← Yoruba lessons
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Lesson 1 of 10
Greetings and politeness in Yoruba
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the eleven openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Yoruba words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Yoruba phrases in this lesson
- 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
A respectful general greeting. Tone and vowel quality matter in Yoruba; the pronunciation guide is an approximation.
Literally we will see each other again.
A reply to thanks, literally it does not call for thanks.
Literally please do not be angry, used as an apology.
A polite way to ask to get past.