The Yoruba alphabet has 25 letters: a, b, d, e, ẹ, f, g, gb, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, ọ, p, r, s, ṣ, t, u, w and y. It leaves out c, q, v, x and z, and it uses small marks under some letters and accents over vowels to show sound and tone. This guide explains each part for beginners.
The 25 letters
| Type | Letters |
|---|---|
| Oral vowels (7) | a, e, ẹ, i, o, ọ, u |
| Consonants (18) | b, d, f, g, gb, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, ṣ, t, w, y |
The letters that look different
- ẹ sounds like the “e” in “bed”, while plain e sounds like the “a” in “hay”.
- ọ sounds like the “aw” in “law”, while plain o is closer to the “o” in “go”.
- ṣ sounds like “sh” in “shoe”.
- gb is one sound, made by saying g and b almost together. It is a single letter, not two.
- p is made with both lips together and sounds like “kp”, as in the word pẹ̀lẹ́ (take it easy).
The three tones
Yoruba is a tonal language, so the pitch of a syllable changes the meaning of a word. There are three tones:
- High, marked with an acute accent (á, ọ́)
- Low, marked with a grave accent (à, ọ̀)
- Mid, usually left unmarked (a, ọ)
A classic example is the same spelling with different tones: ọkọ (husband), ọkọ̀ (vehicle), ọkọ́ (hoe) and ọ̀kọ̀ (spear). Reading the tones aloud as you go is the quickest way to learn them.
Tips for learners
- Learn the seven vowels first, since every syllable in Yoruba ends in a vowel or a nasal sound.
- Practise ẹ, ọ and ṣ with word pairs, such as ẹja (fish) and eja.
- Listen to native speakers and copy the pitch rather than only reading it.
- Set up your keyboard so you can type the marks. See how to type Yoruba letters and tone marks.
When you are ready, continue with our 30-day study plan, 60 common words and the Learn Yoruba hub.
Frequently asked questions
How many letters are in the Yoruba alphabet?
Twenty-five, counting gb as one letter.
Why are there dots under some letters?
The sub-dot shows a different sound: ẹ and ọ are separate vowels from e and o, and ṣ is the “sh” sound.
Does Yoruba use the letter c?
No. The letters c, q, v, x and z are not part of the standard Yoruba alphabet.
Pronunciation comparisons are approximate English guides. For exact sounds, listen to native speakers. Photo: a typewriting practice sheet by Annie Spratt (Unsplash), used to represent learning letters.
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