Yoruba Words

Definition: air, wind, breeze Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: a choice, a preference, something chosen Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: a bridge, a crossing Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: gain, profit, advantage, benefit Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: a bell founder, one who makes bells Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: author, inventor, originator, creator Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: conserve, something preserved, preserved food Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: a boat caulker, one who repairs boats Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: unsettled, not established, unsteady Part of Speech: adjective Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: starvation, starveling Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: an accumulation, a pile, a gathering together Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: instalment; an old incurred thing spared from the rest, a gleaning Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: one who forgives, a pardoner Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: a lively person Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: one who puzzles or confounds Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: one who plaits or braids human hair; a hair-dresser Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: one who impedes; hinderer; a barricade Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: one who holds fast, a retainer Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: a consulter of Ifá, diviner Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: a fowl, chicken Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: agreement, bargain, stipulation Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: a tormentor, one who afflicts Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: half, moiety Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Definition: a stain; a blot; a blemish; a speck; a spot; a taint Part of Speech: noun Source: A Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)

Calico dyed in patterns by West African dyers; traditional tie-dye fabric

A hearth; the floor of a fireplace; cooking area

One who forgives; a pardoner; showing mercy

A nickname; an alias; a contraction of a name

Judge; umpire; arbitrator; one who settles disputes

Lake; pond; pool; a body of still water

A hammock; a swinging bed suspended from supports

A village, hamlet; farm house

Adulteration, dilution

An addition, blessing, increment

Remainder, disgrace, fault, blemish

A hunchback (protected by Ọbàtálá)

The act of surrounding

A shark

A short cut to a place

A descriptive name for whale

A Sabbath breaker

A chief priest of the grove

Fatted, fed for slaughter

An adorer, worshipper

The act of feeding together (cattle)

A worshipper of Ògún (Spirit of Iron)

A mosquito

Worshipper of Òrìṣà (Forces in Nature)

Half, moiety

A pregnant woman

Exposition, revelation, disclosure

A wretched being; poor, ragged

Deception, fraud, forgery

A mat screen over canoe for shade

Spiritual cleansing; elevation of consciousness

A bundle of Guinea-corn

A thatcher

Superintendence, supervision, care

A pudding made with ground corn

Sole (flatfish)

Having horns

A sick or infirm person

A spiteful man, persecutor

Questioner; interrogator

A married woman; a wife

Having marks, striped, checkered

Children who die in infancy and reincarnate

Last born child; youngest in family

A mother with a baby; a parent

Armpit

Or (contraction of tàbí)

A rivulet, brook, running water

A bribe

A title of honour; chief messenger

A trowel (plastering tool)

A ridiculer; one who laughs at others

A pin

Executioner

Private; secret

A candle

Importunity; persistent requests

A stroke which sunders; clean cut

A fan; an advocate (sacred to Ọ̀ṣun)

A stain; a blot; a blemish; a speck

A spiritualist medium; diviner

A coming and going

A failure in an attempt, insecure holding

Pond, pool, marsh; mud (sacred to Odùduwà/Yemọ)

One who forestalls, one who bespeaks

A strong healthy person

A hammock

The act of sharing together

A casual occurrence; by chance

Ginned cotton

Reprover; rebuker; admonisher

Coadjutor, co-worker, helper

A faithful friend

One who partakes of the same dish

An advisor; one who gives counsel

An inmate; a lodger; the Spirit of Fire

A rival; a competitor; an emulator

A detractor; one who defames or slanders

One portion of anything divided into parts

Mortification, painful reflection, remorse

A Yorùbá pudding made with rice

The act of eating together; mess

A kind of yam

Certain facial marks (tribal marks) among Yorùbá people

A busy-body, a meddling person

An unusual occurrence, often associated with spiritual intervention

Luck, fortune, fate in all manifestations

A waylayer, one who lies in ambush

Forever, eternally; something from the Source of Creation

Attempt, endeavour, motion, proposal, suggestion

English Meaning: Immortality, not dying Pronunciation: ah-ee-KOO Example Sentence: Àìkú fún wa. (Immortality/Long life to us – a greeting/blessing)

English Meaning: Gong, bell; also used as a greeting (permission/excuse me) Pronunciation: ah-GAW Example Sentence: Àgò! Ẹ jẹ́ kí n kọjá. (Excuse me! Let me pass.)

English Meaning: Coconut Pronunciation: ahg-BAWN Example Sentence: Àgbọ́n dùn láti mu. (Coconut is sweet to drink.) Notes: Refers to coconut water or the fruit itself.

English Meaning: Corn, maize Pronunciation: ahg-BAH-daw Example Sentence: A ó gbin àgbàdo lónìí. (We will plant corn today.)

English Meaning: Sword, cutlass Pronunciation: ah-GAH-dah Example Sentence: Àgàdá Ògún mú. (Ogun’s sword is sharp.) Notes: Associated with Ogun, the Yoruba god of iron and war.

English Meaning: Chair Pronunciation: ah-GAH Example Sentence: Jókòó lórí àga. (Sit on the chair.)

English Meaning: Prayer Pronunciation: ah-DOO-rah Example Sentence: Àdúrà la fi ń bẹ̀bẹ̀. (It is through prayer that we make petitions.)

English Meaning: Chicken, hen Pronunciation: ah-JEH Example Sentence: Adìẹ wa ní àgbàlá. (The chickens are in the courtyard.)

English Meaning: Crown Pronunciation: ah-DEH Example Sentence: Ọba wọ adé. (The king wears a crown.) Notes: Symbol of royalty and authority in Yoruba culture.

English Meaning: Younger sibling Pronunciation: ah-boo-RAW Example Sentence: Àbùrò mi lọ sí ilé-ìwé. (My younger sibling went to school.)

English Meaning: Pregnant Pronunciation: ah-BEE-yeh Example Sentence: Ìyá mi wà labíyẹ. (My mother is pregnant.)

English Meaning: Needle Pronunciation: ah-BEH-reh Example Sentence: Fún mi ní abẹ́rẹ́. (Give me a needle.) Notes: Used for sewing.

English Meaning: Razor, knife Pronunciation: ah-BEH Example Sentence: Abẹ náà mú. (The razor is sharp.)

English Meaning: Chest Pronunciation: ah-YAH Example Sentence: Ó pa ọwọ́ lé àyà. (He/she struck the chest – indicating emphasis or oath).

English Meaning: Cloth, clothing, garment Pronunciation: ah-SHAW Example Sentence: Àṣọ rẹ dára púpọ̀. (Your cloth is very beautiful.) Notes: Traditional Yoruba clothing is often elaborate and colorful.

English Meaning: Arm Pronunciation: ah-PAH Example Sentence: Àpá mi dùn mí. (My arm hurts me.) Notes: Refers to the body part from shoulder to hand.

English Meaning: Bean cake (fried bean fritters) Pronunciation: ah-KAH-rah Example Sentence: Mo fẹ́ ra àkàrà àti ẹ̀kọ fun oúnjẹ òwúrọ̀. (I want to buy bean cakes and corn pudding for breakfast.) Notes: A popular Nigerian street food made from black-eyed peas.

English Meaning: Elder Pronunciation: ah-GBAH (with mid-low tone on à, low tone on gbà) Example Sentence: Àgbà ni ọ̀rọ̀ dé bá sá. (It is to the elder that matters are reported.) Notes: This word shows respect for older people in Yoruba culture. Elders are highly valued for their wisdom and experience.

Part of Speech: Pronoun English Meaning: Him, her, it (third person singular pronoun) Example: Mo fa a — I draw him or her Source: Dictionary of the Yoruba Language (1918)