10 Essential Yoruba Phrases You Will Definitely Need

English is the common language used in Nigeria however, there are three other major official languages which are Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo. You can read the essential phrases you need in Hausa HERE.

Yoruba is a major tribe that makes up 21% of the population and if you are going to pay them a visit, you’ll need some phrases to get you by.

Here are 10 of the most essential phrases you’ll need.

READ ALSO: Learn all About Languages Here!

Ẹ n lẹ (en-le) means Hello: The tradition of the Yoruba people is built around greetings. There is a greeting for everything under the face of the sun and this is a very significant part of their culture, especially when addressing older people. The women courtesy while men bend down and touch the floor with their hands. In older settings, the women kneel while the men lay flat on the ground facing downwards.

E se/O se means Thank you: The Yoruba people are known for being firm believers in upholding manners and etiquette. ‘E ’ is used when referring to an older person, while ‘O‘ can be used with friends and people the same age as you.

Bẹẹ ni and Ra ra mean Yes and No respectively: If a Yoruba person asks you a question, you can reply with either ‘bẹẹ ni‘, which means ‘yes’, or ‘ra ra‘, meaning ‘no’.

Ebi n pa mi means I’m hungry: Food is very important and knowing how to ask for it in the Yoruba language is essential. ‘Ebi n pa mi‘ translates to ‘I’m hungry’.

Omi (Oh-me) means Water: The hot weather in Nigeria makes ‘omi’ an important word to know as it will come in handy when you visit.

Eelo ni eleyi?: How much is this?: If you do not know the basic of the Yoruba language, the Nigerian markets can be tricky for you. Chipping in some Yoruba words while bargaining will definitely give you an edge. So if you want to know how much an item costs? Ask ‘eelo ni eleyi?’

O ti wan ju means It is too expensive: If the price of the item you want to buy is way over your budget, this is the Yoruba way of expressing your displeasure with the prices.

Bawo ni? means How are you?: The Yoruba people say ‘bawo ni‘ to ask how you are. It is more appropriate to say it to your friends, age mate or younger people. Older ones will see it as disrespectful.

Orukọ mi ni means My name is: Introducing yourself in the Yoruba language is really simple. Exchange the ‘My name is’ for ‘orukọ mi ni.

Kosi wahala (Ko-see-wa-ha-la) means No problem: Have you heard of ‘hakuna matata’ which means no worries in Swahili, ‘kosi wahala’ means ‘no problem’ in the Yoruba language.