Category Archives: Learning Yoruba

“ABD” ni ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ ọ̀rọ̀ ni èdè Yorùbá́ – Alphabets is the beginning of words in Yoruba Language

Bi ó ti ẹ̀ jẹ́ pé a ti kọ nipa “abd” ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ ọ̀rọ̀ kikọ ni èdè Yorùbá sẹhin, a tu kọ fún iranti rẹ ni pi pè, kikọ àti lati tọka si ìyàtọ̀ larin ọ̀rọ̀ Yorùbá àti ọ̀rọ̀ Gẹ̀ẹ́si.

Fún àpẹrẹ, èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́si ni ibere oro mẹ́rìndínlọ́gbọ̀n nigbati èdè Yorùbá ni marun-din-lọgbọn.  Ẹ ṣe àyẹ̀wò àwọn àwòrán ti o wa ni oju ewe wonyi:

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Even though we have written about Yoruba Alphabets in the past, it is being re-written to remind  readers on how it is pronounced, written and to point out the difference between the Yoruba and English Alphabets.

For example, English Alphabets are made up of twenty-six letter while Yoruba Alphabets are twenty-five.  Check out the slides on this page.

Diference between Yoruba & English Alphabets

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Originally posted 2014-02-04 19:04:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

ORÚKỌ ỌJỌ́: Days of the Week in Yoruba

Below are the Yoruba days of the week. Of course it is worth noting that very few native Yoruba speakers use these words in conversation.

 

SUNDAY                               ÀÌKÚ

MONDAY                             AJÉ

TUESDAY                             ÌṢẸ́GUN

WEDNESDAY                      ỌJỌ́RÚ

THURSDAY                          ỌJỌ́BỌ̀

FRIDAY                                 ẸTÌ

SATURDAY                          ÀBÁMẸ́TA

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Originally posted 2013-03-19 22:33:05. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Tọ́jú Ìwà Rẹ Ọ̀rẹ́ Mi – Ọ̀rọ̀-orin lati Ìwé Olóògbé Olóyè J.F. Ọdúnjọ – My friend, care about your character – a poem by late Chief J.F. Odunjo

Ọ̀rọ̀-orin yi jẹ ikan ninú àwọn àkọ́-sórí ni ilé-ìwé alakọbẹrẹ ni ilẹ̀ Yorùbá ni igbà ti ile-iwe àpapọ̀ yè koro.  Ṣùgbọ́n ni ayé òde òni, ti gbogbo ilé-ìwé ti kọ èdè abínibí silẹ̀, ọ̀rọ̀-orin ti kò ni ìtumọ̀ ni àṣà àti èdè Yorùbá ni àwọn ọmọ ilé-ìwé ńkà.  Tàbi bawo ni “afárá tó wó lulẹ̀ ni ìlú-ọba” ṣe kan ọmọ ti kò ri iná, omi mímọ́ mu, ọ̀nà gidi, ilé-ìwé ti idaji rẹ ti wó, tàbi ti kò ri afárá ri ni abúlé rẹ̀, ti jẹ́?  A dúpẹ́ lọ́wọ́ àwọn aṣòfin àti Gómìnà ìpínlẹ̀ Èkó ti ó ṣe òfin ki wọn bẹ̀rẹ̀ si kọ́ èdè àti àṣà Yorùbá ni gbogbo ilé-ìwé pátápátá.  A lérò wi pé eleyi yi o jẹ́ ki àwọn olùkọ́ àti ọmọ ilé-ìwé bẹ̀rẹ̀ si kọ́ ọ̀rọ̀-orin tàbi àkọ́-sórí ti ó mú ọgbọ́n dáni.  Ẹ ṣe àyẹ̀wò ki kọ àti ki kà  ọ̀rọ̀-orin yi.

