Yoruba Language Resources

Yoruba Alphabet
Learning the Yoruba alphabet is very important, because its structure is used in every day
conversation. Without it, you will not be able to say words properly even if you know how to write
those words. The better you pronounce a letter in a word, the more understood you will be in
speaking the Yoruba language.
Below is a table showing the Yoruba alphabet and how it is pronounced in English, and finally
examples of how those letters would sound if you place them in a word.
Yoruba English Pronunciation

Alphabet Sound Example
a [a] as in father
b [b] as in bay
c [ʨ] ch as in chay
d [d] as in day
e [ɛ] as in elephant
f [f] as in fine
g [ɡ] as in gold
h [h] as in house
i [i] 'ee' as in meat
j [ʥ] as in job
k [k] as in kitchen
l [l] as in life
m [m] as in man
n [n] as in nice
o [o] as in olive
p [p] as in pool
q [k] as in kiss
r [r] as in rice
s [s] as in smile
t [t] as in time
u [u] 'oo' as in mood
v [f] f as in free
w [w] as in wind
x [ks] as in wax
y [j] as in year
z [z] as in Zulu
Yoruba Pronunciation
You saw how a letter is written and might be pronounced, but there is nothing better than
hearing the sound of the letters in a video or audio. Below you will be able to hear how the letters
above are pronounced, just press the play button:
The alphabet and its pronunciation have a very important role in Yoruba, therefore they need
very special attention.
Yoruba Adjectives
Learning the Yoruba Adjectives is very important, because its structure is used in every day
conversation. The more you master it the more you get closer to mastering the Yoruba language.
But first we need to know what's the role of Adjectives in the structure of the grammar in Yoruba.
Yoruba Adjectives are words that describe or modify another person or thing in the sentence.
Here are some examples:
English Adjectives Yoruba Adjectives
adjectives
a green tree Igi alawo ewe
a tall building Ile giga
a very old man Arugbo okunrin

the old red house Ile atijo alawo eje
a very nice friend Ore todara pupo
As you can see on the example above, the structure of the Adjectives in Yoruba takes a logical
pattern. Locate the Adjectives above and see how it works with the rest of the sentence in
Yoruba.
List of Adjectives in Yoruba
Below is a list of the Adjectives, Colors, Shapes, Sizes in Yoruba placed in table. Memorizing this
table will help you add very useful and important words to your Yoruba vocabulary.
colors
black Dudu
green Alawo ewe
orange Alawo osan
red Alawo eje
white Alawo efun
yellow Alawo oorun
sizes
big Nla
deep Jin
long Gun or gigun
narrow Tinrin
short Kuru or kukuru
small Kekere
tall Ga
thick Nipon
thin Tirin
wide Gbooro
straight Tooro
tastes
bitter Koro or Kikoro
fresh Tutu
salty Iyo ja
sour Kikan or kan
spicy Alata or otaa
sweet Adun or didun
qualities
bad Ibaje
clean Mo
dark Okuku or dudu
difficult Ole
dirty Idoti
dry Gbigbe
easy Irorun
empty korofo
expensive won or owon

fast aawe
foreign ajoji
full ekun
good rere
hard lile
heavy wuwo
inexpensive ponkulowo
light fele
new titun
noisy ariwo
old arugbo
powerful alagbara
quiet Idake je
correct beeni
soft ro
very gan
weak re e
wet tutu
wrong beeko
young omode or odo
quantities
few die
little die
many opo or pupo
much opo or pupo
part ara or eya ara
some awon
a few awon die

whole odidi
Adjectives, Colors, Shapes, Sizes have a very important role in Yoruba, therefore they need very
special attention.
Yoruba Adverbs
Learning the Yoruba Adverbs is very important, because its structure is used in every day
But first we need to know what's the role of Adverbs in the structure of the grammar in Yoruba.
Yoruba adverbs are part of speech. Generally they're words that modify any part of language
other than a noun. Adverbs can modify verbs, adjectives (including numbers), clauses, sentences
and other adverbs. Here are some examples:
English Adverbs Yoruba Adverbs
adverbs
I read a book Mo ma nka iwe kan nigba

sometimes kankan
I will never smoke Nko ni mu ciga
are you alone? Se odawa ni?
As you can see on the example above, the structure of the Adverbs in Yoruba takes a logical
pattern. Locate the Adverbs above and see how it works with the rest of the sentence in Yoruba.
List of Adverbs in Yoruba

