Yorùbá
Yoruba
Niger-Congo
Also known as: Yoruba
Yoruba (Èdè Yorùbá) is one of West Africa's major languages, with ~45M speakers — primarily in southwestern Nigeria (~40M across Lagos, Ibadan, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Kwara States), with sizable communities in Benin (~3M) and Togo (~1M), plus a strong Atlantic diaspora through Cuban Lucumí, Brazilian Candomblé, and Trinidadian Orisha religious practice. Linguistically, it is part of the Volta-Niger subgroup (sister to Itsekiri and Igala), with 3 phonemic tones (high á / mid a / low à) and a 7-vowel inventory (i e ɛ a ɔ o u) plus 5 nasal vowels. The orthography uses Latin with sub-dot for /ɛ ɔ ʃ/ and acute/grave for tone. Yoruba is the carrier of one of Africa's most urbanized pre-colonial civilizations (the Oyo Empire, c. 14th-19th c.), and the Ifá divination corpus — over 256 odu chapters codified and memorized by babalawo priests — is recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. The Atlantic diaspora forms helped preserve African religious philosophy in the Americas.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Yoruba
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo
| Meaning | Yoruba | Edo | Fon | Izii | Urhobo | Degema | Bassa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | omi /omi/ | amẹ /amɛ̃/ | sin /sĩ/ | mini /mini/ | ame /ame/ | amin /amin/ | ní /ní/ |
| Fire | iná /iná/ | erhẹn /eɾɛ̃/ | zo /zo/ | oku /oku/ | erhanre /eɾanɾe/ | itany /itaɲ/ | nyɛ /ɲɛ/ |
| Sun | oòrùn /oòɾũ̀/ | ovẹn /oʋɛ̃/ | hwe /ɦʷe/ | anwu /aŋwu/ | uvo /uvo/ | uvuwo /uvuwo/ | plɔ /plɔ/ |
| Moon | òṣùpá /òʃùkpá/ | uki /uki/ | sun /sũ/ | onwa /oŋwa/ | emeranvwe /emeɾanβwe/ | obaam /obəəm/ | hwɔɖɔ /hʷɔɖɔ/ |
| Star | ìràwọ̀ /ìràwɔ̀/ | orhọnmwẹ /oɾɔ̃mwɛ̃/ | sunví /sṹví/ | kpokpode /kpokpode/ | isio /isio/ | ụsemese /ʊsɛmɛsɛ/ | kùɖù /kùɖù/ |
| Night | alẹ́ /alɛ́/ | asọn /asɔ̃/ | zàn /zã̀/ | enyashi /eɲaʃi/ | aso /aso/ | ạsu /asʊ/ | ma /mã/ |
