The end of the year is a season of travel, gatherings and fresh hopes, and Yoruba has warm, simple ways to greet people as one year closes and another begins. This guide gives you the key phrases for New Year greetings in Yoruba, how to reply, the useful vocabulary behind them and a few messages you can send to family at home or abroad.
The basic greeting: Ẹ kú ọdún tuntun
The most common way to say Happy New Year is Ẹ kú ọdún tuntun. Break it down: ẹ kú is the greeting that congratulates or acknowledges effort, ọdún means year (and also festival) and tuntun means new. Use Ẹ for elders and groups, and Ò kú for a friend or someone younger.
| English | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| Happy New Year | Ẹ kú ọdún tuntun |
| Well done for the year (greeting at year end) | Ẹ kú ìparí ọdún |
| Happy festive season | Ẹ kú ọdún o |
| May the year end well for us | Ọdún á yabọ̀ fún wa |
| May this new year be a year of joy for you | Kí ọdún tuntun yìí jẹ́ ọdún ayọ̀ fún ọ |
How to reply to a New Year greeting
Yoruba greetings usually come with a good wish, and the reply answers in kind. A common reply is Ọdún á yabọ̀, which carries the hope that the year will end well for everyone. You can add fún ẹ̀yin náà (for you too) and say Ẹ ṣé (thank you). Younger people often lead with a bow or a kneel when greeting elders, followed by the words.
Useful vocabulary for the season
- ọdún: year, festival
- ọdún tuntun: new year
- ìparí ọdún: end of the year
- ẹbí: family
- ẹ̀bùn: gift
- ayọ̀: joy
- àlàáfíà: peace, well-being
- ìlera: good health
Ready-to-send messages
- Short: Ẹ kú ọdún tuntun, ẹ̀yin ẹbí mi. (Happy New Year, my family.)
- Warm: Ẹ kú ìparí ọdún. Ọdún á yabọ̀ fún wa. (Well done for the year. May it end well for us.)
- Wish: Kí ọdún tuntun yìí jẹ́ ọdún ayọ̀ fún ọ. (May this new year be a year of joy for you.)
Yoruba is a tonal language, so tone marks change meaning. Ask a native speaker in your family to check long messages before you send them.
Year-end traditions many Yoruba families keep
Many families use the end of the year to return home. People from the diaspora travel to Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta and Ile-Ife to see relatives, wear matching aso ebi (family fabric) and share food such as efo riro, moi moi and ofada rice. If you are planning a trip, read our Detty December 2026 guide and our diaspora homecoming guide.
Keep learning with our Yoruba greetings guide, the months of the year in Yoruba and our Learn Yoruba hub.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say Happy New Year in Yoruba?
Say Ẹ kú ọdún tuntun. Add a wish such as Ọdún á yabọ̀ to make it warmer.
What does Ọdún á yabọ̀ mean?
It is a wish that the year will end well for you. It is also the usual reply to a year-end greeting.
Do I need tone marks when texting?
Friends will understand without them, but tone marks make the meaning clear for formal messages and for learners.
Image: Unsplash photographer (Ben Iwara). Phrases are drawn from commonly used greetings; verify with a native speaker.