Below is a list of the Adverbs of time place manner and frequency in Yoruba placed in table.
Memorizing this table will help you add very useful and important words to your Yoruba
vocabulary.
adverbs of time
yesterday Ana
today Eni or Loni
tomorrow Ola
now Nisisiyin
then Nigbaye
later Tobaya
tonight Lale oni or ale oni
right now Nisisiyin
last night Ale ana
this morning Owuro yi
next week Ose to nbo
recently Laipe yi
lately Laipe yi
soon Laipe yi
immediately Kiakia
still Sibe or sibe sibe
yet Sibe or sibe sibe
ago Laipe yi
adverbs of place
here Nibiyi
there Nibeye
over there Nibeye
everywhere Gbogbo ibi
anywhere Gbogbo ibi
nowhere Kosibi
home Ile
out Ode or ita
adverbs of manner
very Gan
quite Idake
pretty Rewa
really Looto
fast Yara
well Odaa or Odara
hard Lile
quickly Kiakia
slowly diedie
carefully sora
hardly sasa
barely sasa
mostly opo or opolopo
absolutely dandan
together lapapo
alone daduro
adverbs of frequency
always Gbogbogba
frequently leralera
usually leralera
List of Ordinal Numbers in Yoruba
Yoruba Ordinal numbers tell the order of things in a set: first, second, third, etc. Ordinal numbers
do not show quantity. They only show rank or position. Below is a list of the Cardinal Numbers
and Ordinal Numbers in Yoruba. Memorizing this table will help you add very useful and important
words to your Yoruba vocabulary.
English Numbers Yoruba Numbers
Ordinal Numbers
first Ekini
second Ekeji
third Eketa
fourth Ekerin
fifth Ekarun
sixth Ekefa
seventh Ekeje
eighth Ekejo
ninth Ekesan
tenth Ekewa
eleventh Okankola
twelfth Ekejila
thirteenth Eketala
fourteenth Ekerinla
fifteenth Eekedogun
sixteenth Ekerindinlogun
seventeenth Eketadinlogun
eighteenth Ekejidinlogun
nineteenth Okandinlogun
twentieth Ogun
once Eekan
twice Emeji
Yoruba Nouns
Learning the Yoruba Nouns is very important, because its structure is used in every day
But first we need to know what's the role of Nouns in the structure of the grammar in Yoruba.
Yoruba nouns are words used to name a person, animal, place, thing, or abstract ideas. Nouns
are usually the most important part of vocabulary. Here are some examples:
English Nouns Yoruba Nouns
nouns
my car Moto mi or oko mi
green car Moto alawo ewe

