Hi guys,

Can't believe I didn't know Reddit had a Yoruba language sub! LOL. I'm a first generation Irish-Nigerian who typically understands Yoruba but never learned to speak it (honestly I spoke Irish better than I spoke Yoruba) and I'm interested in relearning although I don't know anyone my age who speaks it unfortunately.

Was wondering if anyone on here was also interested in speaking and learning Yoruba online with a partner?

I'm also really inspired by Sugabelly's ndebe script, would love a script for Yoruba, has anyone else seen it?

Some of the most commonly used words in Yoruba, easily explained (pronunciations included).

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https://naijish.com/top-13-essential-yoruba-phrases/

https://preview.redd.it/ytbevzmndan51.png?width=1414&format=png&auto=webp&s=8a013ad80cf4648e58f053572461886a7cdc0055

This list will also include some verb tenses as well because they're very useful as well.

50 most common Yoruba verbs (that people actually use in real life)

1.) To be (something) - ni

Example:

Olùkọ́ ni mí.

I'm a teacher

Usually the subject ("I") comes after the object ("teacher") in a simple sentence like this where it's just subject + verb + object (or rather object + verb + subject). But there are other ways to use this particular verb as well.

Example:

Ìwé ni.

It's a book.

As you can see in this example, the subject comes before the verb. Nobody says this any other way (to my knowledge).

I will show you one more way this verb can be used.

Example:

Èmi ni mo jẹ́un.

I'm the one who ate.

To say A is the one who *verb* B, say A + ni + pronoun of A + *verb* + B

2.) To be (somewhere)/to be there - wà

Examples:

Ẹ̀gbọ́n mi wà ní yáàrá wọn.

Translation: My older sibling is in his/her room.

Ata wà.

There is pepper.

3.) To be (in terms of the continuous tense) - ń

Example:

Ó ń nu 'lé

He is cleaning the house.

4.) To have (auxiliary) - ti

Example:

Won ti jáde.

They have gone out.

5.) To have (something) - ní

Example:

Mo ní mọ́tò mẹ́ta.

I have three cars.

6.) Will (future tense) - máa

Example:

Ó máa bá girlfriend ẹ̀ sọ̀rọ̀ l'álẹ́ òní.

He'll talk to his girlfriend tonight.

7.) To eat - jẹ

Example:

Mo fẹ́ràn láti j'agbálùmọ́.

I like to eat agbalumo.

This verb should never be used on its own. It must always be followed by an object.

8.) To eat food - jẹun

Example:

O ò lè jẹun.

You can't eat.

This sentence must always be used without a noun. After all, one cannot eat food food.

9.) To be able to/can - lè

Example:

Girlfriend mi lè gbẹ́sẹ̀.

My girlfriend can gbese.

10.) To use - lò

Example:

O lè lò fónù mi tí ò bá rí tie.

You can use my phone if you can't find yours.

11.) to want - fẹ́

Example:

Mo fẹ́ j'ẹbà.

I want to eat eba.

12.) to go - lọ

Example:

A lọ sí sìnìma l'ánà.

We went to the cinema yesterday.

13.) to see - rí

Example:

Ṣ'o lè r'íyàtọ̀ l'áàrin bùbá yìí atí bùbá yẹn?

Can you see the difference between this shirt and that shirt?

14.) To do - ṣe

Example:

Ṣe homework ẹ.

Do your homework.

15.) To cook - sè

Example:

Màá sè ọ̀bẹ̀.

I'm going to cook stew.

16.) To buy - rà

Example:

Mo gbọ́dò rà ẹ̀bùn fún abúrò mi.

I have to buy a gift for my younger sibling.

17.) to come - wá

Example:

J'ọ̀ọ́ wá.

Please come.

18.) to say - sọ

Ṣó o lè tún sọ? Mi ò gbó ẹ dádá.

Can you say that again? I didn't hear you very well.

