YORUBA PHRASES

GREETINGS

Hi! - Bawo

Good morning! - Ek’aro

Good afternoon! - Ek’asan

Good evening! - Ek’ale

Welcome! (to greet someone) - Ek’abo

Hello my friend! - Bawoni Oremi

How are you? (friendly) - Bawo lowa

How are you? (polite) - Bawo lara

I’m fine, thank you! - Mowa dada, Ese

And you? (friendly) - Iwo na nko

And you? (polite) - Iwo nko

Good - Oda

Not so good - Kofibe da

Long time no see - Ope ti mo ti rie

I missed you - Mos’aro e

What’s new? - Kini tuntun

Nothing new - Kosi tuntun

Thank you (very much)! - Ese gan

You’re welcome! (for “thank you”) - Ko t’ope

My pleasure - Inu midun

Come in! (or: enter!) - Wole wa

Make yourself at home! - Ef’okan bale,Ile lewa

EXPRESSIONS OF FAREWELL

Have a nice day! - Od’igba

Good night! - Od’aro

Good night and sweet dreams! - od’aro kosi la ala to da

 See you later! - mari e ni’gba mi

See you soon! - mari e laipe

See you tomorrow! - mari e lola

Good bye! - Od’abo

Have a good trip! - Irin ajo ada o

I have to go - Moni lati malo

I will be right back! - Mon padabo

HOLIDAYS AND WISHES

Good luck! - Pade orire

Happy birthday! - Eku ojo ibi

Happy New Year! - Eku odun tuntun

Merry Christmas! - Eku odun keresimesi

- Ei del kabir Eku odun Ileya

Independence Day - Eku odun ojo ominira

Congratulations! - Eku ori ire

Enjoy! (or: bon appetit) - Igba dun

Bless you (when sneezing) - Epele

Best wishes! - Nko rere fun e

Cheers! (or: to your health) - Eku araya

Accept my best wishes - Gba nkan rere timo fefun e

INTRODUCING ONESELF

What’s your name? - Kini oruko e?

My name is (John Doe) - Oruko mi ni (john Doe)

Nice to meet you! - Inumidun lati ri e

Where are you from? - Ilu wo loti wa?

I’m from (the U.S/ Nigeria) - Mowa lati ilu (America/nigeria)

I’m (American/ Nigerian) - Omo (America/Nigeria) nimi

Where do you live? - Ibo l’ongbe?

I live in (the U.S/ Nigeria) - Mongbe ni(America/ nigeria)

 Do you like it here? - S’o feran ibi?

Nigeria is a beautiful country - Orile ede to rewa ni nigeria

What do you do for a living? - Ise wo lonse?

I’m a (teacher/ student/ engineer) - (Oluko/akeko/ onimo ero) ni mi

Do you speak (English/ Yoruba)? - S’ole so ede(geesi/ Yoruba)?

Just a little - Mole so die

I like Yoruba - Moferan Yoruba

I’m trying to learn Yoruba - Mongbiyanju lati ko ede yoruba

It’s a hard language - Ede t’ole ni

It’s an easy language - Ede ti kole ni

Oh! That’s good! - hehen, Iyen da

Can I practice with you? - se mole ko pelu e?

I will try my best to learn - Mase iwon ti mole se lati ko

How old are you? - Omo odun melo ni e?

I’m (twenty one, thirty two) years old - Omo (ogun odun lekan,ogun odun
lemeji) ni mi

It was nice talking to you! - Mogbadun bi mose nba e soro

It was nice meeting you! - bi mose pade e

Mr/ Mrs/ Miss Ogbeni - Iya afin…/ Omidan….

This is my wife - Iyawo mi niyi

This is my husband - Oko mi niyi

Say hi to Thomas for me - Bami ki Thomas

ROMANCE/LOVE PHRASES

Are you free tomorrow evening? - S’o raye lati ola lo

I would like to invite you to dinner - mo fe kajo jade fun ounje ale

You look beautiful! (to a woman) - O rewa gan lobinrin

You have a beautiful name - Oruko re rewa

Can you tell me more about you? - Se ole so si fun mi nipa re?

Are you married? - Se oti se igbeyawo?