three cars Moto meta or oko meta
car garage Ibugbe moto
outside the car Ita moto
As you can see on the example above, the structure of the Nouns in Yoruba takes a logical
pattern. Locate the Nouns above and see how it works with the rest of the sentence in Yoruba.
List of Nouns in Yoruba
Below is a list of the Nouns and Words in Yoruba placed in table. Memorizing this table will help
you add very useful and important words to your Yoruba vocabulary.
arm Apa
back Eyin
cheeks Ereke or eeke
chest Aya
ear Eti
eye Oju
face Oju
finger ika
fingers Omo ika
foot Ese
hair Irun
hand Owo
head Ori
heart Okan
knee Orikun
leg Ese
lip Ete
mouth Enu
neck Orun
nose Imu
shoulder Ejika
stomach Iku
teeth Eyin
thigh Ese
throat Ofun
thumb Omo ika
toe Omo ese
tongue Ahon
tooth Eyin
Yoruba Articles
Learning the Yoruba Articles is very important, because its structure is used in every day
But first we need to know what's the role of Articles in the structure of the grammar in Yoruba.
Yoruba articles are words that combine with a noun to indicate the type of reference being made
by the noun. Generally articles specify the grammatical definiteness of the noun. Examples are
"the, a, and an". Here are some examples:
English Articles Yoruba Articles
articles
English Articles Yoruba Articles
one Eyokan
some die
few die
the book Iwa naa
the books Awon Iwe naa
a book Iwe kan
one book Iwe kan
some books Awon Iwe naa
few books Iwe die
As you can see on the example above, the structure of the Articles in Yoruba takes a logical
pattern. Locate the Articles above and see how it works with the rest of the sentence in Yoruba.
List of Articles in Yoruba
Below is a list of vocabulary where you can use the Definite and Indefinite Articles in Yoruba. Try
to practice but also memorizing this table will help you add very useful and important words to
your Yoruba vocabulary.
English Vocabulary Yoruba Vocabulary
Food
bread Buredi
breakfast Onje aaro
butter Bota
candy Switi
chicken Ediye
dinner Onje ale
fish Eja
fruit Eso
lamb Omo aguntan
lemon Oson wewe
lunch Onje osan
meal Onje
meat Eran
pepper Ata
plants Ohun ogbin
pork Eran Elede
salt Iyo
soup Obe
sugar Suga
supper Onje asale
turkey tolotolo
apple apple
banana Ogede
oranges Osan
peanut Epa
pineapple Osan oyibo
vegetables Efo
corn agbado
onions alubosa
peppers ata
beans ewa
tomatoes tomato
Yoruba Pronouns
Learning the Yoruba Pronouns is very important, because its structure is used in every day
But first we need to know what's the role of Pronouns in the structure of the grammar in Yoruba.
Yoruba pronouns include personal pronouns (refer to the persons speaking, the persons spoken
to, or the persons or things spoken about), indefinite pronouns, relative pronouns (connect parts
of sentences) and reciprocal or reflexive pronouns (in which the object of a verb is being acted on
by verb's subject). Here are some examples:
English Pronouns Yoruba Pronouns
Pronouns
I emi
you iwo
he oun
she oun
we awa
they awon
me emi
you iwo
him oun
her oun
us awa
them awon
my temi
your Ire, Iwo, Tire
his Toun
her Toun
our
their Tawon
mine Temi
yours Tire
his Toun
hers Toun
ours Tiwa, tawa
theirs Tawon, tiwon
As you can see on the example above, the structure of the Pronouns in Yoruba takes a logical
pattern. Locate the Pronouns above and see how it works with the rest of the sentence in Yoruba.
List of Pronouns in Yoruba
Below is a list of the Personal pronouns, indefinite pronouns, relative pronouns, reciprocal or
reflexive pronouns in Yoruba placed in table. Memorizing this table will help you add very useful
and important words to your Yoruba vocabulary.
English
Yoruba Pronouns
Pronouns
I speak Mo soro
you speak Iwo soro, O soro
he speaks O soro
English
Yoruba Pronouns
Pronouns
she speaks O soro
we speak A soro
they speak won soro
give me Funmi
give you Fun e
give him Fun n
give her fun n
give us Funwa
give them Funwon
my book Iwe mi
your book Iwe re
Iwe re (different tonation on

his book
"re")
Iwe re (different tonation on

her book
"re")
our book Iwe wa

English
Yoruba Pronouns
Pronouns
their book Iwe won
Yoruba Plural
Learning the Yoruba Plural is very important, because its structure is used in every day
But first we need to know what's the role of Plural in the structure of the grammar in Yoruba.
Yoruba Plurals are grammatical numbers, typically referring to more than one of the referent in
the real world. In the English language, singular and plural are the only grammatical numbers.
Here are some examples:
English Plural Yoruba Plural
Plural
my book Iwe mi
my books Awon iwe mi
our daughter Omowa obirin
our daughters Awo omowa lobirin
I'm cold Otutu nmumi
we're cold Otutu nmuwa
his chickens Ediye re

