The days of the week in Yoruba are Ọjọ́ Ajé (Monday), Ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun (Tuesday), Ọjọ́rú (Wednesday), Ọjọ́bọ̀ (Thursday), Ọjọ́ Ẹtì (Friday), Ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta (Saturday) and Ọjọ́ Àìkú (Sunday). Ọjọ́ means “day” and ọ̀sẹ̀ means “week”, so this guide gives you every day name, the time words you need to use them, and sentences you can copy straight into conversation.
The seven days in Yoruba
| English | Yoruba | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Ọjọ́ Ajé | Ajé is also the word for trade and wealth |
| Tuesday | Ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun | Ìṣẹ́gun means victory |
| Wednesday | Ọjọ́rú | Often written as one word |
| Thursday | Ọjọ́bọ̀ | Often written as one word |
| Friday | Ọjọ́ Ẹtì | Tone marks matter: Ẹtì |
| Saturday | Ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta | Tone marks matter: Àbámẹ́ta |
| Sunday | Ọjọ́ Àìkú | Àìkú is commonly glossed as “not dying” |
Spelling and hyphenation vary between schools, newspapers and regions. You will see Ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun written with or without a space, and some speakers shorten the longer names in casual speech. The forms above are the ones most widely taught.
Time words you need with the days
- Òní: today
- Ọ̀la: tomorrow
- Àná: yesterday
- Ọ̀sẹ̀ yìí: this week
- Ọ̀sẹ̀ tó ń bọ̀: next week
- Ọ̀sẹ̀ tó kọjá: last week
Example sentences
- Ọjọ́ Ajé ni mo máa ń lọ sí ọjà. I usually go to the market on Monday.
- Ọjọ́ Ẹtì ni a ó pàdé. We will meet on Friday.
- Ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta ni ayẹyẹ náà. The ceremony is on Saturday.
- Ọjọ́ wo ni òní? What day is today?
- Òní ni Ọjọ́bọ̀. Today is Thursday.
The pattern is simple: put the day first, add ni to point at it, then say what happens. To ask “which day?”, use Ọjọ́ wo? (see our guide to question words in Yoruba).
Was there a traditional Yoruba week?
Many Yoruba communities historically organised time around a four-day market cycle rather than a seven-day week, and some towns still describe market days this way. The seven-day names used today are the standard forms taught in schools and used in media. Practice varies by town, so ask elders in your own community which markets and rhythms they remember. The Kọ́jọ́dá calendar on the Atlas companion app also shows how our culture counts the year.
Tips for remembering the days
- Learn them in pairs: Ọjọ́rú and Ọjọ́bọ̀ share the same shape.
- Say today’s name aloud each morning, with its tone marks.
- Write your weekly plan in Yoruba, then add the months and numbers for dates.
- Pair them with time-of-day words to say “Friday morning”.
Frequently asked questions
What is Monday in Yoruba?
Monday is Ọjọ́ Ajé.
How do you say “week” in Yoruba?
Week is ọ̀sẹ̀. “This week” is ọ̀sẹ̀ yìí.
Do the day names change by region?
The standard names are understood across Yorubaland, but dialects and older market-day names differ from town to town.
Continue with our 30-day beginner’s study plan and the Learn Yoruba hub.
Sources
Photos: Eric Rothermel and Marissa Grootes on Unsplash.
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