| Rain | òjò /ɔ̀dʒɔ̀/ | — | jì /dʒì/ | — | osio /osio/ | ọkpar /ɔkpaɾ/ | — |
| Snow | yìnyín /jĩ̀jĩ́/ | isonorhọ /isonoɾɔ/ | — | aka-mini-sunoo /aka mini sunoː/ | — | — | — |
| Wind | afẹ́fẹ́ /afɛ̃fɛ̃/ | ẹhoho /ɛhoho/ | jɔhɔn /dʒɔhɔ̃/ | phẹrephere /ɸɛɾeɸeɾe/ | aphopho /aɸoɸo/ | — | dìì /dìː/ |
| Earth | ilẹ̀ /ilɛ̀/ | otọ /otɔ/ | ayǐkúngban /ajǐkṹɡbã/ | alị /alɪ/ | otọ /ɔtɔ/ | — | ɓóɖó /ɓóɖó/ |
| Stone | òkúta /òkúta/ | okuta /okuta/ | awǐnnya /awĩ̌ɲa/ | mkpuma /mkpuma/ | oraga /oɾaɡa/ | ohinw /ohiŋʷ/ | sɔ́ɔ́-kpò /sɔ́ːkpò/ |
| Mountain | òkè /òkè/ | oke /oke/ | só /só/ | ubvu /ubvu/ | ugbenu /uɡbenu/ | igu /iɡu/ | toɖo /toɖo/ |
| Sea | òkun /òkũ/ | okun /okũ/ | xù /xù/ | eze-ẹnyimu /eze ɛɲimu/ | abadi /abadi/ | — | dyóó /dʒóː/ |
| Mother | ìyá /ìjá/ | iye /ije/ | nɔ /nɔ/ | ne /ne/ | oni /oni/ | onomo /onomo/ | mãɖe /mãɖe/ |
| Father | bàbá /bàbá/ | érhá /eɾa/ | tɔ /tɔ/ | nna /nːa/ | ọsẹ /ɔsɛ/ | ọsunomo /ɔsʊnɔmɔ/ | ɓa /ɓa/ |
| Daughter | ọmọbìnrin /ɔmɔbĩrĩ/ | ọmọ okhuo /ɔmɔ oxuo/ | vǐ nyɔ̌nu /vǐ ɲɔ̌nu/ | nwada /ŋwada/ | ọmọtẹ /ɔmɔtɛ/ | ọkpatam /ɔkpatam/ | dyú-màà /dʒú màː/ |
| I | èmi /èmi/ | mẹ /mɛ̃/ | nyɛ̀ /ɲɛ̀/ | mu /mu/ | mẹ /mɛ/ | mẹẹ /mɛɛ/ | M̀ /m̩/ |
| You | ìwọ /ìwɔ/ | wẹ /wɛ/ | hwɛ̀ /hwɛ̀/ | ngu /ŋɡu/ | wẹ /wɛ/ | wọọ /wɔɔ/ | Ɓe /ɓe/ |
| We | àwa /àwa/ | ma /ma/ | mǐ /mǐ/ | anyi /aɲi/ | avwanre /aβwanɾe/ | eni /eni/ | À /à/ |
| Name | orúkọ /orúkɔ/ | eni /ẽ̀nĩ̀/ | nyǐkɔ /ɲĩ̌kɔ/ | ẹpha /ɛɸa/ | odẹ /odɛ/ | ini /ini/ | nyɛ́nɛ́ /ɲɛ́nɛ́/ |
| Person | ènìyàn /ènìjã̀/ | ọmwa /ɔmwã/ | mɛ̀ /mɛ̀/ | amadụ /amadʊ/ | ohwo /ohwo/ | oweey /oweej/ | nyɔ /ɲɔ/ |
| Head | orí /orí/ | uhunmwu /uhũmwũ/ | ta /ta/ | ishi /iʃi/ | uyovwi /ujoβwi/ | utom /utom/ | dú /dú/ |
| Eye | ojú /odʒú/ | aro /aro/ | nukún /nukṹ/ | ẹnya /ɛɲa/ | ẹro /ɛɾo/ | ụnwo ạḍu /ʊŋʷɔ aɗʊ/ | di /di/ |
| Ear | etí /etí/ | ehọ /ehɔ/ | tó /tó/ | nchị /ntʃɪ/ | erhọn /eɾɔ̃/ | ụsow /ʊsɔw/ | ɖùǔ /ɖùǔ/ |
| Nose | imú /imú/ | ihue /ihue/ | awɔntín /awɔ̃tĩ́/ | imi /imi/ | uwen /uwẽ/ | isuveny /isuveɲ/ | máná /máná/ |