their chicken Ediye won
As you can see on the example above, the structure of the Plural in Yoruba takes a logical
pattern. Locate the Plural above and see how it works with the rest of the sentence in Yoruba.
List of Plurals in Yoruba
Below is a list of the Plurals and Singulars in Yoruba placed in table. Memorizing this table will
help you add very useful and important words to your Yoruba vocabulary.
alligator Elegungun
alligators Elegungun
bird Eye
birds Awon eye
cat Olongbo
cats Awon olongbo
cow Maalu
cows Awon maalu
dog Aja
dogs Awon aja
donkey Ketekete
donkeys Awon ketekete
eagle Asa
eagles Awon asa
elephant Erin
elephants Awon erin
goat Ewure
goats Awon ewure
horse Esin
horses Awon Esin
lion Kiniun
lions Awon Kiniun
monkey Obo
monkeys Awon obo
mouse Eku
mice Awom eku
rabbit Ehoro
rabbits Awon ehoro
snake Ejo
snakes Awon ejo
Yoruba Feminine
Learning the Yoruba Feminine is very important, because its structure is used in every day
But first we need to know what's the role of Feminine in the structure of the grammar in Yoruba.
Yoruba feminine refers to female qualities attributed specifically to women and girls or things
considered feminine. The complement to feminine is masculine. Here are some examples:
English Feminine Yoruba Feminine
Feminine
he is happy Inu re dun
she is happy Inu re dun

English Feminine Yoruba Feminine
he is American Omo ilu America ni
she is American Omo ilu America ni
man Okunrin
woman Obirin
father Baba
mother Mama, iya
brother Omo iya lokunrin
sister Omo iya lobirin
As you can see on the example above, the structure of the Feminine in Yoruba takes a logical
pattern. Locate the Feminine above and see how it works with the rest of the sentence in Yoruba.
List of Feminine in Yoruba
Below is a list of objects, can you determine whether they're feminine, masculine or plural in
Yoruba? Memorizing this table will also help you add very useful and important words to your
Yoruba vocabulary.
cow maalu
boy Odomode okunrin

girl Odomode obirin
objects
bathroom Baluwe
bed beedi
bedroom Yara Ibusun
ceiling Orile
chair Aga
clothes Aso
coat Ewu
desk Tabili
dress Aso
floor Ile
furniture Aga ijoko
glass Digi
hat Fila
house Ile
ink Omi ikowe
jacket Aso
kitchen Yara Isenje
knife Obe
lamp Atupa
letter leta
newspaper Iwe Iroyin
notebook Ikowe
pants Sokoto
paper Ikowe
pen gege
pencil penculu
picture Aworan
plate Abo
restaurant Ile ita onje
roof Orile
room Iyara
rug Itele
shirt aso
shoes bata
soap Ose
socks Ibose
spoon Sibi
table Tabili
toilet Ile-Igbe or Ile Iyagbe
toothbrush Igi ifoyin

toothpaste Ose Ifoyin
towel Taweli
underwear Awotele
wall Ogiri
wallet Apo Ifowopamo
telephone Ero Ibanisoro
Yoruba Verbs
Learning the Yoruba Verbs is very important, because its structure is used in every day
But first we need to know what's the role of Verbs in the structure of the grammar in Yoruba.
Yoruba verbs are words that convey action (bring, read, walk, run), or a state of being (exist,
stand). In most languages a verb may agree with the person, gender, and/or number of some of
its arguments, such as its subject, or object. Here are some examples:
English Verbs Yoruba Verbs
Verbs
Past Ikoja
I spoke Mo soro
I wrote Mo kowe
I drove Mo wa moto
I loved Mo feran
I gave Mo fun
I smiled Mo rerin
I took Mo mu
he spoke O Soro
he wrote O Kowe
he drove O wa moto
he loved O feran
he gave O fun
he smiled O rerin
he took O mu
we spoke A soro
we wrote A rerin
we drove A wa moto
we loved A feran
we gave A fun
we smiled A rerin
we took A mu
Future
I will speak Ma soro
I will write Ma kowe
I will drive Ma wa moto
I will love Ma feran
I will give Ma fun
I will smile Ma rerin
I will take Ma mu
he will speak Oma soro
he will write Oma kowe
he will drive Oma wa moto
he will love Oma feran
he will give Oma fun
he will smile Oma rerin
he will take Oma mu
we will speak Amaa soro
we will write Amaa kowe
we will drive Amaa wa moto
we will love Amaa feran
we will give Amaa fun
we will smile Amaa rerin
we will take Amaa mu

