Learn Yoruba Language — Free Lessons
The most complete free Yoruba lessons online — greetings, numbers, grammar, proverbs, culture and WAEC exam preparation. No sign-up required.
Yoruba Greetings & Basic Phrases
Greetings are the foundation of Yoruba culture. In Yoruba society, how you greet someone — and how you respond — signals your respect, your upbringing and your character. Yoruba greetings vary by time of day, the age of the person you are greeting, and the situation. Younger people always greet older people first.
Yoruba culture places enormous emphasis on respect for elders (àgbà). When greeting an elder, younger people traditionally kneel (girls) or prostrate fully face-down (boys). This is called ìbọwọ̀ fún àgbà — showing respect for elders. Even in urban Lagos, this custom is observed.
| Yoruba | Pronunciation | English | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ẹ káàárọ̀ | eh-kaa-ah-ro | Good morning | Use from sunrise until midday. Add "o" at the end to show deep respect to an elder. |
| Ẹ káàsán | eh-kaa-saan | Good afternoon | From midday until sunset. |
| Ẹ káalẹ̀ | eh-kaa-leh | Good evening | After sunset. |
| Ẹ kaàbọ̀ | eh-kaa-bo | Welcome | Said to someone arriving at a place. |
| O dàbọ̀ | oh-da-bo | Goodbye | Said by the person leaving. |
| Ẹ jẹ kí a pàdé ara wa níbẹ̀ | eh-jeh-kee-ah-pah-deh | See you later | Casual farewell. |
| Bawo ni? | bah-woh-nee | How are you? | Standard greeting — expected after the time-of-day greeting. |
| Mo wa daadaa | moh-wah-dah-dah | I am fine / well | Standard response to Bawo ni. |
| E se | eh-sheh | Thank you | Informal. Add "pupo" (poo-poh) for "thank you very much." |
| Ẹ ṣé púpọ̀ | eh-sheh-poo-poh | Thank you very much | More formal and emphatic thanks. |
| Jọwọ | joh-woh | Please | Used before a request. |
| Ẹ jẹ̀ mi lọ | eh-jeh-mee-loh | Excuse me / Let me pass | When moving through a crowd. |
| Pẹ̀lẹ́ | peh-leh | Sorry / Sympathy | Said to someone who is hurt, sick or in difficulty. |
| Kò burú | koh-boo-roo | Not bad / It's okay | Response when asked how you are and things are acceptable. |
| Orúkọ mi ni… | oh-roo-koh-mee-nee | My name is… | Introducing yourself. |
| Níbo ni o ti wá? | nee-boh-nee-oh-tee-wah | Where are you from? | Common conversation starter. |
🧠 Quick Practice — Greetings
Yoruba Numbers 1–100
Yoruba uses a vigesimal (base-20) number system — meaning it builds larger numbers from 20 rather than 10. This is one of the most fascinating aspects of Yoruba mathematics. For example, 35 in Yoruba is literally "five less than forty" (aadọ́ta — subtract 5 from 40). Understanding this system is key to using Yoruba numbers correctly.
The Yoruba number system once confused colonial administrators who tried to impose base-10 counting. Modern Standard Yoruba uses simplified forms for everyday use, especially in urban Lagos. However, knowing the traditional forms is important for WAEC exams and reading older Yoruba texts.
| Number | Yoruba | Pronunciation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ọ̀kan | oh-kan | Base number |
| 2 | Èjì | eh-jee | |
| 3 | Ẹta | eh-tah | |
| 4 | Ẹrin | eh-rin | |
| 5 | Àrún | ah-roon | |
| 6 | Ẹfà | eh-fah | |
| 7 | Èje | eh-jeh | |
| 8 | Ẹjọ | eh-joh | |
| 9 | Ẹsàn | eh-sahn | |
| 10 | Ẹwá | eh-wah | |
| 11 | Ọ̀kan lé lógún ní dín ọ̀wọ́ | oh-kan-leh-loh-goon-nee-din-oh-woh | Traditional: 1 more than 10 |
| 20 | Ogún | oh-goon | Key base number in vigesimal system |
| 30 | Ọgbọ̀n | oh-gbon | |
| 40 | Ogójì | oh-goh-jee | 2 × 20 |
| 50 | Àádọ́ta | ah-doh-tah | 50 = 60 − 10 |
| 60 | Ọgọ́ta | oh-goh-tah | 3 × 20 |
| 70 | Àádọ́rin | ah-doh-rin | 70 = 80 − 10 |
| 80 | Ọgọ́rin | oh-goh-rin | 4 × 20 |
| 90 | Àádọ́rùn-ún | ah-doh-roon | 90 = 100 − 10 |
| 100 | Ọgọrún | oh-goh-roon | 5 × 20 |
| 200 | Igba | ee-gbah | |
| 1,000 | Ẹgbẹ̀rún | eh-gbeh-roon |
Yoruba Family & Relationships
Family is the cornerstone of Yoruba society. The Yoruba extended family (ẹbí) is a close-knit unit that extends far beyond parents and children to include cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and even distant relatives who may share a common ancestor. Understanding Yoruba family vocabulary also reveals a great deal about the culture's values.