Tọ́jú ìwà rẹ, ọ̀rẹ́ mi;
Ọlá a má ṣi lọ n’ilé ẹni’
Ẹwà a si ma ṣi l’ára ènìà

Olówó òní ńd’olòṣì b’ó d’ọ̀la
Òkun l’ọlá; òkun n’igbi ọrọ̀
Gbogbo wọn ló ńṣí lọ n’ilé ẹni;
Ṣùgbọ́n ìwà̀ ni mbá ni dé sare’e
Owó kò jẹ́ nkan fún ni,
Ìwà l’ẹwà ọmọ ènìà.

Bi o lówó bi o kò n’íwà ńkọ́?
Tani jẹ f’inú tán ẹ bá ṣ’ohun rere?
Tàbi ki o jẹ́ obìnrin rọ̀gbọ̀dọ́;
Ti o bá jìnà s’ìwà ti ẹ̀dá ńfẹ́,
Tani jẹ́ fẹ́ ọ s’ílé bi aya?
Tàbi ki o jẹ oníjìbìtì ènìà;
Bi o tilẹ̀ mọ ìwé àmọ̀dájú,
Tani jẹ́ gbé’ṣé ajé fún ọ ṣe?

Tọ́jú ìwà rẹ, ọ̀rẹ́ mi,
Ìwà kò sí, ẹ̀kọ́ dègbé;
Gbogbo ayé ni ‘nfẹ́ ‘ni t’ó jẹ́ rere.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION Continue reading

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Originally posted 2018-08-10 02:12:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Bíbẹ Èkó wo fún Ọ̀sẹ̀ kan – Ọjọ́ kẹta: Visiting Lagos for one week – Day 3 (Yoruba Conversation)

Apá Kinni – Part One

You can also download the conversation by right clicking this link: A conversation in Yoruba – Day 3(mp3)
Continue reading

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Originally posted 2013-06-04 17:09:30. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

BÍBẸ ÈKÓ WÒ FÚN Ọ̀SẸ̀ KAN: A One Week Visit to a Yoruba Speaking City (Yoruba dialogue inLagos)

These series of posts will center around learning the Yoruba words, phrases and sentences you might come across if you visited a Yoruba speaking city or state (here Lagos). A sample conversation is available for download. We will be posting more conversations. Please leave comments on the blog post, and anything you would like to see or hear covered in this conversation.

You can also download the Yoruba alphabets by right clicking this link: A conversation in Yoruba(mp3)

Use the table below to follow the conversation: Continue reading

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Originally posted 2013-03-22 22:06:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Ohun ti mo fẹ́ràn nipa Ìsimi Iparí Ọ̀sẹ̀ – What I love about the Weekend Break

Ni ọjọ́ Ẹti, ọjọ́ karun ti a ti bẹ̀rẹ̀ ilé-iwé ni ọ̀sẹ̀, inú mi ma ń dùn nitori ilé-iwé ti pari ni agogo kan ọ̀sán, ti ìsimi bẹ̀rẹ̀.

Mo fẹ́ràn ìsimi ipari ọ̀sẹ̀ nitori mo ma nri àwọn òbí mi.  Lati ọjọ́ Ajé titi dé ọjọ́ Ẹti, mi o ki ri ìyá àti bàbá mi nitori súnkẹrẹ-fàkẹrẹ ọkọ̀ ni Èkó, wọn yio ti jade ni ilé ni kùtùkùtù òwúrọ̀ ki n tó ji, wọn yio pẹ́ wọlé lẹhin ti mo bá ti sùn.

Mo tún fẹ́ràn ìsimi ipari ọ̀sẹ̀ nitori mo ma ńsùn pẹ́, mo tún ma a ńri àyè wo eré lori amóhùn-máwòrán.  Ni àkókò ilé-iwé, mo ni lati ji ni agogo mẹfa òwúrọ̀ lati múra fún ọkọ̀ ilé-iwé ti yio gbé mi ni agogo meje òwúrọ̀.  Ṣùgbọ́n ní igbà ìsimi ipari ọ̀sẹ̀, mo lè sùn di agogo mẹjọ òwúrọ̀.  Ni ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta, ìyá mi ma nṣe oriṣiriṣi oúnjẹ ti ó dùn, mo tún ma njẹun púpọ̀.  Ni ọjọ́ Àikú (ọjọ́ ìsimi) bàbá mi ma ngbé wa lọ si ilé-ìjọ́sìn, lẹhin isin, a ma nlọ ki bàbá àti ìyá àgbà.  Bàbá àti ìyá àgbà dára púpọ̀.

