Ask where is Yoruba spoken and the short answer is southwestern Nigeria, from the busy streets of Lagos to the old city of Ibadan. It is also spoken in Benin and Togo and by Yoruba families abroad.
Want to greet a Yoruba grandparent or plan a trip to Lagos? This guide maps where you will hear Yoruba and the first words to try, and the Ling app can help you practice in short daily lessons.
Where Is Yoruba Spoken Today?
Yoruba is spoken mainly in southwestern Nigeria, the homeland of the Yoruba people, and in the neighboring parts of Benin and Togo.
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- Southwestern Nigeria: the heartland, where Yoruba is the everyday language at home, at the market and on the radio.
- Benin and Togo: Yoruba communities live just across Nigeria’s western border.
- The rest of West Africa: smaller communities live in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire.
- The diaspora: Yoruba families in the United States and the United Kingdom, and Yoruba words in religious traditions of Brazil, Cuba and Trinidad.
Which Nigerian States Speak Yoruba?
Six Nigerian states are fully Yoruba-speaking, and two more are partly Yoruba.
- Fully Yoruba: Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti.
- Partly Yoruba: Kwara and Kogi, where Yoruba sits beside other local languages.
Is Yoruba An Official Language In Nigeria?
Yoruba is one of Nigeria’s three major national languages, next to Hausa and Igbo, while English is the main language of government. Section 55 of Nigeria’s constitution says the business of the National Assembly is conducted in English, and in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba once arrangements are in place.
- National level: English runs most official business, with Yoruba named as one of three national languages.
- In the southwest: Yoruba is the language you hear in homes, churches, mosques, markets and local media.
Where Is Yoruba Spoken Outside Nigeria?
Outside Nigeria, Yoruba is spoken mostly in Benin and Togo. The Penn Language Center’s Yoruba profile adds Ghana, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire, and traces how the trans-Atlantic diaspora carried Yoruba to Brazil, Cuba, Trinidad and Haiti.
- Benin: home to about half a million Yoruba speakers, according to the Linguistic Data Consortium’s Global Yoruba Lexical Database.
- The United States and the United Kingdom: Nigerian families keep Yoruba alive at home, at church and at weekend parties.
- Cuba and Brazil: Yoruba-based words live on in liturgy and music, in Lucumí for Santería in Cuba and in Candomblé in Brazil.
Where Will You Hear Yoruba?
| Place | Country | Role | What you will notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta | Nigeria | Everyday first language | Yoruba at markets, in bus parks and on local radio |
| Kwara and Kogi | Nigeria | Shared with other local languages | People switching between Yoruba and their neighbors’ languages |
| Southeastern Benin | Benin | Community language beside French | Yoruba spoken alongside French |
| Cities in the US and UK | United States, United Kingdom | Heritage language | Yoruba at family gatherings, churches and naming ceremonies |
| Santería and Candomblé communities | Cuba, Brazil | Ritual language | Yoruba-based words in songs and prayers |
In short, Yoruba is a daily language in southwestern Nigeria and a heritage language wherever Yoruba families have settled.
How Many People Speak Yoruba?
Yoruba has more than 25 million speakers, according to the University of Florida’s Yoruba language program. The Penn Language Center counts about 60 million Yoruba people across Africa and the Americas.
- Roughly two million more people in Nigeria speak it as a second language.
- It belongs to the Niger-Congo language family.
- It is a tonal language with three main tones, so the same syllable can change meaning with pitch.
- It uses the Latin alphabet with 25 letters, plus tone marks and dots under some letters. Our guide to the Yoruba alphabet and its tones walks through every letter.
How Do You Say Hello In Yoruba?
A friendly way to say hello in Yoruba is Ẹ ǹlẹ́ o, and Báwo ni? means “How are you?” or “How are things?”. Yoruba greetings also change with the time of day, so morning starts with Ẹ káàárọ̀.
Here is a short exchange from the Introduction unit of the Yoruba course in the Ling app, recorded with native speaker audio. Two people say hello, check a name and introduce themselves.
The rest of the conversation, and the rest of the unit, are in the lessons.
