Learn Yoruba ten words at a time
Yorùbá
Ten short games: the 102 most useful Yoruba words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Greetings and politeness
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the eleven openers everything else builds on.
- Ẹ n lẹ́eh n LEH
- Hello
- Ẹ káàrọ̀eh KAA-roh
- Good morning
- Ẹ káalẹ́eh KAA-leh
- Good evening
- Ó dàbọ̀oh da-BOH
- Goodbye
- A ó tún ríraa oh toon REE-ra
- See you
- Ẹ jọ̀ọ́eh JOH
- Please
- Ẹ ṣéeh SHEH
- Thank you
- Kò tọ́pẹ́koh TOH-peh
- You're welcome
- Ẹ má bínúeh ma BEE-noo
- Sorry
- Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, ẹ jẹ́ kí n kọjáeh JOH eh jeh kee n koh-JAH
- Excuse me
- Inú mi dùn láti mọ̀ yínee-NOO mee doon LAH-tee moh yeen
- Nice to meet you
Order anything by pointing
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu.
- Mo fẹ́...moh FEH
- I would like...
- Èyíeh-YEE
- This one
- Ẹlòó ni?eh-LOH nee
- How much is it?
- Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, ẹ fún mi ní ìwé ìṣiròeh JOH eh foon mee nee ee-WEH ee-shee-ROH
- The bill, please
- Pẹ̀lú káàdìpeh-LOO KAA-dee
- By card
- Owó lọ́wọ́oh-WOH LOH-woh
- In cash
- OmiOH-mee
- Water
- Kọ́fìKOH-fee
- Coffee
- Tíìtee
- Tea
- BíàBEE-ah
- Beer
- Láìsí...LAI-see
- Without...
Yes, no and the essentials
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it.
- Bẹ́ẹ̀ nibeh nee
- Yes
- RáráRAH-ra
- No
- Ó dáaoh DAA
- Okay
- Kò yé mikoh YEH mee
- I don't understand
- Ṣé ẹ ń sọ Gẹ̀ẹ́sì?sheh eh n shoh GEH-see
- Do you speak English?
- Ṣé ẹ lè tún un sọ?sheh eh leh toon oon SHOH
- Can you repeat that?
- Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, ẹ sọ̀rọ̀ díẹ̀díẹ̀eh JOH eh SHOH-roh DEE-eh DEE-eh
- Slowly, please
- Kí ni èyí?kee nee eh-YEE
- What is this?
- Mo nílò...moh NEE-loh
- I need...
- Ṣé ẹ lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?sheh eh leh ran mee LOH-woh
- Can you help me?
Counting to ten
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers.
- Ọ̀kanOH-kan
- One
- MéjìMEH-jee
- Two
- Mẹ́taMEH-ta
- Three
- Mẹ́rinMEH-rin
- Four
- Márùn-únMAH-roon oon
- Five
- Mẹ́fàMEH-fa
- Six
- MéjeMEH-jeh
- Seven
- Mẹ́jọMEH-joh
- Eight
- Mẹ́sàn-ánMEH-san an
- Nine
- Mẹ́wàáMEH-waa
- Ten
Shops and hotels
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk.
- Ṣé ẹ ní...?sheh eh NEE
- Do you have...?
- Níbo ni... wà?NEE-boh nee wa
- Where is...?
- Ó ṣíoh SHEE
- Open
- Ó ti paoh tee PAH
- Closed
- Ṣé ẹ fẹ́ àpò?sheh eh feh ah-POH
- A bag?
- Ó wọ́n jùoh wohn JOO
- Too expensive
- Mo ti ṣètò fún yàrá kanmoh tee sheh-TOH foon YAH-ra kan
- I have a reservation
- Ṣé oúnjẹ àárọ̀ wà nínú owó náà?sheh OON-jeh AA-roh wa NEE-noo oh-WOH naa
- Is breakfast included?
- Kí ni ọ̀rọ̀ ìgbaniwọlé Wi-Fi?kee nee OH-roh ee-gba-nee-woh-LEH WAI-fai
- What's the wifi password?
- Ṣé mo lè...?sheh moh LEH
- Can I...?
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen.
- Tábìlì fún ẹni méjìTAH-bee-lee foon EH-nee MEH-jee
- A table for two
- Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, ẹ fún mi ní àtòjọ oúnjẹeh JOH eh foon mee nee ah-toh-JOH OON-jeh
- The menu, please
- Kí ni ẹ dámọ̀ràn?kee nee eh dah-MOH-ran
- What do you recommend?
- Mi ò jẹ...mee oh JEH
- I don't eat...
- Mo ní inira sí...moh nee ee-NEE-ra see
- I'm allergic to...
- ẸranEH-ran
- Meat
- Adìẹah-DEE-eh
- Chicken
- ẸjaEH-ja
- Fish
- Ó dùnoh DOON
- It's delicious
- Ẹ jẹ́ ká mu sí àlàáfíàeh jeh ka moo see ah-laa-FEE-ah
- Cheers
Meeting people
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes.
- Báwo ni?BAH-woh nee
- How are you?
- Mo wà dáadáa, ẹ ṣémoh wa DAA-daa eh SHEH
- I'm fine, thanks
- Ẹ̀yin ńkọ́?EH-yin n-KOH
- And you?
- Kí ni orúkọ yín?kee nee oh-ROO-koh yeen
- What's your name?
- Orúkọ mi ni...oh-ROO-koh mee nee
- My name is...
- Níbo ni ẹ ti wá?NEE-boh nee eh tee WA
- Where are you from?
- Mo wá láti...moh wa LAH-tee
- I'm from...
- Mo fẹ́ràn rẹ̀moh feh-RAN reh
- I like it
- Ó rẹwàoh reh-WA
- It's beautiful
- Ẹ káàbọ̀eh KAA-boh
- Welcome
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Níbo ni ilé ìgbọ̀nsẹ̀ wà?NEE-boh nee ee-LEH ee-GBON-seh wa
- Where is the toilet?
- Báwo ni mo ṣe lè dé...?BAH-woh nee moh sheh leh DEH
- How do I get to...?
- Sí òsìsee OH-see
- To the left
- Sí ọ̀túnsee oh-TOON
- To the right
- Ẹ lọ tààràeh loh TAA-ra
- Straight ahead
- NíbíNEE-bee
- Here
- Ibùdó ọkọ̀ ojú irinee-boo-DOH OH-koh oh-JOO ee-RIN
- Train station
- Bọ́ọ̀sìBOH-see
- Bus
- Papa ọkọ̀ òfurufúPAH-pa OH-koh oh-foo-roo-FOO
- Airport
- Tíkẹ́ẹ̀tì kan, ẹ jọ̀ọ́tee-KEH-tee kan eh JOH
- One ticket, please
Time and days
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please.
- Nísinsìnyínee-seen-see-NYEE
- Now
- Nígbà míìNEE-gba MEE
- Later
- Òníoh-NEE
- Today
- Ọ̀laOH-la
- Tomorrow
- Lálẹ́ òníla-LEH oh-NEE
- Tonight
- Nígbà wo?NEE-gba woh
- When?
- Àkókò wo ni ó máa ń ṣí?ah-KOH-koh woh nee oh maa n SHEE
- What time does it open?
- Ẹ dúró díẹ̀, ẹ jọ̀ọ́eh DOO-roh DEE-eh eh JOH
- One moment, please
- Ìṣẹ́júee-SHEH-joo
- Minutes
- WákàtíWAH-ka-tee
- Hours
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Ẹ ràn mí lọ́wọ́!eh ran mee LOH-woh
- Help!
- Ẹ pe dókítàeh peh doh-KEE-ta
- Call a doctor
- Ọlọ́pàáoh-LOH-paa
- Police
- Ilé ìtajà oògùnee-LEH ee-ta-JAH OH-goon
- Pharmacy
- Ilé ìwòsànee-LEH ee-woh-SAN
- Hospital
- Mo ti ṣìnàmoh tee shee-NA
- I'm lost
- Ara mi ò yáAH-ra mee oh YA
- I don't feel well
- Wọ́n jí iwohn JEE ee
- It was stolen
- Ọ̀rọ̀ pàjáwìrì niOH-roh pa-ja-WEE-ree nee
- It's an emergency
- Ẹ fi mí sílẹ̀eh fee mee SEE-leh
- Leave me alone