Ni ọjọ́ Àikú ti ìsimi ti fẹ́ pari, inú mi ki i dùn nigbati òbí mi bá sọ wi pé mo ni lati tètè sùn lati palẹ̀mọ́ fún ilé-iwé ti ó bẹ̀rẹ̀ ni ọjọ́ Ajé.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

On Friday the fifth day of schooling, I am always very happy because school closes at one o’clock in the afternoon when the weekend begins. Continue reading

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Originally posted 2018-07-06 01:10:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Ògòngò lọba ẹiyẹ” – “Ostrich is the King of Birds”

Ògòngò - Ostrich.  Courtesy: @theyorubablog

Ògòngò – Ostrich. Courtesy: @theyorubablog

Ògòngò jẹ ẹiyẹ ti ó tóbi jù ninú gbogbo ẹiyẹ, ẹyin rẹ ló tún tóbi jù.  Ọrùn àti ẹsẹ̀ rẹ ti ó gún jẹ́ ki ó ga ju gbogbo ẹiyẹ yoku.  Ògòngò ló lè sáré ju gbogbo eiye lọ lóri ilẹ̀.  Eyi ló jẹ́ ki Yorùbá pe Ògòngò ni Ọba Ẹiyẹ.  Ọpọlọpọ ẹiyẹ bi Ògòngò kò wọ́pọ̀ mọ́ nitori bi ilú ti nfẹ si bẹni àwọn eiye wọnyi nparẹ́, a fi bi èniyàn bá lọ si Ilé-ikẹransi lati ri wọn.

Àwọn onírúurú ẹiyẹ ló wà ni ilẹ̀ Yorùbá, àwọn eyi ti ó wọ́pọ̀ ni ilú tàbi ilé (ẹiyẹ ọsin)ni, Adiẹ (Àkùkọ àti Àgbébọ̀ adiẹ), Pẹ́pẹ́yẹ, Ẹyẹlé, Awó, Ayékòótó/Odidẹrẹ́ àti Ọ̀kín.  Àwọn ẹiyẹ ti ó wọ́pọ̀ ninú igbó ṣùgbọ́n ti ará ilú mọ̀ ni: Àṣá, Ìdì, Òwìwí, Igún/Àkàlàmàgbò àti Lekeleke.  Àwọ̀ oriṣirisi ni ẹiyẹ ni, irú ẹiyẹ kan lè ni àwọ̀ dúdú bi aró, kó́ tun ni pupa tàbi funfun, ṣùgbọ́n orin Yorùbá ni ojú ewé yi fi àwọ̀ ti ó wọ́pọ̀ lára àwọn ẹiyẹ miran hàn.  Fún àpẹrẹ, Lekeleke funfun bi ẹfun, Agbe dúdú bi aró, bẹni Àlùkò pọn bi osùn. Ẹ ṣe àyẹ̀wò àwòrán àti pipè orúkọ di ẹ ninú àwon ẹiyẹ ti ó wọ́pọ̀ ni ilẹ̀ Yorùbá, ni ojú ewé yi.

Agbe ló laró ————— ki rá ùn aró
Àlùkò ló losùn ———— ki rá ùn osùn
Lekeleke ló lẹfun ——– ki rá ùn ẹfun
Ka má rá ùn owó, ka má rá ùn ọmọ
Ohun tá ó jẹ, tá ó mu, kò mà ni wọn wa ò.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Ostrich is the biggest and has the largest eggs among the birds.  The long neck and legs made it taller than all the other birds.  Ostrich is also the fastest runner on land more than all the birds.  This is why Yoruba crowned Ostrich as the King of Birds.  Many wild birds such as Ostrich are almost extinct as a result of the expansion of towns and cities displacing the wild birds which can now be seen at the Zoo.