19.) to read - kà

Example:

O gbọ́dọ̀ kà.

You must read.

20.) to shower - wẹ̀

Example:

Mo wẹ̀ l'ójojúmọ́.

I shower every day.

21.) to wash - fọ

Example:

Ṣó o fẹ ki n **fọ'**ṣọ ẹ?

Do you want me to wash your clothes?

22.) to listen/to hear - gbọ́

Example:

Mo lè gbọ́ olùkọ́ dádá láti l'ẹ́hín.

I could hear the teacher quite well from the back.

23.) to talk - sọ̀rọ̀

Example:

O ò tí ń sọ̀rọ̀ rara.

You haven't been talking at all.

24.) to turn on - tan

T'o bá lọ sí s'álẹ̀, tan'ná.

If you go downstairs, turn on the light.

25.) to ask - berè

Example:

Ó pé láti berè fún owó diẹ̀ si.

He called to ask for more money.

26.) To rest - sinmi

Example:

Mo ń sinmi.

I'm resting.

27.) to sleep - sùn

Example:

O gbọ́dọ̀ sùn fún wákàtí mẹ́jọ.

You must sleep for eight hours.

28.) to return - padà

T'o bá fẹ́ risíìt ẹ, padà s'ọ́jà.

If you want your reciept, return to the store.

29.) to stand - didé

Mo gbọ́dọ̀ didé.

I must stand.

30.) to walk - rìn

Example:

Mo rìn si yùnìfásítì l'ojojúmọ́.

I walk to university every day.

31.) to call - pé

Pé abúrò ẹ kó bá ẹ tún yàrá ṣe.

Call your brother to help you clean the room.

32.) to wake up - jí

Ago mẹ́fa ni mo má n jí l'ojojúmọ

I usually wake up at six every morning.

33.) to close - tì

Example:

O lè t'ilẹ̀kùn nígbàkúgbà t'o bá fẹ́.

You can shut the door whenever you want.

34.) to explain - ṣalayé

Example:

Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, ṣ'ẹ́ lè ṣalayé fún mi?

Please can you explain it to me?

35.) to search - wà

Example:

Wọn w'ajá wọn.

They looked for their dog.

36.) to run - sáré

Mo má ń sáré l'ojojúmọ́.

I usually run every day.

37.) to put - fi (nnkan) sí

Níbo l'o fi kọ́kọ́rọ́ sí?

Where did you put the keys?

38.) to answer (someone) - dá (ènìyàn) lóhùn

Kí l'ó dé t'o ò dá mi lóhùn nígbà tí mo pí ẹ?

Why didn't you answer me when I called you?

39.) to finish - ṣe tán

O ti sẹ tán ni? Ó ga o!

So is it that you've finished? Wow!

40.) to look/watch - wòó

Wòó!

Look!

41.) to laugh/to smile - rẹrìn

Dámilọ́lá rẹrìn.

Damilola smiled.

42.) To wait/stop/pause - dúró

Dúró, mo ń bọ̀.

Wait, I'm coming.

43.) To remember - rántí

Kò lè rántí orúkọ mi rara.

He can't remember my name at all.

44.) to die - kú

Ó kú.

She died.

45.) To open - ṣi

Rọ́rá t'ó ba ṣi ìgọ̀.

Be careful when you open the bottle.

46.) to study - kàwé

Mi o lè jáde nítorí pé mo gbọ́dọ̀ kàwé l'ọ́làá

I can't go out because I have to study tomorrow.

47.) to sing - kọrin

Mo fẹ́ràn láti kọrin.

I like to sing.

If you want to say to sing \something, you say kọ \nnkan.

48.) to fight - jà

Wọn jà l'áfín ọba Èjìgbò.

They're fighting in the palace of Ejigbo.

49.) to cry - ké

Obìnrín bẹ̀rẹ̀ láti ké.

The woman started to cry.

50.) to sweep - gbá

Example:

Mo ń gbá'lẹ̀.