In Yoruba, the same word is often used for cousins and siblings — ẹgbọn (older) and àbúrò (younger) apply to both. This reflects the Yoruba view that cousins are not distant relatives but essentially brothers and sisters. Asking "ẹgbọn rẹ ni?" (is this your older sibling?) to a cousin is perfectly normal.
| Yoruba | Pronunciation | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bàbá | bah-bah | Father | Also used as respectful address for an older man. |
| Ìyá | ee-yah | Mother | Also used for any older woman, like "Ma." |
| Ọmọ | oh-mo | Child | Also means "son/daughter" generally. |
| Ọmọkùnrin | oh-mo-koon-rin | Son / Boy child | |
| Ọmọbìnrin | oh-mo-bin-rin | Daughter / Girl child | |
| Ẹgbọn | eh-gbon | Older sibling / cousin | Used for older brother OR sister. |
| Àbúrò | ah-boo-ro | Younger sibling / cousin | |
| Bàbáàgbà | bah-bah-ag-bah | Grandfather | Lit. "old father" |
| Ìyáàgbà | ee-yah-ag-bah | Grandmother | Lit. "old mother" |
| Ẹ̀gbọn màmá | eh-gbon-mah-mah | Uncle (mother's side) | |
| Ẹ̀gbọn bàbá | eh-gbon-bah-bah | Uncle (father's side) | |
| Ìyá àbúrò | ee-yah-ah-boo-ro | Aunt | Lit. "younger mother" |
| Ọkọ | oh-koh | Husband | |
| Ìyàwó | ee-yah-woh | Wife | Also the Yoruba word for "bride" |
| Ẹbí | eh-bee | Family / Clan | The extended family unit |
| Ilé | ee-leh | Home / House | Also represents family lineage |
Yoruba Food, Market & Daily Life
Food is central to Yoruba culture and social life. Many traditional dishes are tied to ceremonies, seasons and regions. Learning food vocabulary is also essential for navigating the markets (ọjà) of Lagos, Ibadan and other Yoruba cities — where vendors will appreciate greatly if you speak to them in Yoruba.
Yoruba cooking typically uses palm oil (epo pupa), locust beans (iru), and a range of leafy vegetables and peppers. The staple starchy foods — amala (from yam flour), ẹbà (from cassava flour), or tutu (pounded yam) — are eaten with hands and dipped into thick soups. "Soup" in Yoruba (obẹ) is a thick stew, not the watery liquid Westerners know.
| Yoruba | Pronunciation | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oúnjẹ | oon-jeh | Food | General word for food. |
| Omi | oh-mee | Water | |
| Isu | ee-soo | Yam | The "king" of Yoruba foods. |
| Iyán | ee-yahn | Pounded yam | Made by pounding boiled yam in a mortar. |
| Àmàlà | ah-mah-lah | Amala | Made from dried yam or unripe plantain flour. Dark brown/black in colour. |
| Ẹbà | eh-bah | Eba / Garri swallow | Made from gari — cassava granules mixed with boiling water. |
| Irẹsì | ee-reh-see | Rice | |
| Irẹsì jollof | Jollof rice | One-pot rice cooked in tomato sauce. Fiercely contested between Yoruba and Igbo and Ghanaian cooks! | |
| Obẹ egúsí | oh-beh-eh-goo-see | Egusi soup | Melon-seed based thick soup — a national favourite. |
| Obẹ ilá | oh-beh-ee-lah | Okra soup | Slimy, nutritious soup made with okra (ilá). |
| Ẹran | eh-ran | Meat | |
| Ẹja | eh-jah | Fish | |
| Epo pupa | eh-poh-poo-pah | Palm oil | The signature ingredient of Yoruba cooking. |
| Àtá | ah-tah | Pepper / Chilli | |
| Ọjà | oh-jah | Market | The traditional open market. Yoruba markets are held on specific days. |
| Iye tó? | ee-yeh-toh | How much does it cost? | Essential market phrase! |
| Dín fún mi díẹ̀ | din-foon-mee-dee-eh | Reduce the price a bit | Bargaining phrase. |
| Ó gbówó jù | oh-gboh-woh-joo | It is too expensive | |
| Mo ń pa mí lára | moh-n-pah-mee-lah-rah | I am hungry | |
| O dára | oh-dah-rah | It is good / tasty |
Yoruba Grammar Fundamentals
Yoruba is a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) language — the same word order as English — making the basic sentence structure relatively familiar. However, Yoruba is a tonal language with three tones that change the meaning of words completely. Understanding the tones is essential for communication.