| Mouth | ẹnu /ɛnu/ | unu /unu/ | nu /nu/ | ọnu /ɔnu/ | unu /unu/ | enu /enu/ | wɔ̃ /wɔ̃/ |
| Tooth | eyín /ejĩ́/ | akọn /akɔ̃/ | aɖu /aɖu/ | eze /eze/ | ako /ako/ | ụku /ʊkʊ/ | nyɛ́nɛ́-ɓò /ɲɛ́nɛ́ɓò/ |
| Tongue | ahọ́n /ahɔ́n/ | aranmwẹ /aranmwɛ̃/ | ɖɛ̀ /ɖɛ̀/ | ire /ire/ | erebe /erebe/ | ụḍem /ʊɗɛm/ | mio /mĩo/ |
| Hand | ọwọ́ /ɔwɔ́/ | obọ /obɔ/ | alɔ /alɔ/ | ẹka /ɛka/ | obọ /obɔ/ | ụḅo /ʊɓɔ/ | kɔ /kɔ/ |
| Foot | ẹsẹ̀ /ɛsɛ̀/ | owẹ /owɛ/ | afɔ /afɔ/ | ọkpa /ɔkpa/ | owọ /owɔ/ | avi /avi/ | ɓo /ɓo/ |
| Heart | ọkàn /ɔkã̀/ | ekhọe /exɔe/ | ayi /aji/ | obu /obu/ | udu /udu/ | ụnwo ivom /ʊŋʷɔ ivom/ | kẽ /kẽ/ |
| Bone | egungun /eɡũɡũ/ | ùgbòlòkò /ùɡbòlòkò/ | xú /xú/ | ọkpu /ɔkpʊ/ | ubeku /ubeku/ | uḅuwo /uɓuwo/ | kpa /kpa/ |
| Blood | ẹ̀jẹ̀ /ɛ̀dʒɛ̀/ | esagiẹn /esaɡiɛ̃/ | hun /hũ/ | mmee /mːeː/ | ọbara /ɔbaɾa/ | ịjzalam /ɪzalam/ | nyɔmɔ /ɲɔmɔ/ |
| Poop | igbe /iɡbɛ/ | — | — | nshị /nʃɪ/ | isọn /isɔ̃/ | — | — |
| Love | ìfẹ́ /ìfɛ́/ | arhuẹmwonmwan /aɾuɛ̃mwɛ̃/ | yiwanu /jiwanu/ | ihunanya /ihunaɲa/ | ẹguọnọ /ɛɡwɔnɔ/ | — /—/ | wɛ̃ɖaa /wɛ̃ɖaː/ |
| Tree | igi /iɡi/ | erhan /eɾã/ | atin /atĩ/ | oshi /oʃi/ | urhe /uɾe/ | ụtany /ʊtaɲ/ | tu /tu/ |
| Dog | ajá /adʒá/ | awa /awa/ | avun /avũ/ | nkita /ŋkita/ | eranko /eɾanko/ | ạḅuwa /aɓʊwa/ | gbe /ɡbe/ |
| Cat | ológbò /olóɡbò/ | apusi /apusi/ | asé /asé/ | nwamba /ŋwamba/ | ọtọma /ɔtɔma/ | pọsi /pɔsɪ/ | blete /blete/ |
| Fish | ẹja /ɛdʒa/ | ehẹn /ehɛ̃/ | hweví /ʍeví/ | ema /ema/ | eri /eɾi/ | esen /esen/ | zemi /zemi/ |
| Bird | ẹyẹ /ɛjɛ/ | ahianmwẹ /ahjãmwɛ̃/ | xɛ /xɛ/ | ẹnu /ɛnu/ | ọphran /ɔɸɾan/ | ẹfen /ɛfɛn/ | naà /naà/ |
| Butterfly | labalábá /labalábá/ | ebalabala /ebalabala/ | awɛwɛ /awɛwɛ/ | — | erhi /eɾi/ | — | — |
| Egg | ẹyin /ɛjĩ/ | ekẹrẹ /ekɛrɛ/ | azin /azĩ/ | ẹkwa /ɛkwa/ | ukẹn /ukɛ̃/ | — | gɛ̃ /ɡɛ̃/ |
| Bear | beari /beaɾi/ | — | — | bịye /bɪje/ | — | — | — |
| Horse | ẹṣin /ɛʃĩ/ | ẹ́sín /ɛsĩ/ | sɔ́ /sɔ́/ | ịnya /ɪɲa/ | esi /esi/ | — | sǒ /sǒ/ |