I’m single - Mosi da wa

 I’m married - Moti se igbeyawo

Can I have your phone number? - Se mole gba nomba ero ibani soro re?

Can I have your email? - Se mole gba iwe ateranse re?

Do you have any pictures of you? - Se oni awon aworan re?

Do you have children? - Se oni awon omo?

Would you like to go for a walk? - Se ole jeka nase jade

I like you - Moferan e

I love you - Mon’ife e!

You’re very special! - Eeyan pataki ni e!

You’re very kind! - Odaa gan!

I’m very happy - Inumi dun gan

Would you marry me? - Se wa femi?

I’m just kidding - Mon sere ni o

I’m serious - Mi o selere rara

My heart speaks the language of love - Okan mi nso ede ife

SOLVING A MISUNDERSTANDING

Sorry! (or: I beg your pardon!) - Ema binu

Sorry (for a mistake) - Epele

No problem! - Kosi’yonu

Can you repeat please? - Se ole tunso jo?

Can you speak slowly? - Se ole soro didie?

Can you write it down? - Se ole koosile?

Did you understand what I said? - Se nko ti mo so ye e?

I don’t understand! - Ko ye mi!

I don’t know! - Mi o mo!

What’s that called in Yoruba? - Kini won npe ni ede yoruba?

What does that word mean in English? - Kini itumo oro yen ni ede geesi?

How do you say “thanks” in Yoruba? - Bawo lese nso pe”Ese gan” ni ede yoruba?

What is this?- Ki leleyi?

My Yoruba is bad - Ede yoruba mi da

 Don’t worry! - Mase iyonu!

I agree with you - Mo faramo nko to so

Is that right? - Se iyen da?

Is that wrong? - Se iyen o da?

What should I say? - Kini kinso?

I just need to practise - moni lati ko gan

Your Yoruba is good - Ede yoruba re da

I have an accent - Ede mi fihan pe mi owa lati ilu yi

You don’t have an accent - Ede re dabi tiwa

ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS

Excuse me! (before asking someone) - Ejo

I’m lost - Mi o mona

Can you help me? - S’ele ran mi lowo?

Can I help you? - Se mole ran e lowo?

I’m not from here - Mio kinse ara ile yi

How can I get to (this place, this city)? - Bawo ni mosele de adugbo yi?

Go straight - Malo lookan

Then - Tobaya

Turn left - Ya si apa osi

Turn right - ya si apa otun

Can you show me? - S’ole fihan mi?

I can show you! - Mole fihan e

Come with me! - Telemi kalo!

How long does it take to get there? - Ato igbawo k’atodebe?

Downtown (city centre) - Aarin ilu

Historic centre (old city) - Ilu atijo

It’s near here - Itosi ibi

It’s far from here - Ojina s’ibi

Is it within walking distance? - Se molerin debe

I’m looking for Mr. Smith - Mon bere Ogbeni Smith

 One moment please! - Jo funmi ni iseju kan!

Hold on please! (when on the phone) - Ejo monbo

He is not here - Ibi kis’ebi ( kosi nibi)

Airport - Papako Ofurufu

Bus station - Ibudoko

Train station - Ibudoko oko ojurin

Taxi - tansi

Near - Sunmo

Far – Jina

EMERGENCY SURVIVAL PHRASES

Help! - Egbawa o!

Stop! - Oto!

Fire! - Ina!

Thief! - Ole!

Run! - Sare!

Watch out! (or: be alert!) - Egbara di

Call the police! - Epe olopa!

Call a doctor! - Epe dokita!

Call the ambulance! - Epe oko tongbeyan lo si ile iwosan

Are you okay? - daada!

I feel sick - Ara mi oya

I need a doctor - Moferi dokita

Accident - Ijamba

Food poisoning - Majele ounje

Where is the closest pharmacy? - Ibo ni ile oloogun oyinbo to sunmon ju?

It hurts here - Eeyan nsese nibi?

It’s urgent! - Ogba kiakia!

Calm down! - Fara bale!

You will be okay! - Ara re aya!

Can you help me? - Se ole ranmi lowo?

 Can I help you? - Se mole ran e lowo?

HOTEL, RESTAURANT, TRAVEL PHRASES

Have a reservation (for a room) - Motigba yara kan sile

Do you have rooms available? - Se awon yara wanle?