he speaks Oma nrerin
he writes Oma nkowe
he drives Oma nwa moto
he loves Om nferan
he gives Olawo
he smiles Oma nrerin
he takes Oma nmu
we speak A soro
we write Akowe
we drive A wa moto
we love A feran
we give A fun
we smile A rerin
As you can see on the example above, the structure of the Verbs in Yoruba takes a logical
pattern. Locate the Verbs above and see how it works with the rest of the sentence in Yoruba.
List of Verbs in Yoruba
Below is a list of the conjugated Verbs in the present past and future in Yoruba placed in table.
Memorizing this table will help you add very useful and important words to your Yoruba
vocabulary.
I can accept that Mole gba ye
she added it Oun lodapo mo
we admit it Awa gba be
they advised him Won fun ni imoran
I can agree with that Mo le fara mo iye
she allows it Oun logba
we announce it Awa lakede re
I can apologize Mole toro idariji
she appears today O fara han loni
they arranged that Won seto ye
Mole de lola/ mole de ni

I can arrive tomorrow
ola
she can ask him Ole bi leere

she attaches that Oda iye po mo
we attack them A kogun jawon
they avoid her Won year fun
I can bake it Mole see
she is like him Odabi re
we beat it A naa
they became happy Inu won si dun
I can begin that Mole bere iye
we borrowed money A ya owo
they breathe air Won min ategun
I can bring it Mole muwa
I can build that Mole koye
she buys food O ra ounje
we calculate it A siro re/ Ase isiro re

they carry it Won gbe
they don't cheat Won kinse madaru
she chooses him O yan omokunrin na
we close it A pade
he comes here Omanwa sibi
I can compare that Mole se afarawe re
she competes with

O figagbaga pelu mi
me
we complain about it Ase aniyan nipa re
they continued
Won nkawe lo
reading
he cried about that Osun ekun olri re
I can decide now Mo le pinu nisisiyin
she described it to me O juwe re funmi
Yoruba Vocabulary
Learning the Yoruba Vocabulary is very important, because its structure is used in every day
But first we need to know what's the role of Vocabulary in the structure of the grammar in
Yoruba.
Yoruba vocabulary is the set of words you should be familiar with. A vocabulary usually grows
and evolves with age, and serves as a useful and fundamental tool for communication and
acquiring knowledge. Here are some examples:
colors
black Dudu
green Alawo ewe
orange Alawo osan
red Alawo eje
white Alawo efun
yellow Alawo oorun
sizes
big Nla
deep Jin
long Gun or gigun
narrow Tinrin
short Kuru or kukuru
small Kekere
tall Ga
thick Nipon
thin Tirin
wide Gbooro
straight Tooro
tastes
bitter Koro or Kikoro
fresh Tutu
salty Iyo ja
sour Kikan or kan
spicy Alata or otaa
sweet Adun or didun

qualities
bad Ibaje
clean Mo
dark Okuku or dudu
difficult Ole
dirty Idoti
dry Gbigbe
easy Irorun
empty korofo
expensive won or owon
fast aawe
foreign ajoji
full ekun
good rere
hard lile
heavy wuwo
inexpensive ponkulowo
light fele
new titun
noisy ariwo
old arugbo
powerful alagbara
quiet Idake je
correct beeni
soft ro
very gan
weak re e
wet tutu
wrong beeko
young omode or odo
quantities
few die
little die
many opo or pupo
much opo or pupo
part ara or eya ara
some awon
a few awon die
whole odidi
List of Vocabulary in Yoruba
Below is a list of the vocabulary and expressions in Yoruba placed in table. Memorizing this table
will help you add very useful and important words to your Yoruba vocabulary.

