If you’re traveling around West Africa, especially in Nigeria, Benin, or Togo, you’ll probably meet a lot of people who speak the Yoruba language. After all, it’s spoken by around 50 million people!
While you can use English in Nigeria, and French in Benin and Togo, Yoruba people will probably appreciate it if you greet them in their native language.
So, today we’ll be learning 5 basic greetings in Yoruba that you can use in different contexts and at different times of day. After that, we’ll see a few more greetings and some cultural tips on how to use them. Let’s get started!
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Basic Greetings In Yoruba
Like in any language, there are several basic greetings in Yoruba.
We’ll start with the standard ways to say “Good morning” – Ẹ káàárọ̀, “Good afternoon” – Ẹ káàsán, and “Good evening” – Ẹ káalẹ́. Then we’ll go over how to say “Hello” – Ẹ ǹlẹ́ o! and “How are you?” – Báwo ni o ṣe wà?
1. Good Morning – Ẹ káàárọ̀
To say “good morning” in Yoruba, you say Ẹ káàárọ̀. Ká means “greet” (you’ll see it again in our next two greetings), Àárọ̀ means “morning,” and Ẹ is the polite form of the pronoun “you.” You can use this phrase from dawn (around 5 AM) until late morning (10-11 AM).
It’s a formal phrase, so you can use it to greet strangers, superiors, and elders. If you want to greet someone who’s close to you, like friends or peers, or someone younger like children, you can drop the Ẹ and say Káàárọ̀ instead.
2. Good Afternoon – Ẹ káàsán
The Yoruba greeting for “Good afternoon” is Ẹ káàsán. As you might have guessed, àsán means afternoon. You can say this from around 11 AM until sunset, and it works much like Ẹ káàárọ̀ in the sense that omitting the Ẹ turns it into an informal greeting.
You might be wondering why Yoruba people start saying Ẹ káàsán at 11 and not 12 PM. That’s because traditional timekeeping is based more on the sun’s position and daily activities. Morning runs into 11 as that’s when the sun is at its peak, and then evening starts at sunset. Furthermore, Yoruba society traditionally started work really early, at dawn, so by 11 it was already considered afternoon.
3. Good Evening – Ẹ kú ìrọ̀lẹ́
To greet people after sunset, Yoruba speakers say Ẹ kú ìrọ̀lẹ́. It’s good from around 6 PM until bedtime. Just like in the greetings above, Ẹ adds respect, so with people you’re close with you can just say Kú ìrọ̀lẹ́.
4. Hello – In lẹ́ o!
If you need a Yoruba greeting that’s not tied to a time of day, you can say Ẹ ǹlẹ́ o. It’s a warm and respectful way to say hello.
Much like its English counterpart, you can use it at any time of day, and it’s respectful, so you can say it to elders, guests, or people you don’t know.
This greeting literally translates as “You are on the ground!” and is tied to Yoruba tradition, which involves prostrating (for men) or kneeling (for women) to greet elders. The meaning of the phrase is “You are welcome/acknowledged here” or “I greet your presence.”
5. How Are You? – Báwo ni?
Finally, if you want to ask about someone’s well-being, you can use Báwo ni?
It’s a common way to ask someone how they are, and you can use it in casual conversations with a friend or a younger person. However, if you’re talking to elders, use “Are you well” – Ṣe dáadáa ni? to show more respect instead. Another formal option is Báwo ni ẹ ṣe wà?, where you replace the “o” with the “ẹ” you already know.
You should know that Yoruba culture values asking about someone’s well-being, so people will expect a truthful answer that isn’t just “I’m fine.”
Something To Keep In Mind
If you’re not familiar with the Yoruba language at all, there’s something you need to know before you start greeting people: Yoruba is a tonal language. This means that intonation changes the meaning of words.
For example, these three words that look similar have very different meanings:
- Ọ̀rọ̀ (mid-low tone) – Word
- Ọrọ́ (mid-high tone) – Wealth
- Òrò (low–low) – Cult/Ritual society
The good thing is that tones are clearly marked on words with diacritics (those little accents over the letters): ´ indicates a high tone, ` a low tone, and no diacritic means a mid-tone. Still, try to listen to native speakers as much as you can to get the pronunciation right!
More Yoruba Greetings
Want to learn even more Yoruba greetings? Here are several you can use in different contexts.