| House | ilé /ilé/ | owa /owa/ | xwé /xʷé/ | ulo /ulo/ | uwevwi /uweβwi/ | ụvay /ʊvaj/ | kõ /kõ/ |
| Milk | wàrà /wàrà/ | ewẹn /ewɛ̃/ | anɔ̌sin /anɔ̌sĩ/ | ẹra /ɛɾa/ | ameivie /ameivie/ | — | nɛɛ̀-nì /nɛɛ̀nì/ |
| Honey | oyin /ojĩ/ | owọn /owɔ̃/ | wǐin /wǐĩ/ | manụ ẹnwu /manʊ ɛŋwu/ | ọnyọn /ɔɲɔ̃/ | — | ɖo /ɖo/ |
| Salt | iyọ̀ /ijɔ/ | umwẹ /umwɛ̃/ | jɛ̀ /dʒɛ̀/ | unu /unu/ | ughweraka /uɣʷeɾaka/ | uḅuwan /uɓuwən/ | tɔ̃ /tɔ̃/ |
| Wine | wáìnì /wáìnì/ | ayọn /ajɔ̃/ | vɛ̌ɛn /vɛ̌ɛ̃/ | mẹe /mɛe/ | iwaini /iwaini/ | — | wã́ìn /wã́ìn/ |
| Rice | ìrẹsì /ìɾɛsì/ | izẹ /izɛ/ | mɔ̌likún /mɔ̌likṹ/ | — | irosu /iɾosu/ | — | — |
| Chocolate | ṣokoléètì /ʃokoléètì/ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Iron | irin /irĩ/ | ematọn /ematɔ̃/ | gan /ɡã/ | igwe /iɡwe/ | utehru /utehɾu/ | ikulele /ikulele/ | nɛɛ̀-kpà /nɛɛ̀kpà/ |
| Wheel | táyà /tájà/ | owe /owe/ | kɛkɛ́fɔ /kɛkɛ́fɔ/ | — | adjugẹn /adʒuɡɛn/ | — | hwii /hwiː/ |
| Silk | ṣẹ́dà /ʃɛ́dà/ | — | sɛ́da /sɛ́da/ | — | esada /esada/ | — | sékè /sékè/ |
| Book | ìwé /ìwé/ | ebe /ebe/ | wémà /wémà/ | ẹkwo /ɛkwo/ | ọbe /ɔbe/ | — | céè-ɖɛ̀ /tʃéèɖɛ̀/ |
| Eat | jẹ /dʒɛ/ | re /re/ | ɖu /ɖu/ | ri /ɾi/ | re /ɾe/ | ḍi /ɗi/ | gbɔ̃a /ɡbɔ̃a/ |
| Drink | mu /mu/ | da /da/ | nu /nu/ | nu /nu/ | da /da/ | nyọnw /ɲɔŋʷ/ | ná /ná/ |
| Sleep | sùn /sũ̀/ | vbiẹ /ʋiɛ/ | dɔ́ amlɔ /dɔ́ amlɔ/ | ku mgbẹnya /ku mɡbɛɲa/ | vwerhẹ /βweɾɛ/ | mẹse /mɛsɛ/ | mɔ́ /mɔ́/ |
| One | ọ̀kan /ɔ̀kã/ | ọkpa /ɔkpa/ | ɖokpó /ɖokpó/ | nanụ /nanʊ/ | ọvo /ɔvo/ | ọvu /ɔvʊ/ | ɖaa /ɖaː/ |
| Two | eéjì /eédʒì/ | eva /èʋà/ | wè /wè/ | ẹbo /ɛbɔ/ | ivẹ /ivɛ/ | iva /ivə/ | sɔ̃ /sɔ̃/ |
| Three | ẹẹ́ta /ɛːta/ | eha /eha/ | atɔn /atɔ̃/ | ẹto /ɛtɔ/ | erha /eɾa/ | ịsay /ɪsaj/ | taa /taː/ |
| Four | ẹẹ́rin /ɛːrĩ/ | enẹ /ènɛ̀/ | ɛnɛ /ɛnɛ/ | ẹno /ɛnɔ/ | ẹne /ɛne/ | — | hĩinyɛ /hĩːɲɛ/ |
| Five | àrún /aːɾṹ/ | isẹn /isɛ̃/ | atɔ́ɔn /atɔ́ɔ̃/ | ise /ise/ | iyori /ijoɾi/ | isuwon /isuwon/ | hm̀m̌ /hm̩̀m̩̌/ |
