Once you know a few words, the next step is putting them into sentences. This guide gives you short, useful Yoruba sentences for everyday situations, with their meanings and a note on how they are built.
Introducing yourself
| Yoruba | English |
|---|---|
| Orúkọ mi ni… | My name is… |
| Báwo ni? | How are you? |
| Mo wà dáadáa. | I am fine. |
| Ṣé o ti jẹun? | Have you eaten? |
| Mo ti jẹun. | I have eaten. |
Everyday needs
| Yoruba | English |
|---|---|
| Mo fẹ́ omi. | I want water. |
| Mo ń lọ sílé. | I am going home. |
| Mo jẹ ìrẹsì. | I eat rice. |
| Mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ. | I love you. |
How the sentences are built
Simple Yoruba sentences follow the order subject, verb, object, like English. The small word before the verb tells you who is acting: mo is ‘I’, o is ‘you’ and ó is ‘he, she or it’. See our guide to Yoruba pronouns for the full set, and common verbs to swap into these patterns.
Keep learning
- Practise greetings from our Yoruba greetings guide.
- Say ‘I love you’ in more ways: romantic phrases.
- Follow the 30-day study plan.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say my name is in Yoruba? Orúkọ mi ni…
How do you say I am fine in Yoruba? Mo wà dáadáa.
Photo: Unsplash contributor, a notebook and pencil, illustrative of study. Spellings and tone marks follow common usage; check with a native speaker for formal writing.
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