I'm sweeping the floor.

Notes:

Yoruba is not my first language. I did this because I don't think there's any list like this that contains actual need-to-know-from-the-get-go verbs. Please correct me if I've made an error somewhere.

1. Plz forget about writing, the alphabet and accents. That will only hinder you until you have become fluent. Save this for last.

2. Learn how to pronounce words in Yoruba by learning phrases in Yoruba on youtube. For example let's use Blessing Kayode's Learn Yoruba series. One of the most common greetings is "E kaaro". Play it over and over again. Make a recording of her saying it and be playing it over and over again while doing other stuff. Be pronouncing it over and over again. Go to someone that knows how to speak the language and ask them to drill you on how to say that specific phrase. And repeat for others.

3. Binge Blessing Kayode. Binge the Yoruba episodes, then binge the fun lists, then binge the lyric translations, then binge the conversations, then binge the rants. Voice record every new phrase you come across that includes new vocabulary or something you could not piece together on your own on anki. The reason why I recommend her so strongly is because she is the only one I have found that has intermediate content. Not just beginner or advanced.

4. If there's a grammatical concept or noun that you do not understand, ask someone. Don't listen to natives who say "You can't just explain it. Yoruba doesn't work like that." Yes it fucking does. It's a language. Just like English. Because people say the same thing about Pidgin, a language I understand very fluently, like you can't explain "Ah ah!" to someone. You can! And they know they can explain these things deep down. They're just too lazy. Find someone that is not too lazy.

5. Talk in Yoruba to everyone you know who speaks it. They will encourage you at first but then they will try and start discouraging you because you sound cringy. Keep speaking no matter what. You'll improve

6. After binging Blessing, watch Netflix yoruba movies with subtitles. They often have more clear speech. Like I said, voice record any new vocabulary/phrase on anki

7. Get a teacher on italki or a Yoruba bf/gf You can do whatever you want with this but me, I usually just ask them to explain those confusing grammatical concepts. They are usually the only ones who have enough patience to explain consistently

S'o wa? - Are you fine?

Bawo ni? - How are you?

S'alaafia ni? - Is your health good? (Are you fine?)

S'o wa pa? - Are you good?

Se daadaa ni? - Is all well? (Not in an insulting way lol)

S'o wa daadaa? - Are you fine?

Honestly speaking this woman is so underrated. I'm not affiliated with her or anything but chai. Idk where my Yoruba would be without her.

Should we cross post/advertise on other subreddits?

1. Firstly learn the Yoruba Alphabet, it seems similar to the English Alphabet but it's slightly different and you need to know the differences. Here's a great video that explains the differences https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpCVvgP2JGI&t=142s
2. Then learn how to pronounce words in Yoruba, Yoruba is pronounced how it's spelt so once you learn the pronunciation you can say any Yoruba word. Check out this video to help you with that https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gmt8MZ8DboU
3. Then build up your vocabulary, so learn the pronouns of Yoruba, Yoruba Verbs and Yoruba Nouns. Check out this site for the Yoruba Vocab https://naijish.wordpress.com/learn-yoruba-fast/
4. Then learn how to build up basic sentences in Yoruba, check out this site for Yoruba basic sentences (including past, present and future tenses) https://naijish.wordpress.com/learn-yoruba-fast/
5. Watch Yoruba Movies on Youtube, unfortunately many Yoruba movies have English subtitles instead of Yoruba subtitles, that's why it's important to learn vocabulary before hand. Try to see if you can pick out a few words as you watch the movie, don't put yourself under pressure.
6. Speak the language, this is one of the most important tips, you should try and find yourself a Yoruba Language partner. If you can't try speaking Yoruba to yourself and recording and seeing how it sounds compared to a native speaker.

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Hope this helps! Wishing you all the best in your Yoruba Language studies!

Learn different items of food in Yoruba

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What was your journey like learning Yoruba?

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