literally, "One who does magic."


ẹranmi

/ɛ̄.ɾã̄.mĩ̄/


oloṣelu

*oní- (“owner of, one who”) + òṣèlú (“politics”)


oṣelu

ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣèlú (“to govern”).


adagun

From a- (“agent prefix”) + dágún (“to be stagnant”).

af

pond, lake, pool, any stagnant body of water


ayipada oju-ọjọ

/à.jí.k͡pā.dà ō.d͡ʒú.ɔ̄.d͡ʒɔ́/

From àyípadà ojú ọjọ́ (“Change of the climate”).


igbagbọ

/ì.ɡ͡bà.ɡ͡bɔ́/

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbàgbọ́ (“to believe”)


oyi

ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yì (“to encircle”)


ọjọkanri

/ɔ̄.d͡ʒɔ́.kã̄.ɾí/


oṣupadẹjẹ

/ò.ʃù.k͡pá.dɛ̀.d͡ʒɛ̀/

From òṣùpá di ẹ̀jẹ̀ (“The moon becomes blood”).


bairo

From the BIRO brand of pens made by the BIC corporation, which were named after László Bíró, the inventor of the pen.

(genericized trademark) pen (in particular) ballpoint pen


yimiyimi

Reduplication of yímí (“to roll dung”), literally "That which rolls dung".


aragbayamuya

(Ekiti) unfathomable, profound, amazing, mysterious


uṣu

Cognate with Igala úchu, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ú-cu


ẹẹra

From Contraction of ẹrị́rà, possibly from ẹ- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rị́rà (“partial reduplication of rà to decay, crumble”)

ẹlẹ́ẹẹ́rà

someone who collects and sells ẹẹ́rà leaves

Èmi lọmọ ají-pẹẹ́rà bí ọ̀yẹ́yẹ́ l'Ékìtì ― I am the one who wakes up and collects eera leaves like a squirrel in Ekiti (personal oríkì)

(Ekiti, in particular) The leaves of the plants Thaumatococcus daniellii and Megaphrynium macrostachyum, which are used in wrapping foods like ọ̀lẹ̀lẹ̀, ẹ̀kọ, and iyán.


iṣu

→ Arigidi: adʒu

Cognate with Igala úchu, Ede Idaca icu, proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *u-cu, Proto-Edekiri *u-cu, ultimately from Proto-Yoruboid *ú-cu
Possible cognates include Igbo ji, Nupe eci, Arigidi iʃɛ̃, Igasi Arigidi ìti, Uro/Aje Arigidi ìsi, Proto-Plateau *ì-tsit, Igede iju, Idoma ihi, Proto-Gbe *-te

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - iṣuview map

isuSESQUIPEDALIANISMEde Languages/Southwest YorubaÌdàácàBeninIgbó ÌdàácàicuSESQUIPEDALIANISMIfɛ̀AkpáréitsuSESQUIPEDALIANISMAtakpamɛitsuSESQUIPEDALIANISMTchettiitsuSESQUIPEDALIANISMNote: 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

èsúrú

Dioscurea dumetorum, Dioscurea odoratissima

èsùsú

Diospyros barteri; Dioscorea mangenotiana

any of the various species of wild and cultivated yam in the family Dioscorea

(extension) tuber; (especially) yam tuber

ọmọ kùrùbútú búṣu ùdí ìlàǹbásà

The man who is round like the bulb of an onion

(extension) bulb; (especially) onion or garlic bulb


gbẹnagbẹna

head

gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà

gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà

yo-pos

gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà

gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà

yo-noun

gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà

gbẹ́nàgbẹ́nà

/ɡ͡bɛ́.nã̀.ɡ͡bɛ́.nã̀/

Reduplication of gbẹ́nà (“to carve”), "One who carves (using wood)."


kokoro arun

/kò.kò.ɾò à.ɾũ̀/

kòkòrò (“insect, bug”) + àrùn (“disease”)


ipẹyarun

/ì.k͡pɛ̀.jà.ɾũ̄/

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + pa (“to kill”) + ẹ̀yà (“ethnicity, race”) + run (“to perish”)


kọlekọle

Reduplication of kọ́lé (“to build houses”, literally “One who builds houses”)


Irekọja

/ì.ɾé.kɔ̄.d͡ʒá/

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ré kọjá (“to pass over”), literally “The act of passing over”, from Calque of English Passover


ijokoo

/ì.d͡ʒó.kòó/

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jókòó (“to sit”)


tio-tio

shrike, Lanius gubernator or Lanius mackinnoni


re kọja

/ɾé kɔ̄.d͡ʒá/

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


re kọja

/ɾé kɔ̄.d͡ʒá/


ipẹta

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + pẹtà (“to become rusty”), ultimately from pa + ẹtà.


ipẹta

violet tree, Securidaca longipedunculata


ounjẹ

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - oúnjẹview map

ìjɛABBREVIATORYNortheast Yoruba/OkunOwéKabbajíjẹABBREVIATORYEde Languages/Southwest YorubaIfɛ̀TchettidzídzɛABBREVIATORY

ìdzɛABBREVIATORYNote: 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


pomegiraneti

head

pómégíránétì

pómégíránétì

yo-pos

pómégíránétì

pómégíránétì

yo-noun

pómégíránétì

pómégíránétì


ojude

/ō.d͡ʒú.ꜜdē/


Ogunbiyi

a male given name meaning “Ogun gave birth to this child”, Alternative form of Ògúnbíyìí


Aragberi

/à.ɾá.ɡ͡bē.ɾí/

àrá (“thunder”) + gbé (“to carry”) + orí (“head, destiny, conscience”), literally “Thunder lifts one's destiny”

compound

(Ekiti) a surname, from the chieftaincy title Àrágberí

The title of the traditional ruler of the town of Ìrágberí

an ancient clan within the Aresa royal house of the Oyo Empire. Leaders who came from this clan were noted for their deep knowledge in Yoruba herbal medicine and magic.


gbọmọgbọmọ

head

gbọ́mọgbọ́mọ

gbọ́mọgbọ́mọ

yo-pos

gbọ́mọgbọ́mọ

gbọ́mọgbọ́mọ

yo-noun

gbọ́mọgbọ́mọ

gbọ́mọgbọ́mọ

/ɡ͡bɔ́.mɔ̃̄.ɡ͡bɔ́.mɔ̃̄/

Reduplication of gbọ́mọ (“to carry a child”), literally "child carrier".


ajereke

/ā.d͡ʒè.ɾè.ké/

a- (“agentive prefix”) + jẹ (“to eat”) + ìrèké (“sugar cane”), hence "sugar cane eater".

affix

(derogatory, offensive, ethnic slur) A Jamaican or Caribbean person.