There are various types of birds in Yoruba land, the most common at home or in town (domestic birds) are: Chicken (Cock and Hen), Duck, Pigeon, Guinea Fowl, Parrot, and Peacock.  The common wild birds that are known in the town or communities are: Falcon/Kite, Eagle, Owl, Vulture and Cattle-egret.  Birds are of various colours, one species of bird can come in various colours, while some are black like the dye, some are red like the camwood, and some are white, but the Yoruba song on this page depicted the common colours that are peculiar with some species of birds.  For example, Cattle-Egret are white like chalk, Blue Turaco are coloured like the dye and Red Turaco are reddish like the camwood.   Check out the pictures and prononciation of some of the birds that are common in Yoruba land on this page.

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Originally posted 2014-10-17 12:27:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Orúkọ Gbogbo Ẹ̀yà Ara ni Èdè Yorùbá – Names of part of Human Body in Yoruba

Nitotọ àti ṣe ẹ̀yà orí tẹlẹ ṣugbọn a lérò wípé orúkọ gbogbo ẹ̀yà ara lati orí dé ẹsẹ á wúlò fún kíkà.

Ẹ̀yà Ara ni Èdè Yorùbá and the English Translation of names of part of the body

Though the names of parts of the head had earlier been published but we think the readers will find the names of the whole body from head to toe will be useful for reading

 

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Originally posted 2016-08-01 12:05:50. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Ilé làbọ̀sinmi oko” – “Home is for rest after the farm or hard day’s work”.

Bi ènìà lówó tàbi bi kò ni, àwọn ohun kan ṣe pàtàki lati wà ni ílé ki a tó lè pẽ ibẹ̀ ni ilé.  Fún àpẹrẹ: ilé ti ó ni òrùlé, ilẹ̀kùn àti fèrèsé; àdìrò àti àdògán; omi: Ki ba jẹ omi ẹ̀rọ, omi òjò tàbí kànga ṣe pàtàkì àti oúnjẹ.

Yorùbá ni “ilé làbọ̀sinmi oko”, lẹhin iṣẹ́ õjọ, ó ṣe pàtàkì lati ni ilé ti ènìà yio darí si.  Ẹ yẹ àwọn orúkọ àti àwòrán àwọn ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ohun ti a lè ri ni àyíká ilé ni ojú ewé yi.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Whether a person is rich or poor, there are some basic things that are important in a house before it can be called a home.  For example: A house with a roof, door and windows; kitchen and cooking utensils; water: either pipe borne water, rain water or a well and food are all very important in a home.

Yoruba adage said “Home is for rest after the farm or a hard day’s work, hence it is important to have a house for a person to return to.  Check out the names and pictures of many household items on this page.

 

 

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Originally posted 2013-08-13 11:20:51. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

“Ti ibi, ti ire la wá ilé ayé” – Ọ̀rọ̀ àti Ìṣe Ìgboro ni Èkó: “We came into the world with good and bad” – Street Talk and Activities in Lagos

Èkó jẹ́ olú ìlú Nigeria fún ọpọlọpọ ọdún, ki wọn tó sọ Abuja di olú ìlú Nigeria, ṣùgbọ́n Èkó ṣi jẹ́ olú ìlú fún iṣẹ ọrọ̀ gbogbo Nigeria.  Nitori eyi, gbogbo ẹ̀yà Nigeria àti àwọn ará ìlú miran titi dé òkè-òkun/ìlú-òyinbó ló wà ni Èkó.

Yorùbá ni èdè ti wọn nsọ ni ìgboro Èkó, ṣùgbọ́n ọpọlọpọ gbọ èdè Gẹẹsi, pataki àwọn ti ki ṣé ọmọ Yorùbá.  Ẹ wo díẹ̀ ni àwọn ìṣe àti ọ̀rọ̀ ni ìgboro Èkó:

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Lagos was the capital of Nigeria for many years before the capital was moved to Abuja, but Lagos remains the commercial capital of Nigeria.  As a result, every ethnic group in Nigeria and people from abroad/Europe are present in Lagos.

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Originally posted 2013-09-24 19:43:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter