Trying to find some Yoruba phrases? Below we have listed many useful expressions including: Greeting Phrases | Farewell Expressions | Holidays and Wishes | How to Introduce Yourself | Romance and Love Phrases | Solving a Misunderstanding | Asking for Directions | Emergency Survival Phrases | Hotel Restaurant Travel Phrases | Daily Expressions | Cuss Words (Polite) | Writing a Letter | Short Expressions and words
Also don't forget to check the rest of our other lessons listed on Learn Yoruba. Enjoy the rest of the lesson!
Enjoy these Yoruba expressions, but don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference.
| English | Yoruba Phrases |
|---|---|
| Greeting | Mo kiyin |
| 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 |
| Farewell Expressions | |
| 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 |
| How to Introduce Yourself | |
| 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! | mogbadun 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 and 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 practice | 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 center) | Aarin ilu |
| Historic center (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? | S'owa 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 | |
| I 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) | |
| 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? |
| Zero | Odo |
| One | Eni |
| Two | Eji |
| Three | Eta |
| Four | Erin |
| Five | Arun |
| Six | Efa |
| Seven | Eje |
| Eight | Ejo |
| Nine | Esan |
| Ten | Ewa |
Phrases and daily expressions have a very important role in Yoruba. Once you're done with the Yoruba Phrases, you might want to check the rest of our Yoruba lessons here: Learn Yoruba. Don't forget to bookmark this page.
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