Words to eat, drink and shop in Yoruba: food, drinks, and what you need at the market. 36 words checked against reference sources (standard Nigerian Yoruba, with tones).
1
Eating and drinking
omialso: ōmīwater
oúnjẹfood
iṣualso: īshūyam
iyánpounded yam
àmàlàamala (yam flour meal)
ẹ̀bàeba (cassava meal)
ìrẹsìrice
ẹ̀wàbeans
àgbàdoalso: àgbàdōcorn, maize
ẹjafish
ẹranmeat
adìẹchicken
ẹyinegg
atapepper
ọbẹ̀also: ɔ̄bɛ̀stew, soup
búrẹ́dìbread
ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀plantain
ẹ̀pàpeanut
ẹmupalm wine
ọsànorange
èsofruit
iláokra
àkàràbean fritter (akara)
àlùbọ́sàonion
ṣúgàsugar
òróróvegetable oil
2
At the market
ọjàalso: ɔ̄jàmarket
iléhouse, home
ìlútown, city, country
okofarm
ìsọ̀stall, booth
oníbàáràcustomer, buyer
owómoney
náírànaira
eélòóhow much?
ilé-ìwéschool
Test yourself
1. What does “oúnjẹ” mean?
2. What does “ẹran” mean?
3. What does “ọsàn” mean?
4. What does “ìlú” mean?
Where do these words come from?
The words in this article come from: Yorùbá Yé Mi textbook (COERLL, University of Texas at Austin), Alphabet of the national languages of Benin (CENALA, 1990). They are copied with their exact spelling; when two sources disagree, the variant is shown. Do you speak this language and spot a mistake? Write to us.
The words in this article come from: Yorùbá Yé Mi textbook (COERLL, University of Texas at Austin), Alphabet of the national languages of Benin (CENALA, 1990). They are copied with their exact spelling; when two sources disagree, the variant is shown. Do you speak this language and spot a mistake? Write to us.