Yoruba tones are marked with diacritics in written form: the high tone (́), low tone (`) and mid tone (no mark). Getting tones wrong can cause confusion or unintended humour — for example, "igbó" (forest) vs "ìgbò" (beaded cap) vs "igbo" (herb) vs "ìgbó" (Igbo people). Context usually saves you as a learner!
| Topic | Rule | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic sentence | S + V + O (same as English) | Adé jẹ oúnjẹ | Ade eats food |
| Negation | Add "kò" before the verb | Adé kò jẹ oúnjẹ | Ade does not eat food |
| Questions | Raise intonation at the end OR use question words | Adé jẹ oúnjẹ? | Did Ade eat food? |
| High tone (´) | Voice rises — marks on vowels | wá (come), fún (give) | Higher pitch than mid |
| Low tone (`) | Voice falls | àrán (cloth), bàbá (father) | Lower pitch than mid |
| Mid tone (none) | Normal speaking pitch | ile (house), omi (water) | Unmarked vowels |
| Pronouns | Mo (I), O (you), A (we), Ẹ (y'all) | Mo fẹ́ràn rẹ | I love you |
| Future tense | Add "yóò" before the verb | Adé yóò jẹ oúnjẹ | Ade will eat food |
| Past tense | Add "ti" before the verb | Adé ti jẹ oúnjẹ | Ade has eaten food |
| Continuous | Add "ń" before the verb | Adé ń jẹ oúnjẹ | Ade is eating food |
| Possession | Noun + possessor (noun, then owner) | ilé Adé | Ade's house (lit: house Ade) |
| Adjectives | Come after the noun they describe | ọmọkùnrin tótó (good boy) | tótó = good |
| Plural | No separate plural form — context makes it clear | ọmọ (child / children) | Same word |
Yoruba Proverbs & Their Meanings
Ọrọ àgbà ko sọ nù (the words of an elder are not wasted). Proverbs (òwe) are the highest form of Yoruba communication. A person who speaks in proverbs is seen as wise, educated and culturally grounded. Yoruba proverbs are used to teach, to settle disputes, to express love, to warn and to inspire. WAEC Yoruba papers regularly test students' knowledge of proverbs.
There is a famous Yoruba saying: "Òwe l'ẹṣin ọ̀rọ̀, ọ̀rọ̀ bá sọnù, a fi òwe wá a" — "Proverbs are the horse of conversation; when conversation is lost, we use proverbs to find it." Elders begin important conversations with a proverb to signal the gravity of what follows.
| Yoruba Proverb | Literal Translation | Real Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ẹni tó bá fẹ́ jẹ àdán gbọ́dọ̀ mọ̀ pé ó máa ń jẹ loru | He who wants to eat bat must know that it is eaten at night | Every goal has its specific requirements and price. |
| Ọjọ́ a bá sun tán ni ọlá bẹ̀rẹ̀ | The day after we finish sleeping is when tomorrow begins | Don't waste today — tomorrow comes fast. |
| Agbado tó bá fẹ́ ṣogo ara rẹ̀ gbọ́dọ̀ yẹ ara rẹ̀ wò | Corn that wants to be proud must first examine itself | Before you boast, be sure you have something to boast about. |
| A kì í fi ojú ẹ̀ẹ́kí bọ̀ ọ̀jẹ | You don't use the eye of a fly to chase away a wasp | Never use a small solution for a big problem. |
| Ẹni tó bá rí ojú ọ̀nà rẹ̀, kò ní sọ gbogbo rẹ̀ nù | One who finds their path does not waste all of it | Those who discover their purpose do not throw it away. |
| Owó la fi í ń ṣe ọ̀rẹ́ | It is with money that friendship is sustained | Practical: obligations and generosity keep friendships. |
| Àárọ̀ ni ìgbà tí ẹyẹ kan ń kọrin fun ara rẹ̀ | The morning is when the bird sings for itself | The beginning is when you discover your own voice. |
| Ẹni tó gbọ̀ ìkìlọ̀ la fi ń gbé ayé d'ọ̀nà rẹ̀ | One who heeds warnings navigates life safely | Listen to warnings and advice — it will save you. |
| Kò sí ẹni tí ń jẹ ọ̀pẹ tí kò mọ̀ pé igi ló gún | No one eating palm fruit forgets it comes from the tree | Remember your origins and who helped you. |
| Ẹni tó bá fẹ́ rí àárọ̀ gbọ́dọ̀ mọ̀ pé àárọ̀ ń bẹ̀rẹ̀ lóru | He who wants to see morning must know morning begins at night | Success requires preparation during difficult times. |
🧠 Test Your Proverb Knowledge
Yoruba Tone Guide — Master the 3 Tones
Yoruba is a tonal language — the pitch of your voice changes the meaning of a word entirely. There are three tones in Yoruba: high (´), low (`), and mid (no mark). This is one of the biggest challenges for English speakers learning Yoruba, but also one of the most fascinating aspects of the language.
Native Yoruba speakers do not think about tones consciously — they simply know them from childhood. Learners should focus on listening to native speech as much as possible. Watching Yoruba films and music videos is one of the most effective ways to train your ear for tonal patterns.
| Word | Tone Pattern | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| igbó | High | ee-BO | Forest / bush |
| ìgbò | Low | EE-gbo | The Igbo people |
| ìgbó | Low-High | EE-BO | Tobacco |
| wá | High | WA | Come (command) |
| wà | Low | wa | To be / exist |
| wa | Mid | wa | Our (possessive) |
| ọ̀ | Low | oh | He/She/It (low) |
| ọ́ | High | oh | He/She/It (high — different context) |
| ó | High | oh | He/She did (past) |
| fún | High | FOON | Give / For |
| fùn | Low | foon | Blow / To be white |
| orí | High-Low-High | oh-REE | Head / Destiny |
| orì | High-Low-Low | oh-ree | Shea butter |
| ilé | Mid-High | ee-LEH | House / Home |
| Ìlé | Low-High | EE-leh | Place / Earth (philosophical) |
| bí | High | BEE | If / As if / To give birth |
| bì | Low | bee | To vomit |
Yoruba for WAEC — Exam Preparation
Yoruba is a required WAEC subject for students in southwestern Nigeria. The WAEC Yoruba exam tests: Oral/Aural comprehension, written composition (àkọ̀wé), comprehension passages (àgbéyèwò), grammar and literature (àwọn ìwé kíkà). This section covers the key areas tested and gives you model answers and vocabulary for each section.
WAEC Yoruba examiners consistently report that students lose marks on tonal marks — writing "e se" instead of "E ṣé" for "thank you," or omitting the dot under letters like ọ, ẹ, ṣ. Practice writing these letters correctly. One mark per word for tonal accuracy can change your grade from C5 to B3.
| WAEC Area | What is Tested | Key Vocabulary / Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Yoruba | Listening to Yoruba speech and identifying sounds and tones. | Practice: watch Yoruba news, listen to Yoruba radio. Learn all standard vowels and consonants. |
| Composition (àkọ̀wé) | Write a Yoruba composition (narrative, descriptive, letter, argument). | Memorise discourse markers: Lákọ̀ọ́kọ́ (firstly), Lẹ́yìn náà (after that), Níkẹyìn (finally). Use proverbs! |
| Letter writing | Formal letter (lẹ́tà ìfowọ́sọwọ́) or informal letter. | Know the format: date (ọjọ́, oṣù, ọdún), salutation, body, closing (Olùkọ̀ rẹ, Ọ̀rẹ́ rẹ, etc.) |
| Comprehension | Read a passage and answer questions in Yoruba. | Always write answers in Yoruba. Answers must include the subject (pronoun). "Ọmọkùnrin náà jẹ oúnjẹ" not just "jẹ oúnjẹ." |
| Grammar (gírámà) | Identify nouns, verbs, tones, parts of speech. | Learn: Ọ̀rọ̀ orúkọ (noun), Ọ̀rọ̀ ìse (verb), Àfikún (adjective), Àfikún ìse (adverb) |
| Proverbs (òwe) | Explain the meaning of Yoruba proverbs. | Memorise at least 20 common proverbs with their meanings. See our proverbs section above. |
| Literature | Answer questions on WAEC-prescribed Yoruba texts. | Read the prescribed texts carefully. Know characters, themes, and key quotations. |
| Numbers | Count, do arithmetic in Yoruba. | Master 1–100. Know the vigesimal pattern: ọgọ́ta (60 = 3×20), àádọ́ta (50 = 60−10). |
| Greetings | Use correct situational greetings. | Know morning/afternoon/evening greetings AND the appropriate response for each. |
| Common errors | Tone marks, ọ vs o, ẹ vs e, ṣ vs s. | Always write: ọ (with dot), ẹ (with dot), ṣ (with cedilla). These are DIFFERENT letters! |