12 Yoruba Words For Your First Conversations
These cover a first chat with relatives or a host family. The Ẹ at the start of many greetings is the respectful form for elders and groups. For more greetings, see our guide on different ways to say hello in Yoruba.
| English | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| How are you? / How are things? | Báwo ni? |
| I am fine | Àlàáfíà ni |
| Good morning (to an elder) | Ẹ káàárọ̀ |
| Good afternoon (to an elder) | Ẹ káàsán |
| Good evening (to an elder) | Ẹ káalẹ́ |
| Welcome (to an elder) | Ẹ káàbọ̀ |
| Thank you (to an elder) | Ẹ ṣé |
| Thank you (to a friend) | O ṣé |
| Well done (to someone working) | Ẹ kúuṣẹ́ |
| Yes | Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni |
| No | Rárá |
| Goodbye | Ó dàbọ̀ |
If you learn only two, make them Ẹ káàárọ̀ and Ẹ ṣé.
Common Mistakes To Avoid With Yoruba
Most mix-ups come from assumptions, not grammar.
- Assuming every Nigerian speaks Yoruba. Nigeria is home to many languages, and plenty of Nigerians grew up with Hausa, Igbo or another one. Our look at how Yoruba and Igbo compare shows how different two neighbors can be.
- Greeting an elder like a friend. Use Ẹ ṣé and Ẹ káàárọ̀ with older people, and keep O ṣé for friends and younger relatives.
- Ignoring tones and dots. The marks on letters are not decoration; they change pronunciation and meaning.
- Mixing up Yoruba and Lucumí. Lucumí is the ritual language of Santería in Cuba; Yoruba is what families in Nigeria speak today.
Slips are part of the process, and the Ling app keeps track of the words you miss so you can practice them again.
Tips For Using Yoruba With Family And On Trips
A little Yoruba goes a long way with Yoruba speakers at home and abroad.
- Greet by the time of day. A warm Ẹ káàsán to an aunt at an afternoon family party shows you know the custom.
- Practice whole exchanges out loud. The Ling app’s Dialog lessons walk you through both sides of a short conversation, so the words come out when you need them.
- Ask relatives to correct you. Grandparents often enjoy fixing a tone, and it turns practice into a family moment.
- Pick a tool that actually teaches Yoruba. Some big apps skip it, as our guide to why Duolingo has no Yoruba course explains, and our roundup of Yoruba language apps compares the options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Where Is Yoruba Spoken
What Country Speaks Yoruba?
Nigeria. Yoruba is the main language of southwestern Nigeria, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states, and one of the country’s three major national languages next to Hausa and Igbo.
Where Is Yoruba Spoken Besides Nigeria?
Outside Nigeria, Yoruba is spoken mainly in Benin and Togo, with smaller communities in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire. Yoruba families in the United States and the United Kingdom also speak it at home.
Is Yoruba An Official Language In Nigeria?
Yoruba is one of Nigeria’s three major national languages, while English is the main language of government. Section 55 of the constitution allows National Assembly business in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba as well as English.
How Many People Speak Yoruba?
Yoruba has more than 25 million speakers, most of them in southwestern Nigeria, and roughly two million more Nigerians speak it as a second language. Counts of the Yoruba people as a whole run as high as 60 million.
Is Yoruba Spoken In Brazil And Cuba?
Mainly as a ritual language. Yoruba-based words survive in the liturgy and music of Candomblé in Brazil and in Lucumí, the ritual language of Santería in Cuba.
What Language Family Is Yoruba?
Yoruba belongs to the Niger-Congo language family. It is a tonal language with three main tones and is written in the Latin alphabet with tone marks.
What Should You Remember About Where Yoruba Is Spoken?
Yoruba’s home is southwestern Nigeria: six states speak it fully, two more partly, and it stands beside Hausa and Igbo as one of the country’s national languages. Beyond Nigeria, it reaches into Benin and Togo and lives on in Yoruba families abroad.
Start with Báwo ni?, Ẹ káàárọ̀ and Ẹ ṣé, and you have a respectful opening from a Lagos market to a family table in London.
Ready To Greet Your Family In Yoruba?
Whether you are visiting Lagos or reconnecting with your grandparents, a few Yoruba words make every greeting warmer.
With flashcards, native speaker audio you can slow down and Dialog for real conversation practice, Ling keeps learning simple and fun. Start learning Yoruba today and greet your next elder with a confident Ẹ káàárọ̀!