With shower / With bathroom - To ni baluwe

I would like a non-smoking room - Mofe yara ti won ti kin mu siga

What is the charge per night? - Elo ni owo re fun ale kan?

I’m here on business /on vacation - Mo wasibi fun ise/ fun isinmi

Dirty - Idoti

Clean - Mimo

Do you accept credit cards? - S’e n gba owo ni ona kaadi

I’d like to rent a car - Mafe lati ya oko ayokele

How much will it cost? - Elo lo ma na mi?

A table for (one / two) please! - Ejo tabili fun eyan (kan/meji)!

Is this seat taken? - Se wan ti gba aye yi ni?

I’m vegetarian - Ounje elewe lemi nje

I don’t eat pork - Mio kin je elede

I don’t drink alcohol - Mio kin mu oti

What’s the name of this dish? - Ki’loruko ounje yi?

Waiter / waitress! - Adani loun!

Can we have the check please? - S’ele fun mi ni iwe sowedowo na?

It is very delicious! - Odun gan!

I don’t like it - Mi o feran e

SHOPPING EXPRESSIONS (Ise nibi nkan rira)

How much is this? - Elo leleyi?

I’m just looking - Mo kan nwo ni

I don’t have change - Mio ni sanji

 This is too expensive - Eyi ti won ju

Expensive - Owon

Cheap – Kowon

DAILY EXPRESSIONS

What time is it? – Ago melo lolu?

It’s 3 o’clock - Ago meta lolu

Give me this! - Fun mi leleyi!

Are you sure? - S’o da e loju?

Take this! (when giving something) - Gba eleyi!

It’s freezing (weather) - Otutu gan nibi gan

It’s cold (weather) - Otutu nibi

It’s hot (weather) - Ogbona nibi

Do you like it? - S’o feran e?

I really like it! - Moferan gan!

I’m hungry - Ebi npa mi

I’m thirsty - Orungbe ngbe mi

He is funny - Apani lerin ni

In The Morning - l’owuro

In the evening - N’irole

At Night - L’ale

Hurry up! - Se kia!

CUSS WORDS (POLITE): It’s good to know these so you know when someone is cussing
at you. Please don’t cuss)

This is nonsense! (or: this is craziness) - Kantan kantan leyi!

My God! (to show amazement) - Oluwa o!

Oh gosh! (when making a mistake) - Mogbe!

It sucks! (or: this is not good) - Eyi oda!

What’s wrong with you? - Kilo ndamu e?

 Are you crazy? - S’onsiere ni?

Get lost! (or: go away!) - Kuroni’waju mi!

Leave me alone! - Fimi sile!

I’m not interested! - Ko wunmi!

WRITING A LETTER

Dear John - John mi owan

My trip was very nice - Irin ajo mi dara

The culture and people were very interesting - Asa ati awon eyan yi daa gan ni

I had a good time with you - Mogbadun igba ti molo pelu e

I would love to visit your country again - Mafe lati wa si orile ede re si

Don’t forget to write me back from time to time - Magbagbe lati mak’owe simi
ni gbogbo igba

SHORT EXPRESSIONS AND WORDS

Good - Oda

Bad - Koda

So-so (or: not bad not good) - Koda kobaje

Big - Nla

Small - Kekere

Today - Eni

Now - ni’sin

Tomorrow - Ola

Yesterday - Ana

Yes - Be’ni

No - Be’ko

Fast - yara

Slow - Koyara

Hot - Gbona

Cold - Tutu
 This - Eyi

That - Iyen

Here - Ibi

There - Ibe

Me (ie. Who did this? – Me) - Emi

You - Iwo

Him - Owun (okunrin)

Her - Owun (obinrin)

Us - Awa

Them - Awon

Really? - Looto?

Look! - Woo!

What? - Kini?

Where? - Nibo?

Who? - Tani?

How? - Bawo?

When? - Nigba wo?

Why? - kilo fa?

NUMBERS

Zero - Odo

One - Eni

Two - Eji

Three - Eta

Four - Erin

Five - Arun

Six - Efa

Seven - Eje

Eight - Ejo
Nine - Esan

Ten - Ewa