Here's a curated list of 200 essential Yoruba phrases to help you practice and build your fluency.
🗣️ Greetings & Polite Expressions
Báwo ni? – How are you?
Mo wà dáadáa, ẹ ṣé. – I'm fine, thank you.
Ẹ káàárọ̀. – Good morning.
Ẹ káàsán. – Good afternoon.
Ẹ káalẹ́. – Good evening.
Od'áárọ̀. – Good night.
Ẹ káàbọ̀. – Welcome.
Ẹ ṣé. – Thank you.
Ẹ ṣé púpọ̀. – Thank you very much.
Kò tọ́pẹ́. – You're welcome.
Ẹ jọ̀ọ́. – Please.
Ẹ má bínú. – Sorry.
Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ìbí. – Happy birthday.
Ẹ kú ọdún. – Happy New Year.
Ẹ kú ayẹyẹ. – Congratulations.
Ẹ kú ìrìnàjò. – Safe journey.
Ẹ kú iṣẹ́. – Well done (at work).
Ẹ kú àtàárọ̀. – Well done (in the morning).
Ẹ kú ìròlẹ́. – Well done (in the evening).
Ẹ kú ìyà. – Sorry for your suffering.
👥 Introducing Yourself
Orúkọ mi ni... – My name is...
Kí ni orúkọ rẹ? – What is your name?
Mo wà láti... – I am from...
Ṣé o jẹ́ ọmọ Yorùbá? – Are you Yoruba?
Mo fẹ́ kọ́ ẹ̀dá Yorùbá. – I want to learn Yoruba.
Mo kàwé ní... – I study at...
Mo ṣiṣẹ́ gẹ́gẹ́ bí... – I work as a...
Mo fẹ́ jẹ́ ọ̀rẹ́ rẹ. – I want to be your friend.
Ṣé o le sọ Yorùbá? – Can you speak Yoruba?
Bẹ́ẹ̀ni, mo le sọ díẹ̀. – Yes, I can speak a little.
🏠 At Home
Ilé mi wà ní... – My house is in...
Mo ń gbé pẹ̀lú ẹbí mi. – I live with my family.
Mo fẹ́ lọ sí ilé. – I want to go home.
Ṣé o fẹ́ wá sí ilé mi? – Do you want to come to my house?
Mo ní yara mi. – I have my own room.
Ṣé o ní omi? – Do you have water?
Jọ̀ọ́, fun mi ní omi. – Please, give me water.
Mo fẹ́ jẹun. – I want to eat.
Kí ni a máa jẹ? – What will we eat?
Mo ti jẹun. – I have eaten.
🍽️ Food & Drink
Ounjẹ – Food
Omi – Water
Ìyọ̀ – Salt
Ata – Pepper
Ìrẹsì – Rice
Ẹran – Meat
Ẹja – Fish
Bẹ̀rẹ̀ – Beans
Ìyán – Pounded yam
Ẹ̀bà – Cassava dough
Amàlà – Yam flour dough
Ẹ̀fọ́ – Vegetable
Ọbẹ̀ – Soup
Mo fẹ́ jẹun. – I want to eat.
Mo fẹ́ mu omi. – I want to drink water.
Ṣé o fẹ́ jẹun? – Do you want to eat?
Ounjẹ yìí dùn. – This food is delicious.
Mo ti jẹun. – I have eaten.
Ṣé o ti jẹun? – Have you eaten?
Jẹun kí o tó lọ. – Eat before you go.
🛍️ Shopping & Money
Elo ni? – How much is it?
Ṣé o le dínà? – Can you reduce the price?
O wà ní owó púpò. – It's expensive.
O wà ní owó díẹ̀. – It's cheap.
Mo fẹ́ ra... – I want to buy...
Mo ní owó. – I have money.
Mi ò ní owó tó. – I don't have enough money.
Ṣé o ní... – Do you have...
Fun mi ní... – Give me...
Mo fẹ́ san owó. – I want to pay.
Ṣé o gba kaadi? – Do you accept card?
Mo fẹ́ ra aṣọ. – I want to buy clothes.
Elo ni bata yìí? – How much is this shoe?
Mo fẹ́ ra ẹ̀bà. – I want to buy cassava dough.
Ṣé o ní ẹja? – Do you have fish?
🚕 Transportation & Directions
Nibo ni...? – Where is...?
Báwo ni mo ṣe lè lọ sí...? – How can I get to...?
Mo fẹ́ lọ sí... – I want to go to...
Ṣé ọkọ ayọ́kẹ́lẹ́ wà? – Is there a car?
Mo fẹ́ gba takisi. – I want to take a taxi.
Ṣé ọkọ akero wà? – Is there a bus?
Mo fẹ́ lọ sí ọjà. – I want to go to the market.
Ṣé o le fi mi sílẹ̀ ní...? – Can you drop me at...?
Mo fẹ́ lọ sí ilé ìwòsàn. – I want to go to the hospital.
Báwo ni mo ṣe lè dé ibẹ̀? – How do I get there?
🏥 Health & Emergencies
Mo ní àìlera. – I am sick.
Ara mi kò yá. – I am not well.
Mo ní ìtẹ̀. – I have a fever.
Mo ní ìrora. – I have pain.