And remember, Ling launched 4 new courses last August, which include Yoruba, so you can learn greetings, introductions, and much more on the app!
| English | Yoruba | Context / When to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (formal/informal) | Ẹ nlé / In lẹ́ | Universal greeting |
| Welcome! (formal/informal) | Ẹ káàbọ̀! / Káàbọ̀! | Greeting arrivals |
| Home greetings (formal/informal) | Ẹ kúulẹ̀! / Kúulẹ̀! | Entering someone’s home |
| Did you sleep well? | Ṣé o sun dáadáa? | Morning inquiry |
| Safe travels / Welcome from your journey | Ẹ kú irin ajò! | Wishing travelers well |
| Greetings for work (formal/informal) | Ẹ kú iṣẹ́! / Kú iṣẹ́! | Greeting and acknowledging someone who is working |
| Greetings for eating (formal/informal) | Ẹ kú ìjẹun! / Kú ìjẹun! | Greeting someone who is eating |
| Come and eat (formal/informal) | Ẹ wá jẹun / Wá jẹun | Greeting when eating |
| Greetings for resting (formal/informal) | Ẹ kú ìsinmi! / Kú ìsinmi! | Greeting someone who is relaxing |
| Morning to all | Ẹ káàárọ̀ o gbogbo yín | Addressing multiple people |
Cultural Tips For Using Greetings In The Yoruba Language
Now that you know several greetings in the Yoruba language, here are a few tips so you can use them politely and with respect:
- Be mindful of the age difference. In Yoruba culture, elders are treated with more respect, so use informal greetings with children and peers, and formal ones with people who are older.
- Remember the Ẹ we saw above? It’s the polite plural form of the pronoun “you,” and it’s used to show respect. Since Yoruba culture greatly values respect, you should always use it with elders, authority figures, strangers, and religious leaders.
- There are some gestures that accompany Yoruba greetings to show more respect. Traditionally, when meeting elders, men prostrate or bow slightly, and women kneel briefly or curtsy. When meeting peers, a handshake or a nod is enough.
- Remember that Yoruba time is more pragmatic, so switch to “good afternoon” once the sun is high, even if it’s before 12 PM.
- Always reciprocate greetings; it can be seen as rude if you don’t!
- Finally, remember that Yoruba is a tonal language, so make sure to get your pronunciation right by listening to native speakers. A great way to do this is with the Ling app, since all audio in the lessons is by native speakers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Basic Greetings In Yoruba
What Is “Hi” In Yoruba?
There’s no direct translation for “hi” in Yoruba, but you can use ‘Nlé!’ for a short, casual greeting among friends. It’s the short version of the more formal ‘Ẹ nlé,’ which means “greetings to you”. Another casual Yoruba greeting is ‘Báwo ni?’, which is “How are you?”
How Do You Respond To Báwo Ni In Yoruba?
The most common response to ‘Báwo ni?’ (How are you?) in Yoruba is ‘Dáadáa ni!,’ which means “I’m fine!” or "I'm good!"
What Gestures Accompany Greetings In Yoruba Culture?
Several gestures are used when greeting someone in Yoruba culture. Traditionally, men prostrate (lie flat on the ground) or kneel when meeting elders, and women kneel or curtsy. When meeting peers and friends, handshakes or nods are common.
Goodbye! – Ó dàbọ̀!
Well, you’re now ready for your trip to West Africa! Or at least to greet every Yoruba person you meet with warmth and respect.
You know how to say “Good morning” – Ẹ káàárọ̀, “Good afternoon” – Ẹ káàsán, “Good evening” – Ẹ kú ìrọ̀lẹ́, “Hello” – In lẹ́ o! and “How are you?” – Báwo ni?.
Plus, we saw some extra greetings for other contexts, and a few cultural tips to make sure you’re always being polite and respectful when greeting someone.
So, use these basic greetings in Yoruba on your travels. They’ll make interactions with the locals more meaningful, and I’m sure you’ll earn a lot of smiles along the way!
Learn More Than Basic Yoruba Phrases With Ling!
If you want to learn Yoruba for your trip and go beyond basic greetings, try the Ling app.
It’s an excellent way to learn languages, as it makes the experience much more fun, interactive, and engaging. With bite-sized lessons, points and achievements, audio by native speakers, review options, interactive dialogs, and more, you’ll be sure to work on all language skills while keeping things fun and relaxing.
So give it a try. Download the app and sign up for the 7-day free trial. You can test it out and see how it fits your learning style before you commit, but we’re pretty sure you’re gonna love it!
