Animals appear everywhere in Yoruba life: in folktales, proverbs, names and everyday speech. This guide gives you the Yoruba names of common animals and birds, with simple example sentences and tips for reading the tone marks. Yoruba is a tonal language, so the marks above vowels are part of each word; where regions differ, you may hear variants. Read the alphabet and tone-mark guide first if the symbols are new.
Farm and Household Animals
| English | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| dog | ajá |
| cat | ológbò |
| goat | ewúrẹ́ |
| sheep | àgùntàn |
| cow, cattle | mààlúù |
| horse | ẹṣin |
| pig | ẹlẹ́dẹ̀ |
| chicken, hen | adìẹ |
| duck | pẹ́pẹ́yẹ |
| rat, mouse | èkúté |
Wild Animals
| English | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| elephant | erin |
| lion | kìnnìún |
| leopard | ẹkùn |
| monkey | ọ̀bọ |
| snake | ejò |
| tortoise | ìjàpá |
| frog | ọ̀pọ̀lọ́ |
| fish | ẹja |
| bird | ẹyẹ |
The tortoise, ìjàpá, is the trickster of Yoruba storytelling; see Yoruba folktales.
Sample Sentences
- Ajá wà níbẹ̀. The dog is there.
- Mo rí ẹyẹ. I saw a bird.
- Ewúrẹ́ yìí tóbi. This goat is big.
- Mo fẹ́ jẹ ẹja. I want to eat fish.
Tips for Remembering
- Learn ten words at a time and say each aloud with its tone.
- Link words to stories and proverbs, such as those in our proverbs guide.
- Practise with the Yoruba language quiz and add words to your glossary.
- Compare with body parts and colours, then build sentences such as a black dog or a white goat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Yoruba word for dog?
Ajá.
Do animal names change by region?
Some do, especially for wild animals and birds. This list uses widely understood standard forms.
Where can I learn more vocabulary?
Visit the Learn Yoruba hub.
Featured image: female herder with cattle in Nigeria, photo by Fatima Yusuf on Unsplash.