ẹsẹ

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́ʃɛ̀, Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ-sɛ̃̀, or Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́sɛ̀, all ultimately deriving from the verb *sɛ̀, or a slight variation (see *ʃɛ̀ or *sɛ̃̀). Cognate with Itsekiri ẹsẹ̀n, Igala ẹ́rẹ̀, Ayere ehè, and Àhàn esè

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ẹsẹ̀view map

àtẹlẹhinABERRATEEde Languages/Southwest YorubaAnaSokodeɛsɛ̀ABERRATECábɛ̀ɛ́Cábɛ̀ɛ́ɛsɛ̀ABERRATETchaourouɛsɛ̀ABERRATEÌcàBantèɛsɛ̀ABERRATEÌdàácàBeninIgbó Ìdàácàɛsɛ̀ABERRATEỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí-ÌjèỌ̀họ̀rí/Ɔ̀hɔ̀rí/ÌjèÌkpòbɛ́ɛsɛ̀ABERRATEOnigboloɛsɛ̀ABERRATEKétu/ÀnàgóKétuɛsɛ̀ABERRATEIfɛ̀Akpáréɛsɛ̀ABERRATEAtakpamɛɛsɛ̀ABERRATEBokoɛsɛ̀ABERRATEMoretanɛsɛ̀ABERRATETchettiɛsɛ̀ABERRATEMɔ̄kɔ́léKandiisɛ̀ABERRATEABERRATENorthern NagoKamboleɛsɛ̀ABERRATEManigriɛsɛ̀ABERRATEOverseas YorubaLucumíHavanaeseABERRATENote: 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


ẹsẹ

verse, a small section or row of a written text, (in particular) the Bible or Odù Ifá


iwọ

Cognate with Igala íwọ, ultimately from Proto-Yoruboid *ɪ́-wɔ


iwọ

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

you (emphatic second-person singular personal pronoun)

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ìwọview map

ùweAB-Ifẹ̀Ilé Ifẹ̀ìwọAB-Northwest YorubaÀwórìÈbúté Mẹ́tàìwọAB-ÈkóÈkóìwọAB-ÌbàdànÌbàdànìwọAB-Ìbọ̀lọ́ÒṣogboìwọAB-ÌlọrinÌlọrinìwọAB-OǹkóÒtùìwọAB-Ìwéré IléìwọAB-ÒkèhòìwọAB-Ìsẹ́yìnìwọAB-ṢakíìwọAB-TedéìwọAB-Ìgbẹ́tììwọAB-Ọ̀yọ́Ọ̀yọ́ìwọAB-Standard YorùbáNàìjíríàìwọAB-Bɛ̀nɛ̀ìwɔAB-Northeast Yoruba/OkunOwéKabbaìwọAB-Ede Languages/Southwest YorubaÌdàácàBeninIgbó Ìdàácàwɔ̀ɔAB-Ifɛ̀AkpáréìwɔAB-AtakpamɛìwɔAB-TchettiìwɔAB-Note: This amalgamation of terms comes from a number of different academic papers focused on the unique varieties and languages spoken in the Yoruboid dialectal continuum which extends from eastern Togo to southern Nigeria. The terms for spoken varieties

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

[preceding vowel repeated for monosyllabic verbs]


iwọ

Compare with Itsekiri ùghọ́, possibly cognate with Ifè ìfɔ̃́ (“navel”). Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruba *ʊ̀-ɣɔ́, *ɪ̀-ɣɔ́, ultimately from Proto-Edekiri *ʊ̀-ɣɔ́, *ɪ̀-ɣɔ́. Originally only referring to the umbilical cord, it has semantically shifted to also refer to the navel, becoming synonymous with idodo


pọn

ọpọ́n Ifá

A tool used in divination and the Ifá religion


pọn

to ripe, to mature, to become red (often a sign of ripeness of a fruit)

to be stained
to become dirty, to be poor


pọn

to wrap, (as in leaves used in wrapping food, see ẹẹ́rà)


pọn

to fetch, to draw, to fill, to pump (as in water from a well)


pọn

to mount (as on someone's back), to proceed


oun

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


ẹyin

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́-ɣɪ̃ or Proto-Yoruboid *ɛ́-gɪ̃, see Igala ẹ́gẹ, Olukumi ẹ́ghẹ́n, Ifè ɛnyɛ

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ẹyinview map

adìyẹ yé ẹyin mẹ́wàá


ẹyin

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ẹ̀yinview map

you (emphatic second-person plural personal pronoun)

you (emphatic honorific second-person singular personal pronoun)


ẹyin

ẹ̀yìn ológbò kì í kanlẹ̀

The back of a cat never touches the ground

ẹ̀yìn ìyàwó kò níí mọ ẹní

May the back of the bride not know the mat - (May the bride not lie on her back for too long for copulation before getting pregnant) (a greeting issued to a bride after a wedding as a prayer for children)

ẹ wáá wo ẹ̀yìn ọ̀rọ̀ wò

Come and see the aftermath of the matter

àbámọ̀ níí gbẹ̀yìn ọ̀rọ̀

Regret is what normally ends all human endeavors


ẹyin

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

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


ẹyin

mo kọ odi ẹyìn mẹ́wàá


ewedo

From ewé (“plant, leaf”) + odò (“river”).


iwuye

*ì (“nominalizing prefix”) + wú (“to bring forth”) + oyè (“chieftancy”)

compound

coronation ceremony for a chief or a king.


takete

(transitive) to stay aside, to abstain, to distance, to stay away


ifẹyinti

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fẹ̀yìn tì (“to relax, to retire, to lean back”)


ijapa okun

/ì.d͡ʒà.k͡pá ò.kũ̄/


ọgọdọ

/ɔ̀.ɡɔ̀.dɔ̀/


ọwọ

Cognate with Igala ọ́wọ̀, ultimately proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ́-ɓɔ́, equivalent to *ɔ́- (“nominalizing prefix”) + *ɓɔ́


ọwọ

Compare with Edo ọghọ, Urhobo ọghọ, Igala ọ̀wọ̀ (“Islam”)


ọwọ

a name for several herbs in the genus Brillantaisia, including Brillantaisia lamium, Brillantaisia owariensis, and Brillantaisia nitens.


ọwọ

Proposed to derive from Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ́-ɓɔ́. Cognate with Igala ọ́wọ́, Ayere ɔ́wɔ́, Àhàn ɔɔ, Edo obọ, and Ehueun o-wɔ́. See obọ for a more detailed etymological analysis.

Yoruba Varieties and Languages - ọwọ́view map

loguóANTONYMNote: 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

direction, location, side; either right or left

ọwọ́ rẹ̀ ẹ́ dára níwèé

(usually as lọ́wọ́) time of action or event; current

(idiomatic) possession (literally, "in the hand of someone")

kò lọ́wọ́ sí ọ̀rọ̀ náà

(idiomatic) active engagement, endorsement


ọwọ

Cognate with Igala ọ̀wọ́ (“to be multiple, to be a group”)

cog

patterned group, a homogeneous entity, caravan, series, class


oke okun

From òkè + òkun, a calque of English overseas.

Ṣé Tóyọ̀sí ti dé láti òkè òkun?

Àbúrò mi kan tòkè òkun dé!

One of my younger siblings arrived from abroad!


ipenija

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + pè níjà (“to call into question, to challenge”).


alakara

*oní- (“one who has”) + àkàrà (“akara”), literally “One who has akara”


Apekẹ

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + pè (“to call”) + kẹ́ (“to care for, to cherish”), literally “One who is called to be cared for”

af

A female oríkì name, meaning "one who is called to be cared for".


ọganjọ

/ɔ̀.ɡã̀.d͡ʒɔ́/

From ọ̀gàn (“dark, severe”) + ọjọ́ (“day”), literally “Dark part of the day”.


ọọrọ

(Ekiti) Alternative form of àárọ̀ (“morning, origin, beginning”)


ẹku

From ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + kú (“to be dead”)

af

ẹ̀kú níí ṣe iyì fún eégún ― the Egúngún costume is the glory of the Egúngún (proverb on a distinguishing mark)

The sacred regalia or costume worn by Egúngún


Awujalẹ

a- (“agent prefix”) + wù (“to appear”) + jà (“to break”) + ilẹ̀ (“the ground”), literally “The one who appears and collapses the ground”

Title of the paramount monarch of the Ìjẹ̀bú people and the traditional ruler of the town of Ìjẹ̀bú Òde


Agbọnniregun

/à.ɡ͡bɔ̃̄.nĩ̀.ɾè.ɡṹ/

Several stories from the Odù Ifá attempt to give a folk etymology for this name.
* One states it comes from àgbọn (“coconut”) + ni (“to be”) + ìrègún (“a direct request built on a previous favor one has granted”)
* Another one states it comes from àgbọn (“coconut”) + ni (“to be”) + ire (“blessing, gift, reward”) + Ògún (“the deity Ogun”), literally “The coconut is the blessing of Ogun”

compound

A praise name (oríkì) or nickname for the orisha Ọ̀rúnmìlà and Ifa


adabalukofi

(Ekiti) a praise name or oríkì name for the dove


Aderonkẹ

/ā.dé.ɾó.ŋ̄.kɛ́/

From Blend of adé (“crown, royalty”) + rí (“to see”) + ohun (“something”) + kẹ́ (“to care for, to cherish”).

blend

a female given name meaning “The crown has seen something (a child) to take care of”


Ajaja

/à.d͡ʒà.d͡ʒá/

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jà (“to fight”) + já (“to snap, to break off”), literally “One who fights and breaks free”.

af

(Ekiti) A male oríkì name, meaning "One who fights and breaks free".


ọrụkọ

/ɔ̄.ɾʊ́.kɔ̄/


uranlọọ

/ʊ̀.ɾɔ̃̀.lɔ́ɔ́/

*ụ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rọ̀nlọ́ọ́ (“to help, to give aid”)


Ifamugbẹẹ

/ī.fá.mũ̀.ɡ͡bà.ɛ́/

From Blend of Ifá (“Ifá, the deity Ọ̀rúnmìlà”) + mọ̀ (“knows”) + ùgbẹ̀ (“time”) + ẹ (“second person singular pronoun”), literally “Ifá knows your time”.

blend

(Ekiti) a female given name meaning “The deity Ifa knows your time”


rọnlọọ

/ɾɔ̃̀.lɔ́ɔ́/

From rọ̀n (“to give, to send”) + lí (“in, a”) + ọọ́ (“hand”), literally “To give a lending hand”.


ọkuta

From Proto-Yoruboid *ɔ̀-kʊ́ta, cognate with Igala òkwúta, Edo òkutá, Olukumi òkúta, and Igbo òkutā.


pipiri

(Ekiti) Alternative form of píìrì (“a type of Èkìtì drum”)


irẹpọ

/ì.ɾɛ́.k͡pɔ̀/


gbalaja

/ɡ͡bā.lā.d͡ʒā/

Ó dọ̀bálẹ̀ gbalaja.

Mo sùn gbalaja.

at full-length, stretched out, with the whole body


ajọ

From a- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jọ̀ (“to sieve, to sift”)


ajọ

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jọ (“together, jointly”)

organization, meeting, assembly, the act of doing something together as a group

Àjọ Orílẹ̀-èdé Ajùmọ̀tepoolẹ̀-sórílẹ̀-èdèmìíràn


ni asẹyinwa asẹyinbọ

head

ní àsẹ̀yìnwá àsẹ̀yìnbọ̀

ní àsẹ̀yìnwá àsẹ̀yìnbọ̀

yo-pos

ní àsẹ̀yìnwá àsẹ̀yìnbọ̀

ní àsẹ̀yìnwá àsẹ̀yìnbọ̀

yo-adv

ní àsẹ̀yìnwá àsẹ̀yìnbọ̀

ní àsẹ̀yìnwá àsẹ̀yìnbọ̀

/nĩ́ à.sɛ̀.jĩ̀.wá à.sɛ̀.jĩ̀.bɔ̀/


afinihan

From a- (“agent prefix”) + fi (“to show”) + hàn (“someone”) + ẹni, literally “one who exposes someone”


iyẹwu

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yọ (“to remove”) + ẹ̀wù (“clothes”)


iforiti

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + forí tì (“to persevere”)


iṣẹtọfabo

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣe (“to make”) + ẹ̀tọ́ (“rights”) + fún (“for”) + abo (“females”), hence "advocation for women's rights".


loorekoore

/lóò.ɾè.kóò.ɾè/


agbebọ

/à.ɡ͡bé.bɔ̀/


ipinnu

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + pinnu (“to decide”)


laakaye

common sense, understanding, mental faculty


dubulẹ

dùbú (“to lie across”) + ilẹ̀ (“the ground”)


iṣura

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣúra (“to treasure”)


gọmbọ

/ɡɔ̀.ŋ̀.bɔ́/

A type of Yoruba tribal mark or scarification attributed to the Ọ̀yọ́ and other related sub-ethnic groups, such as the and Ìbọ̀lọ́ and Ìbàdàn


arifin

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rífín (“to disregard, to show contempt”)

the act of disregarding or showing contempt

disregard, disrespect, contempt, rudeness


agabagebe

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gàbà (“to move along clumsily”) + gùn (“to climb”) + ebè (“hill”), literally “Moving along clumsily and climbing many hills”, likely an ideophonic description of the many arguments and excuses one regarded as a hypocrite will make


okiki

òkìkí ọkùnrin yẹ́n kàn dé gbogbo ayé

That man's fame spread throughout the whole world


loṣoo

From ló (“to squat”) + òṣó (“a crouching position”).


pinnu

From pin (“to come to an end”) + ẹnu (“mouth”), literally “to come to the end of discussion”.

compound

(transitive, intransitive) to decide, to resolve, to conclude


ayekootọ

From ayé (“world”) + kọ (“to reject”) + òótọ́ (“truth”), literally “The world rejects the truth”.

Psittacus erithacus
Psittacus erithacus#Translingual

parrot; (in particular) African gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus)


pẹtẹẹsi

/k͡pɛ̀.tɛ́ɛ̀.sì/

òkè pẹ̀tẹ́ẹ̀sì

ọ̀dẹ̀dẹ̀ pẹ̀tẹ́ẹ̀sì


gadagbagadagba

/ɡà.dà.ɡ͡bà.ɡā.dā.ɡ͡bā/


gadagbagadagba

Lẹ́tà gàdàgbàgàdàgbà yìí ń pe àfiyèsí sí ọ̀rọ̀ náà

The bold letters draw attention to that word


afopina

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fò (“to fly”) + pa (“kill, turn off”) + iná (“light, fire”), literally “one who flies and kills (turns off) the light”.

af

Àfòpiná, tó lóun ó pa fìtílà. Ara ẹ̀ ni yóò pa.

2010 July 13, Villepastour, Amanda and Ayandokun, Rabiu, Ancient Text Messages of the Yoruba Bata Drum, Oxford: Taylor & Francis, →ISBN:

The moth that attempts to extinguish an oil lamp flame. It is destined to fail.

Àfòpiná tó fẹ́ paná súyà; ẹran pọ̀ sí i

2005 July 1, Oyekan Owomoyela, Yoruba Proverbs, University of Nebraska Press, →ISBN:

The moth that wants to put out the suya fire; the meat becomes more.


adado

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dá (“to act alone”) + dó (“to settle”)


amuga

Originally referred to scissors, a recent semantic change has changed the meaning to fork among speakers of Standard Yoruba. The form is still referred to as scissors in dictionaries and various Yoruba dialects.


igbalẹ

/ì.ɡ͡bá.lɛ̀/

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbá (“to sweep, to broom”) + ilẹ̀ (“floor, ground”), literally “That which sweeps the ground”


igbalẹ

/ì.ɡ͡bà.lɛ̀/

sacred grove where Eégún performers and worshipers meet before a festival or performance


ọra

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


ọra

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Yoruboid *ù-la, compare with possible cognate Igala ùlà

(by extension) plastic film; plastic bag

Ilẹ̀ tó wà nítòsí àkùrọ̀ lọ́ràá

The soil near the wetlands has nutrients


igbo kijikiji

/ī.ɡ͡bó kì.d͡ʒī.kì.d͡ʒī/


isinku

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + sìn (“to bury”) + òkú (“deceased, corpse, dead”)


Ayanfẹ

à (“one who”) + yàn (“to choose, to select”) + fẹ́ (“to love”), "One that we specifically chose to love."

compound

A unisex oríkì name, meaning "One that we specifically chose to love".


Arikẹ

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + rí (“to see”) + kẹ́ (“to care for, to cherish”), literally “One who is seen and cared for”

af

A female oríkì name, meaning "one who is seen and cared for".


Anikẹ

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ní (“to have”) + kẹ́ (“to care for, to cherish”), literally “One you have and care for”

A female oríkì name, meaning "One you have and care for".


Ajikẹ

/à.d͡ʒí.kɛ́/

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jí (“to wake up”) + kẹ́ (“to care for, to cherish”), literally “One wakes up to be cherished”

affix

A female oríkì name, meaning "One who wakes up to be cherished".


Aṣakẹ

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣà (“to choose”) + kẹ́ (“to care for, to cherish”), literally “One chosen to be cared for”

af

A female oríkì name, meaning "One chosen to be cared for".


Iṣọla

Blend of ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣe (“to do, to make”) + ọlá (“honor”), literally “He who creates honor”

blend

A male oríkì name, meaning "He who creates honor".


Aṣamu

à (“one who”) + ṣà (“to select, to choose”) + mú (“to pick”), "The one we specially chose."

compound

A unisex oríkì name, meaning "The one we specially chose".


Atanda

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + tàn (“to brighten”) + dá (“to create”), literally “One who was created to brighten (the world)”

af

A unisex oríkì name, meaning "One who was created to brighten (the world)".


Ajọkẹ

/à.d͡ʒɔ̄.kɛ́/

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jọ (“together”) + kẹ́ (“to care for, to cherish”), literally “One who we jointly care for”

affix

A female oríkì name, meaning "One who we jointly care for".


Atinukẹ

a (“one who”) + ti (“from”) + inú (“inside, womb”) + kẹ́ (“to care for, to cherish”), "One who is cherished from the womb."

compound

A female oríkì name, meaning "One who is cherished from the womb".


Adubi

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dù (“to fight, to struggle”) + bí (“to give birth to”), literally “One we struggled to give birth to”

af

A female oríkì name, meaning "One we struggled to give birth to".

A unisex oríkì name., given to children named Ìgè


Abẹni

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + bẹ̀ (“to beg”) + ní (“to have”), literally “One who is pleaded for to have”

A female oríkì name, meaning "One who is pleaded for to have".


Adunni

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dùn (“to be sweet, to be pleasant”) + ní (“to have”), literally “"One that is pleasant to have" or "a sweet one that is mine"”

A unisex oríkì name, meaning "One that is pleasant to have".


Kẹhinde

a unisex given name, an orúkọ àmútọ̀runwá given to the second child in a set of twins or triplet


Ajala

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jà (“to fight”) + lá (“to survive”), literally “One who has fights to survive” or à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jà (“to fight”) + lá (“to lick”), literally “One who fights to lick”

A male oríkì name, meaning "One who fights to survive". or "one who fights to lick."

Àjàlá ni alámọ̀ tí ń mọ orí fún gbogbo ènìyàn

Ajala is the potter that molds the heads of all humans

an orisha identified as a potter who molds the heads (orí) and forms the consciousness and soul of a human being before birth; he works closely with Ọbàtálá


ilumọọka

/ì.lú.mɔ̃̀ɔ̃́.ká/

ìlú (“town”) + mọ̀ (“knows”) + ọ́ (“third person pronoun”) + ká (“around, everywhere”), literally “The one that the knows the town everywhere”


yinyin

Proposed to be derived from Proto-Edekiri Proto-Edekiri *ɛ-ɣɪ̃̀ɣɪ̃́, compare with Itsekiri ọghẹ̀nghẹ́n


ọjọ-ibi

/ɔ̄.d͡ʒɔ́.ì.bí/

From ọjọ́ (“day”) + ìbí (“birth”). Compare with Igala ọ́jọ́-úbí.

Ẹ kú ọjọ́-ìbí!

Ọjọ́ wo ni ọjọ́-ìbí rẹ?
Ọjọ́-ìbí mi ni ọjọ́ kejìlélógún Oṣù-Òwéwe.
When is your birthday?
My birthday is September 22nd.

Ọjọ́ ìbíì mi ni ọjọ́ ìkẹ́ta nínú oṣù-kejì ọdún

My birthday is the third day of February


digbolu

àdìgbòlù

rabid animal, a person infected with rabies


ijẹbu

/ì.d͡ʒɛ̀.bú/

(Ekiti) A drum played during funerals and weddings by the Èkìtì people


ọgbase

/ɔ̀.ɡ͡bà.sè/

(Ekiti) The plants Nauclea diderrichii and Nauclea latifolia


difa

dá (“to cast, to divinate”) + ifá (“Ifá, the Yoruba process of divination”)


Oberemoye

From Òbèrè + mọ́ (“among, onto”) + oyè (“honor”)

(Àkúrẹ́) a festival or rite in several Àkúrẹ́ towns, often during the larger new yam festival. It usually consists of the reigning monarch coming from his home to greet the people and offer prayers, while young men begin engaging in whipping contests


ọjọ-ubi

/ɔ̄.d͡ʒɔ́.ù.bí/

Ìn kú ọjọ́-ùbí lónìí!

(Ekiti) Alternative form of ọjọ́-ìbí (“birthday”)


ruuru

(Ekiti) The african tulip tree, Spathodea campanulata


ṣẹpuṣẹpu

/ʃɛ́.k͡pú.ʃɛ́.k͡pú/


ṣọkọrọgbọdọ

head

ṣọkọrọ̀gbọ̀dọ̀

ṣọkọrọ̀gbọ̀dọ̀

yo-pos

ṣọkọrọ̀gbọ̀dọ̀

ṣọkọrọ̀gbọ̀dọ̀

yo-noun

ṣọkọrọ̀gbọ̀dọ̀

ṣọkọrọ̀gbọ̀dọ̀

/ʃɔ̄.kɔ̄.ɾɔ̀.ɡ͡bɔ̀.dɔ̀/

ṣe (“to make”) + ọkọ (“husband”) + rọ̀gbọ̀dọ̀ (“healthy, beautiful”), literally “That which makes your husband healthy, beautiful”

compound

(Ekiti) The plant Tabernaemontana pachysiphon, known for its healing properties.


Ẹla

ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + là (“to split”)

affix

A primordial ìmọlẹ̀ or energy force of the Yoruba religion, associated with the deity Orunmila and divination, said to be the energy responsible for the creation of the universe, he is associated with the orisha Olúorogbo


oromọdiyẹ

/ò.ɾò.mɔ̃̄.dì.jɛ̄/


Ogundabẹdẹ

head

Ògúndábẹ̀dẹ́

Ògúndábẹ̀dẹ́

yo-pos

Ògúndábẹ̀dẹ́

Ògúndábẹ̀dẹ́

yo-prop

Ògúndábẹ̀dẹ́

Ògúndábẹ̀dẹ́

The one-hundred thirty seventh chapter of the odù Ifá corpus, one of the amulu of the odù Ifá.


Ogbedi

The nineteenth sign of the Ifa divination system, it is one of the signs of the ọmọ odù; the 240 minor signs

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


Ogbewori

/ō.ɡ͡bè.wò.ɾì/

The eighteenth sign of the Ifa divination system, it is second of the signs of the ọmọ odù; the 240 minor signs.

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


Ogberosun

/ō.ɡ͡bè.ɾō.sũ̀/

The twentieth sign of the Ifa divination system, it is one of the signs of the ọmọ odù; the 240 minor signs

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


Ogbewọnrin

/ō.ɡ͡bè.wɔ̃́.ɾĩ́/

The twenty-first sign of the Ifa divination system, it is one of the signs of the ọmọ odù; the 240 minor signs

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


Ogbebara

/ō.ɡ͡bè.bà.ɾà/

The twenty-second sign of the Ifa divination system, it is one of the signs of the ọmọ odù; the 240 minor signs

The twenty-second chapter of the Odù Ifá corpus. It is one of the sixteen chapters in the Ogbè category (àpólà) and one of the 240 minor chapters, or àmúlù of the Odù Ifá.


bilisi

Borrowed from Arabic إِبْلِيس (ʔiblīs), cognate with Igala èbìlíì.


ologinni

/ō.ló.ɡĩ̀.nĩ́/

From oní- (“one who has”) + ò- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gìnní (“of an entity being meticulous or walking cautiously”).


onigbagbọ

/ō.nĩ́.ɡ͡bà.ɡ͡bɔ́/

*oní (“owner of”) + ìgbàgbọ́ (“faith, belief”), literally “Owner of faith”


ẹbun

ẹ̀ (“nominalizing prefix”) + bùn (“to give, to bless, to gift”)


apẹrẹ

/ā.k͡pɛ̀.ɾɛ̀/


ṣalanga

/ʃá.lá.ŋ́.ɡá/

Possibly derived from Hausa salgā (“latrine”)


aasiki

From Arabic رِزْق (rizq, “wealth, fortune”).

ọkùnrin kò gbọ́dọ̀ bá ìyàwó ẹlòmìíràn tí ó wà nínú oyún lò pọ̀; bí ó bá ṣe bẹ́ẹ, ẹni náà kò ní ní aáṣìkí mọ́, akùdé yóò sì máa wọ ọ̀ràn-an rẹ̀

A man must not have sex with the pregnant wife of another man; if he did that, the man would no longer have good fortune, inadequacy would enter his affairs


atunyẹwo

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + tún (“again”) + yẹ̀wò (“to check”), literally “The act of checking over again”


ile ifowopamọ

ilé (“house, building”) + ì (“nominalizing prefix”) + fi (“to put”) + owó (“money”) + pamọ́ (“to hide, to put away”), literally “The building that which we put away money”


kololo

From ká + òlòlò, literally “to make a stutter”.

(transitive, intransitive) Alternative form of kálòlò (“to stutter”)


gbagbọ

/ɡ͡bà.ɡ͡bɔ́/

From gbà (“to take, to accept”) + gbọ́ (“to listen, to embrace”), literally “To accept and embrace”.

(splitting verb) to believe, to have faith


ijọ

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jọ (“together, joint”)


ilakaka

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + là (“to overcome, to pass over”) + àkàkà (“a long stride, a giant stride”)


mọnafiki

From Hausa mùnāfùkī, ultimately from Arabic مُنَافِق (munāfiq).


laluuri

From Arabic ضروري (“necessity”), perhaps through Hausa làr̃ūr̃ā̀.


ṣẹkẹtẹ

/ʃɛ̀.kɛ̀.tɛ́/

A type of alcoholic drink made from corn or millet


ṣege

Wọ́n lù ú ṣégè


ṣege

wọ́n ṣe ṣégè fún araa wọn

they were very ruthless with one another


ipẹjalapaju

/ì.k͡pɛ̄.d͡ʒā.lá.ꜜk͡pā.d͡ʒù/

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + pa (“to kill”) + ẹja (“fish”) + ní àpajù (“excessively”), hence "excessive fishing".


kọfi

mu kọfí

Nítorí kọfí mímu t'ó mu láràárọ̀, ó gbára lé kaféènì kí ó lè ṣe ohunkóhun.

Because he drinks coffee every morning, he relies on caffeine to do anything.


ẹbu

palm oil producing square, an arena demarcated for the production of palm oil and its waste products.


Ọdẹmọ

/ɔ̄.dɛ̄.mɔ̃̄/

official title of the traditional ruler of Ìṣarà (Ìṣarà-Rẹ́mọ) town of Ògùn State of Nigeria


Ọkẹrẹ

/ɔ̀.kɛ̀.ɾɛ̀/

official title of the traditional ruler of Ṣakí town in Ọ̀yọ́ State of Nigeria


Oṣemawe

The title of the traditional ruler of Oǹdó town in present day Oǹdó State

a female chieftaincy title in Ìjàrẹ́ and Ijù


Ọlọwọ

/ɔ̄.lɔ́.wɔ̀/

*From oní- (“one who has”) + Ọ̀wọ̀ (“Ọ̀wọ̀ town”), literally “One who has Ọ̀wọ̀”
*From oní- (“one who has”) + ọ̀wọ̀ (“respect”), literally “One who is respected”

af

official title of the traditional ruler of Ọ̀wọ̀ town of Oǹdó State of Nigeria


Oore

official title of the traditional ruler of Ọ̀tùn-Èkìtì and the paramount king of the Mọ̀bà speaking people (a sub-dialect of Èkìtì)


Ataọja

/à.tá.ɔ́.d͡ʒā/

From à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + tẹ́wọ́gbà (“to accept”) + ẹja (“fish”), literally “One who accepts fish”.

compound

The official title of the traditional ruler of the town of Òṣogbo


Ajero

The traditional ruler of Ìjerò-Èkìtì town in Èkìtì State of Nigeria


Sabiganna

official title of the traditional ruler of Ìgànná town of Ọyọ́ State of Nigeria


Olubadan

From olú (“lord”) + Ìbàdàn (“Ibadan”), literally “Lord of Ibadan”.

The official title of the traditional ruler of the town of Ibadan


Akarigbo

/à.ká.ɾì.ɡ͡bò/

official title of the traditional ruler of Ṣàgámù town in Ògùn State of Nigeria, the paramount ruler of the Rẹ́mọ people


Ogoga

The traditional ruler of Ìkẹ́rẹ́ town (also known as Ìkẹ́rẹ́-Èkìtì)


Ṣọun

From ṣe ọ̀hún (“The one that goes to the place over there”).

the official title of the traditional ruler of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ town in Ọ̀yọ́ State of Nigeria


Akire

a- (“agent prefix”) + Ìkirè (“Ikire”), literally “One of Ikire”

af

The traditional ruler of Ìkirè town in Ọ̀ṣun State of Nigeria


kari bi kuọ ti a

/kà.ɾí bī kú.ɔ̄ tī ā/

From kàríbi (“where”) + kí (“that”) + ùwọ (“you”) + ti (“from”) + a (“to come”), literally “Where is the place you came from”


Akirun

a- (“agent prefix”) + Ìkìrun (“Ikirun”), literally “The one of Ikirun”

the traditional ruler of Ìkirùn town in Ọ̀ṣun State of Nigeria


Orimolusi

From orí (“head, conscience”) + mù (“to know”) + olí- (“one who has”) + ùsì (“prosperity, notability”), literally “The orí knows the person who will be prosperous”.

compound

(Ijebu) The title of the traditional ruler of Ìjẹ̀bú-Igbó town


Olukarẹ

From olú (“lord”) + Ìkàrẹ́ (“Ìkàrẹ́”), literally “Lord of Ìkàrẹ́”.

The traditional ruler of Ìkàrẹ́ town in the Àkókó Yoruba region.


Ewi

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + wí (“to say, to speak”), literally “That whom speaks [and it goes into existence]”, signifying one who has authority in his commands as monarch

af

That whom speaks 􂀿and it goes into existence􂁀

The title of the traditional ruler of the town of Ado Ekiti

(historical) the historic ruler of the Adó Kingdom


ko tọpẹ

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


Ọrangun

From ọ̀rọ̀ (“plan, words, actions”) + mí (“my”) + gún (“to be straight, to be aligned”), literally “My life plans are straight”.

the title of the traditional rulers of the towns of Ìlá Ọ̀ràngún and Òkè-Ìlá Ọ̀ràngún in Ọ̀ṣun State of Nigeria, and the head of the Ìgbómìnà people


Ọrangun

The sixteenth principal sign of the Ifa divination system

ojú odù

principal signs 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, (Ọ̀ràngún méjì) and the other fifteen chapters of Ọ̀ràngún.

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


Ọwa

Official title of the traditional ruler of Ìdànrè in Oǹdó State of Nigeria

Official title of the traditional ruler of Ìgbájọ town in Ọ̀ṣun State of Nigeria

Official title of the traditional ruler of Ọtán Ayégbajú town in Ọ̀ṣun State of Nigeria

The official titles of several traditional rulers of some Eastern Yoruba speaking peoples including the Ìjẹ̀ṣà, Èkìtì, Ìgbómìnà, and Oǹdó, including:

Ọlọ́wá

The official title of the ruler of Ìgbàrà-òkè

ọmọwá

The title for prince and princesses of towns in which their kings use the title Ọwá

Ọwá Ìdànrè

The official title of the ruler of Ìdànrè

Ọwá-Obòkun

Title of the king of the town of Iléṣà and paramount ruler of the Ìjẹ̀ṣà people

Ọwálóbòó

The official title of the ruler of Òbó-Ayégúnlẹ̀


ọdan

A class of deciduous trees usually planted around a house to provide shade, consisting of members of the Moraceae family


Ayangburẹn

/à.jã́.ɡ͡bù.ɾɛ̃̀/

The official title of the traditional ruler of the town of Ìkòròdú in Lagos State, Nigeria


Apetumodu

à- (“nominalizing prefix”) + Ìpetumodù (“Ipetumodu”), literally “That whom is the one of Ipetumodu”

af

The official title of the traditional ruler of the town of Ìpetumodù in Ọ̀ṣun State of Nigeria


Jẹgun

official title of the traditional ruler of the town of Ìdẹ̀pẹ̀, also known as Òkìtìpupa, in Oǹdó State of Nigeria, and the paramount ruler of the Yoruba Ìkálẹ̀ people.


Ẹlẹkọle

From oní- (“one who has”) + Ẹ̀kọ̀lé (“Ìkọ̀lé”), literally “One who has Ìkọ̀lé”.

The official title of the traditional ruler of Ìkọ̀lé (also known as Ìkọ̀lé-Èkìtì) town in Èkìtì State of Nigeria


Ikalẹ

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ká (“to surround, to spread out”) + ilẹ̀ (“land”), literally “That whom spread out across the land”.

Okitipupa, a subgroup of the Yoruba people, who speak the Ìkálẹ̀ language.


Onire

From oní- (“one who has”) + Irè (“the town of Irè”), literally “One who has Irè”.

Ògún Onírè

a nickname for the Yoruba deity of iron and hunting Ògún

The official title of the ruler of the town of Irè, (also known as Irè-Èkìtì), a holy city of the deity Ògún

An oriki or praise name for the deity Ògún, in reference for his role as the legendary founder of the town of Irè


Ajalọrun

/à.d͡ʒà.lɔ́.ɾũ̄/

From àjà (“ceiling, attic”) + ní (“of”) + ọ̀run (“sky”), literally “Ceiling of the sky”.

compound

title of the traditional ruler of Ìjẹ̀bú-Ifẹ̀ town


Alaketu

oní- (“one who has”) + Akétu (“Kétu”), literally “One who has Ketu”

affix

traditional ruler of the town of Ketou in Benin and paramount ruler of the Kétu Yoruba people


Idaaṣa

French: Dassa-Zoumé

Fon: Dassa-Zoumé

English: Dassa

From Ede Idaca Idaacha (“Ìdàáchà”). A local folk etymology suggests it comes from ìda (“princess”) + Ìṣà (“the town of Ìṣà, the Ìṣà people”), literally “Princess from Ìṣà”

Igbó Idàáṣà

capital city and traditional homeland of the Idàáṣà people and the historical Idàáṣà kingdom

Idaasha people, a subgroup of the Yoruba people in the country of Benin

A dialect of the Yoruba language spoken by the Idàáṣà people, some sources identify it as a language separate from the Yoruba dialectal continuum.


Ijẹbu

/ì.d͡ʒɛ̀.bú/

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + jẹ (“to rove, to swim”) + ní (“in”) + ubú (“ocean, deep sea”), literally “The ones who swim in the deep sea”

Ìjẹ̀bú-Òde

The principal and capital city of the Ìjẹ̀bú people

Ijebu people, a subgroup of Yoruba people who speak the Ìjẹ̀bú spoken variety in the Ede-Yoruba-Itsekiri continuum.

A spoken variety closely related to that of the Yoruba language


tunba

Alternative form of túḿbá (“to surrender, to apologize”)


apẹẹrẹ

/à.k͡pɛ̄ɛ̄.ɾɛ̄/


Awolọwọ

From awo (“the Ifa oracle, babalawo”) + ni (“has”) + ọ̀wọ̀ (“respect, honor”), literally “The oracle has honor, the Babalawo has honor”

a male given name, meaning "The oracle of Ifa has honor" or "the babalawo has honor."

a surname, from the given name Awólọ́wọ̀


lagbedemeji

From ní (“at”) + agbedeméjì (“halfway mark of two points, at the center of two radii”), literally “at halfway”.


laaarin

From ní (“at”) + àárín (“the middle”), literally “at the middle”


orogun

Possibly from oro + ogún (“inheritance”), may relate to the fact that ogún also refers to the sense of jealousy and competition among wives married to the same man, and relating to inheritance divided amongst the wives of a husband. See cognate term Igala ógwú, in which in addition to the definition of inheritance, also refers to the jealousy among co-wives.

co-wife, the other wives of one's husband in a polygamous marriage


orogun

A wooden stirring stick used to prepare foods like àmàlà and ẹ̀kọ, similar to a spatula and smaller than the ọmọ odó used for pounding.

ọmọrogùn

a smaller version of the orógùn often used for modern cooking in a metal pot


sanmọni

/sã̀.mɔ̃́.nĩ̀/


girimọkayi

/ɡí.ɾí.mɔ̃́.ká.jì/


ifaara

ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + fáárà (“to begin, to commence”)


nasia

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

der

Arabic نَصِيحَة (naṣīḥa)


girimọkai

/ɡí.ɾí.mɔ̃́.ká.ì/

From Hausa giriman-kái (“arrogance, pride, conceit”).


Ikẹnnẹ

/ì.kɛ̃́.nɛ́/

A Yoruba town in Ogun State, Nigeria, populated by the Rẹ́mọ subgroup of the Ìjẹ̀bú people


faara

alẹ́ ń fáárà


ankali

From Arabic عَقْل (ʕaql), perhaps through Hausa hankali (“sense, care”).


alukiamọ

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


owo omi

From owó (“money”) + omi (“water”). Literally ‘‘water money’’.


ẹdinwo

From ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dín (“to reduce”) + owó (“money”).


ẹyawo

From ẹ̀- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yá (“to borrow”) + owó (“money”).


ifirosinroojẹ

head

ìfìrósínròójẹ

ìfìrósínròójẹ

yo-pos

ìfìrósínròójẹ

ìfìrósínròójẹ

yo-noun

ìfìrósínròójẹ

ìfìrósínròójẹ

/ì.fì.ɾó.sĩ́.ɾòó.d͡ʒɛ̄/

From ì- (“nominalising prefix”) + fi (“to use”) + ìró (“sound”) + sín jẹ (“to imitate”) + ìró (“sound”). Literally ‘‘the use of a sound to imitate a sound’’.


aleebu ara

/à.léé.bù ā.ɾā/


balaga

From Arabic بَلَغَ (balaḡa) or from bà + ní + agà.

to reach the age of puberty; to become sexually mature


agbalẹ

/ā.ɡ͡bá.lɛ̀/

From a- (“agent prefix”) + gbálẹ̀ (“to sweep the ground”).

cleaner, sweeper, one who sweeps the ground.


gbalẹ

Contraction of gbá ilẹ̀ (“to sweep the ground”). Cognates include Itsekiri gbálẹ̀, Ifè gbálɛ̀


iṣe

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ṣe (“to do”).

affix

Èdè, àṣà, àti ìṣe Yorùbá.

Yoruba language, culture, and practices.


ọrịṣa

(Ekiti) Alternative form of òrìṣà (“orisha”)


imọ

From ì- (“nominalizing prefix”) + mọ̀ (“to know”).


ekoidẹ

(Ekiti) Alternative form of ìkóídẹ (“parrot feathers”)


Ịarẹfa

/ɪ̀.à.ɾɛ̀.fà/

From Ị̀àrẹ (“highest ranking chiefs”) + ẹ̀fà (“six”).

compound

(Ekiti) high-ranking council of chiefs that advise the monarch


aọfịn

Proposed to be derived Proto-Yoruba *à-ɣɔ̀fɪ̃, from Proto-Edekiri *à-ɣɔ̀fɪ̃. Perhaps equivalent to àọ̀ + ọfịn


ikoidẹ

ìkó (“parrot feathers”) + odídẹrẹ́ (“parrot”), literally “Parrot feathers”

parrot feathers, (in particular) the red tail feathers of the African gray parrot ("odídẹrẹ́"), often used in traditional rituals and ceremonies.