| Hundred | ọgọ́rùn-ún /ɔɡɔ́ɾṹṹ/ | iyisẹn /ijisɛ̃/ | kanwe ko /kãwe ko/ | ụkporo ise /ʊkpoɾo ise/ | ujori /udʒoɾi/ | itany isuwon /itaɲ isuwon/ | hɔ̃dɛɖɛ /hɔ̃dɛɖɛ/ |
| Hello | ẹ kú /ɛ kú/ | kóyo /kojo/ | a fɔn ganji /a fɔ̃ ɡãdʒi/ | ndo /ndo/ | migwo /miɡwo/ | — /—/ | nyɔɔnpe /ɲɔːnpe/ |
| Thank you | ẹ ṣé /ɛ ʃé/ | ù rú èsé /ù rú èsé/ | àwǎnú /àwǎnú/ | ima ego /ima eɡo/ | miguo /miɡuo/ | — /—/ | mɔãĩ /mɔãĩ/ |
| Good | dára /dáɾa/ | ma /ma/ | ɖagbe /ɖaɡbe/ | oma /oma/ | emamọ /emamɔ/ | ovi /ovi/ | nõ /nõ/ |
| New | tuntun /tũtũ/ | ọgbọn /ɔɡbɔ̃/ | yɔ̌yɔ́ /jɔ̌jɔ́/ | ọphuu /ɔɸuː/ | ọkpokpọ /ɔkpokpɔ/ | ọfany /ɔfaɲ/ | ɖìè /ɖìè/ |
| Red | pupa /pupa/ | baa /baː/ | vɔvɔ /vɔvɔ/ | bara /bara/ | wowe /wowe/ | ạtuatu /atʊatʊ/ | ziza /ziza/ |
| White | funfun /fũfũ/ | fua /fua/ | wéwé /wéwé/ | ọchaa /ɔtʃaː/ | fafa /fafa/ | ọfufu /ɔfʊfʊ/ | pu /pu/ |
| Black | dúdú /dúdú/ | nekhui /nexui/ | wiwi /wiwi/ | ojii /odʒiː/ | biebi /biebi/ | obibi /obibi/ | kpìǐ /kpìǐ/ |
| Green | àwọ̀ ewé /àwɔ̀ ewé/ | ebeebe /ebeebe/ | amamǔ /amamǔ/ | oyingo-oyingo /ojiŋɡo ojiŋɡo/ | ọgiọgiọ /ɔɡiɔɡiɔ/ | — | — |
| Blue | dúdú /dúdú/ | raghoragho /raɣoraɣo/ | fefe /fefe/ | urwukpu-urwukpu /uɾʷukpu uɾʷukpu/ | iblu /iblu/ | — | — |
| Computer | kọ̀ǹpútà /kɔ̀ŋ̀kpútà/ | ekọmputa /ekɔmputa/ | ɔdinatɛ́ɛ /ɔdinatɛ́ɛ/ | — | ikọmputa /ikɔmputa/ | — | — |
| Sushi | sushi /suʃi/ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tea | tíì /tíì/ | eti /eti/ | tíi /tíi/ | — | iti /iti/ | — | — |
| Coffee | kọfí /kɔfí/ | — | kafée /kafée/ | — | ikọfi /ikɔfi/ | — | — |
| Sugar | ṣúgà /ʃúɡà/ | — | suklè /suklè/ | — | oyibu /ojibu/ | — | — |
| Orange | ọsan /ɔsã/ | — | gbŏ /ɡbǒ/ | — | utiẹn /utiɛ̃/ | — | — |
| Ninety-nine | ọ̀kàndínlọ́gọ́rùn-ún /ɔ̀kãdĩ́lɔ́ɡɔ́ɾṹṹ/ | — | kanwe afɔtɔn-nukún-ɛnɛ /kãwe afɔtɔ̃-nukṹ-ɛnɛ/ | — | — | — | kpáɖá-nyɔ hĩinyɛ ɓaɖa-bùè sè mɛ̀nɛ̌ìn-hĩinyɛ /kpáɖáɲɔ hĩːɲɛ ɓaɖabùè sè mɛ̀nɛ̌ìnhĩːɲɛ/ |
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