Mo fẹ́ rí dókítà. – I want to see a doctor.
Ṣé ilé ìwòsàn wà nítòsí? – Is there a hospital nearby?
Pe dókítà. – Call a doctor.
Pe ọlọ́pàá. – Call the police.
Ẹ gbà mí o! – Help me!
Ina! – Fire!
Ole! – Thief!
Sáré! – Run!
Mo ní ìfarapa. – I have an injury.
Mo fẹ́ lọ sí ilé ìwòsàn. – I want to go to the hospital.
Mo ní ìrora inú. – I have stomach pain.
🧑🤝🧑 Relationships & Emotions
Mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ. – I love you.
Ṣé o nífẹ̀ẹ́ mi? – Do you love me?
Mo fẹ́ bá ọ sọrọ. – I want to talk to you.
Mo ní ọrẹ pẹ̀lú rẹ. – I have a friend with you.
Mo fẹ́ jẹ́ ọ̀rẹ́ rẹ. – I want to be your friend.
Mo ní ìbànújẹ. – I am sad.
Mo ní ayọ̀. – I am happy.
Mo bẹ̀rù. – I am afraid.
Mo ní ìbànújẹ̀. – I am sorry.
Mo ní ìfẹ́. – I have love.
🕒 Time & Days
Ọjọ́ – Day
Ọsẹ̀ – Week
Oṣù – Month
Ọdún – Year
Lónìí – Today
Láàárọ̀ – Tomorrow
Àná – Yesterday
Ọjọ́ Ajé – Monday
Ọjọ́ Ìsẹ́gun – Tuesday
Ọjọ́rú – Wednesday
Ọjọ́bọ – Thursday
Ọjọ́ Ẹtì – Friday
Ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta – Saturday
Ọjọ́ Àìkú – Sunday
Kí ni àkókò? – What time is it?
📚 Common Verbs
Ṣe – Do
Jẹ – Eat
Mu – Drink
Rìn – Walk
Sùn – Sleep
Gbé – Carry
Wá – Come
Lọ – Go
Sọ – Say
Gbọ́ – Hear
Rí – See
Kọ́ – Learn
Kọ́wé – Write
Ka – Read
Ṣeré – Play
🏡 Home and Family (continued)
Ìyá mi – My mother
Bàbá mi – My father
Àbúrò mi – My younger sibling
Ẹ̀gbọ́n mi – My older sibling
Ọmọ mi – My child
Aya mi – My wife
Ọkọ mi – My husband
Ìdílé mi – My family
Ọrẹ mi – My friend
Ṣé ìyá rẹ wà? – Is your mother around?
Mo fẹ́ lọ sílé ìyá mi. – I want to go to my mother’s house.
Ẹbí mi ní àjọyọ̀. – My family has a celebration.
Ṣé ó ní ọmọ? – Do you have children?
Mo ní ọmọ méjì. – I have two children.
Ọmọ yìí dáa púpọ̀. – This child is very good.
👂 Simple Conversations & Questions
Kí ni orúkọ rẹ? – What is your name?
Nibo ni ìwọ ti wá? – Where are you from?
Kí ló ń ṣẹlẹ̀? – What’s happening?
Ṣé o dáadáa? – Are you okay?
Mo wà pẹ̀lú rẹ. – I am with you.
Ṣé ó mọ̀ mí? – Do you know me?
Ṣé mo lè ran ọ́ lọ́wọ́? – Can I help you?
Ṣé ìwọ ló ní èyí? – Is this yours?
Mo gbọ́ ọ. – I heard you.
Kí ni ìtumọ̀ yìí? – What does this mean?
🔣 Numbers 1–20 (Yorùbá Counting)
Ọ̀kan – One
Mẹ́jì – Two
Mẹ́ta – Three
Mẹ́rin – Four
Màrùn-ún – Five
Mẹ́fà – Six
Mẹje – Seven
Mẹjọ – Eight
Mẹsàn-án – Nine
Mẹ́wàá – Ten
Mọ́kànlá – Eleven
Mẹ́jìlá – Twelve
Mẹ́tàlá – Thirteen
Mẹ́rìnlá – Fourteen
Màrùndínlógún – Fifteen
Mẹ́rìndínlógún – Sixteen
Mẹ́tàdínlógún – Seventeen
Mẹ́jìdínlógún – Eighteen
Ọ̀kàndínlógún – Nineteen
Ogún – Twenty
🔁 Useful Everyday Phrases
Mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ ẹ. – I love you.
Kí ni àwòrán yìí túmọ̀ sí? – What does this picture mean?
Ṣé o gbọ́ mi? – Can you hear me?
Ṣé o lè sọ ó lẹ́ẹ̀kàn síi? – Can you say it again?
Jẹ̀ ká lọ. – Let’s go.
Dákẹ́ jọ̀ọ́. – Be quiet please.
Yára! – Hurry up!
Dáhùn ìbéèrè náà. – Answer the question.
Kò ye mi. – I don’t understand.
Mo ye e. – I understand.
Ẹ má bínú. – Don’t be angry.
Mo n ṣiṣẹ́. – I’m working.
Ṣé o wa lórí ayélujára? – Are you online?
Ṣé o fẹ́ sáré? – Do you want to run?
Ṣe àṣeyọrí. – Succeed / Be successful.