Celebrations are central to Yoruba life, and the right greeting makes them warmer. This guide gives you phrases for birthdays, weddings, new babies and achievements, so you can congratulate people in Yoruba.
Happy birthday in Yoruba
| English | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| Happy birthday | Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ìbí / Ọjọ́ ìbí aláyọ̀ |
| Congratulations | Ẹ kú oríire |
| May you live long | Kí o pẹ́ láyé |
| Greetings on the celebration | Ẹ kú ayẹyẹ |
Ẹ kú means ‘greetings on’ and is the building block of many Yoruba congratulations: Ẹ kú plus the occasion. The same pattern appears in our Yoruba greetings and the new-month greeting in our Happy New Month guide.
Congratulations for other occasions
| Occasion | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| Wedding | Ẹ kú oríire ìgbéyàwó |
| New baby | Ẹ kú oríire ọmọ tuntun |
| Success or achievement | Ẹ kú oríire àṣeyọrí |
| Happy wedding | Ìgbéyàwó aláyọ̀ |
Weddings are big occasions in Yoruba culture. Read our guide to the Yoruba traditional wedding, and see our guide to names given at birth if you are celebrating a new baby. Newborns are often welcomed with a naming ceremony; see Yoruba baby names.
Tips for celebrating in Yoruba
- Start with a greeting, then add the congratulation.
- Use the respectful ẹ with elders. See greeting elders in Yoruba.
- Say thanks when someone congratulates you: Ẹ ṣé.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say happy birthday in Yoruba? Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ìbí, or Ọjọ́ ìbí aláyọ̀.
How do you say congratulations in Yoruba? Ẹ kú oríire.
Photo: Unsplash contributor, a festival crowd in Lagos, illustrative of celebration. Spellings and tone marks follow common usage; check with a native speaker for formal writing.
