Yoruba is a vibrant language spoken by millions in Nigeria and beyond, full of culture, proverbs, and everyday wisdom. Learning a few common Yoruba phrases is a fun way to connect with its speakers and experience the language in daily life.
Greetings in Yoruba
| English | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| Greetings | Ìkíni |
| Good evening | Kúrọ̀lẹ́ |
| Good morning | Káàárọ̀ |
| Good afternoon | Káàsán |
| How are you? | Báwo ni |
| How are you today? | Báwo ni |
| I am fine | Mo wà dáadáa |
| Have a good day | Òní a dára o |
| I am doing well | Mo wà dáadáa |
| Hi / Hello | Ẹ ǹ lẹ́ o |
| Nice to meet you | Inú mí dún láti pàdé rẹ |
| See you soon | Máa rí ẹ láìpẹ́ |
| See you later | Ó dìgbà |
Love language in Yoruba
| English | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| Love language | Èdè ìfẹ |
| I love you | Mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ |
| I miss you | Ọkàn mi ń fà sí ẹ |
| I love you so much | Mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ gán-àn |
| I want to see you | Mo fẹ́ rí ẹ |
| I love you with all my heart | Mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ t’ọkàn t’ọkàn |
| I love you too | Èmi náà nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ |
| I want to see you | Mo fẹ́ rí ẹ |
| I like you | Mo fẹ́ràn rẹ |
| You are beautiful | Ó rẹwà |
| My love | Ìfẹ́ mi |
| You look beautiful | Ó rẹwà |
| My beautiful wife | Ìyàwó mi tó rẹwà |
| I miss you so much, darling | Ọkàn mi ń fà sí ẹ gán-àn, olólùfẹ́ mi |
| I need you | Mo nílò rẹ |
| You will miss me | Wàá sàfẹ̀rí mi |
| Goodbye, my love | Ó dábọ̀, ìfẹ́ mi |
| See you tomorrow | Ó d’ọ̀la |
| I will marry you | Mo máa fẹ́ ẹ |
| I need some space | Mo fẹ́ àyè díẹ |
| I need your love | Mo nílò ìfẹ́ rẹ |
| You are mine | Ìwọ̀ ni tèmi |
Direction in Yoruba
| English | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| Direction | Ìtọ́sọ́nà |
| Where are you? | Níbo lo wà? |
| Where did you go? | Níbo lo lọ? |
| Where do you live? | Níbo lo ń gbé? |
| Where are you going? | Níbo lo ń lọ? |
| Where were you? | Níbo lo o wà? |
Common questions in conversations in Yoruba
| English | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| Common questions in conversations | Àwọn ìbéèrè tó wọ́pọ̀ nínú ìjíròrò |
| How much? | Éèlò? |
| How are you feeling? | Báwo ni o ṣe ń ṣe ọ? |
| How have you been? | Báwo ni? |
| What is your name? | Kí ni orúkọ rẹ? |
| What are you doing? | Kí lo ń ṣe? |
| What are you cooking/eating? | Kí lo ń sè / ń jẹ̀? |
| Are you okay, dear? | Ṣé ó wà dáadáa, olólùfẹ́? |
| When are you coming? | Igbà wo lo ń bọ̀? |
| How was your night? | Ṣé o sùn dáadáa? |
| How are you doing? | Báwo ni? |
| How is your family? | Báwo ni ẹbí rẹ? |
| How was your day? | Báwo ọjọ́ rẹ? |
| What is wrong? | Kí ló dé? |
| What do you mean? | Kí lo ń sọ? |
| How is the weather over there? | Báwo ni ojú ọjọ́ ṣe rí lọ́hùn? |
| Have you gone to church? | Njẹ o lọ sí ilé ìjọsìn? |
| What is this? | Kí ni eléyì? |
| What’s going on? | Kí lo ń ṣẹlẹ̀? |
| Are you listening? | Ṣé o ń gbọ́? |
| Have you heard? | Ṣé o ti gbọ́? |
| Can I go home? | Ṣé mo lè lọ sílé? |
| Can I ask you something? | Ṣé mo lè béèrè nǹkan kan lọ́wọ́ rẹ? |
| How is everything? | Báwo ni gbogbo nǹkan? |
| What’s your phone number? | Kí ni nọ́mbà ẹrọ ìbánisọ̀rọ̀ rẹ? |
Everyday conversation in Yoruba
| English | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| Everyday conversation | Ìjíròrò ojoojúmọ́ |
| Happy birthday | O kú ọjọ́ ìbí |
| Thank you | O ṣeun |
| Sorry | Má bínú |
| You are welcome | Kò tọ́pẹ́ |
| Me too! | Èmi náà |
| May God protect you | Kí Ọlọ́run dáàbò bo ẹ |
| She is happy | Inú rẹ dùn |
| Please help me | Jọ̀ọ́, ràn mí lọ́wọ́ |
| I don’t know | Mi ò mọ̀ |
| I will come tomorrow | Mo máa wá lọ́la |
| Come here | Wá síbí |
| Feel at home | Ilé nílé rẹ |
| Be blessed | Kí Ọlọ́run ó bùkún ọ |
| I am coming soon | Mo ń bọ láìpẹ́ |
| Excuse me | Jọ̀ọ́ |
| Leave me alone | Fí mí sílẹ̀ |
| It is okay | Ó dáa |
| I am going home | Mo ń lọ sílé |
| I don’t want | Mi ò fẹ́ |
| Love is a beautiful thing | Ìfẹ́ jẹ nǹkan tó dára |
| Let me try it | Jẹ́ kí n gbìyànjú rẹ |
| Welcome home | Kààbọ̀ sílé |
| I reached home safely | Mo délé láyọ̀ |
| God is good | Ọlọ́run dára |
| I don’t understand | Kò yé mi |
| We are happy to see you | Inú wa dùn láti rí ẹ |
| I have it | Mo ní í |
| Rest in peace | Sùn ré |
| I don’t have money | Mi ò ní owó |
| I am done | Mo ti ṣe tán |
| I am going to the shop | Mo ń lọ sí ilé ìtajà |
| Happy New Year | À kú ọdún tuntun |
| Bad manners | Àwọn ìwà búburú |
| Stop using your phone | Dá lílo ẹrọ ìbánisọ̀rọ̀ rẹ dúró |
| I need a favour, please | Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́ kan, jọ̀ọ́ |
| Haven’t seen you for ages | Kú ọjọ́ mẹ́ta |
| Great to see you again | Inú mi dùn láti rí ẹ pàdà |
| I really appreciate it | Mo mọrírì rẹ gán-àn |
| You made my day | Ó mú kí ọjọ́ mi dùn |
| No problem | Kò sí ìṣòro |
| We are hiring | À ń gba àwọn èèyàn ṣíṣẹ́ |
Expand your Yoruba vocabulary daily. Learn five new phrases every day with our Yoruba Dictionary and strengthen your language journey.
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