numbers
one Okan
two Eji
three Eta
four Erin
five Arun
six Efa
seven Eje
eight Ejo
nine Ewa
ten Mokanla
twelve Mejila
thirteen metala
fourteen merinla
fifteen Medogun
sixteen Merindinlogun
seventeen Metadinlogun
eighteen Medjidinlogun
nineteen Mokandinlogun
twenty Ogun
hundred Ogorun
Ordinal Numbers
first Ekini
second Ekeji
third Eketa
fourth Ekerin
fifth Ekarun
sixth Ekefa
seventh Ekeje
eighth Ekejo
ninth Ekesan
tenth Ekewa
eleventh Okankola
twelfth Ekejila
thirteenth Eketala
fourteenth Ekerinla
fifteenth Eekedogun
sixteenth Ekerindinlogun
seventeenth Eketadinlogun
eighteenth Ekejidinlogun
nineteenth Okandinlogun
twentieth Ogun
once Eekan
twice Emeji
nouns
arm Apa
back Eyin
cheeks Ereke or eeke
chest Aya
ear Eti
eye Oju
face Oju
finger ika
fingers Omo ika
foot Ese
hair Irun
hand Owo
head Ori
heart Okan
knee Orikun
leg Ese
lip Ete
mouth Enu
neck Orun
nose Imu
shoulder Ejika
stomach Iku
teeth Eyin
thigh Ese
throat Ofun
thumb Omo ika
toe Omo ese
tongue Ahon
tooth Eyin
bread Buredi
breakfast Onje aaro
butter Bota
candy Switi
chicken Ediye
dinner Onje ale
fish Eja
fruit Eso
lamb Omo aguntan
lemon Oson wewe

lunch Onje osan
meal Onje
meat Eran
pepper Ata
plants Ohun ogbin
pork Eran Elede
salt Iyo
soup Obe
sugar Suga
supper Onje asale
turkey tolotolo
apple apple
banana Ogede
oranges Osan
peanut Epa
pineapple Osan oyibo
vegetables Efo
corn agbado
onions alubosa
peppers ata
beans ewa
tomatoes tomato
Yoruba Phrases
Enjoy these Yoruba expressions, but don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference.
English Yoruba Phrases

Greeting Mo kiyin
Hi! Bawo
Good morning! Ek'aro
Good afternoon! Ek'asan
Good evening! Ek'ale
Welcome! (to greet someone) Ek'abo
Hello my friend! Bawoni Oremi
How are you? (friendly) Bawo lowa
How are you? (polite) Bawo lara
I'm fine, thank you! Mowa dada, Ese

And you? (friendly) Iwo na nko
And you? (polite) Iwo nko
Good Oda
Not so good Kofibe da
Long time no see Ope ti mo ti rie
I missed you Mos'aro e
What's new? Kini tuntun
Nothing new Kosi tuntun
Thank you (very much)! Ese gan
You're welcome! (for "thank

Ko t'ope
you")
My pleasure Inu midun
Come in! (or: enter!) Wole wa
Make yourself at home! Ef'okan bale,Ile lewa

Farewell Expressions
Have a nice day! Od'igba
Good night! Od'aro
Good night and sweet dreams! od'aro kosi la ala to da
See you later! mari e ni'gba mi
See you soon! mari e laipe
See you tomorrow! mari e lola
Good bye! Od'abo
Have a good trip! Irin ajo ada o
I have to go Moni lati malo
I will be right back! Mon padabo

Holidays and Wishes
Good luck! Pade orire
Happy birthday! Eku ojo ibi
Happy new year! Eku odun tuntun
Merry Christmas! Eku odun keresimesi
Ei del kabir Eku odun Ileya
Independence day Eku odun ojo ominira
Congratulations! Eku ori ire
Enjoy! (or: bon appetit) Igba dun
Bless you (when sneezing) Epele
Best wishes! Nko rere fun e

Cheers! (or: to your health) Eku araya
Accept my best wishes Gba nkan rere timo fefun e

How to Introduce Yourself
What's your name? Kini oruko e?
My name is (John Doe) Oruko mi ni (john Doe)
Nice to meet you! Inumidun lati ri e
Where are you from? Ilu wo loti wa?
Mowa lati ilu

I'm from (the U.S/ Nigeria)
(America/nigeria)
I'm (American/ Nigerian) Omo (America/Nigeria) nimi
Where do you live? Ibo l'ongbe?
I live in (the U.S/ Nigeria) Mongbe ni(America/ nigeria)
Do you like it here? S'o feran ibi?
Nigeria is a beautiful country Orile ede to rewa ni nigeria
What do you do for a living? Ise wo lonse?
I'm a (teacher/ student/ (Oluko/akeko/ onimo ero) ni

engineer) mi
Do you speak (English/

S'ole so ede(geesi/ yoruba)?
Yoruba)?
Just a little Mole so die
I like Yoruba Moferan yoruba
Mongbiyanju lati ko ede

I'm trying to learn Yoruba
yoruba
It's a hard language Ede t'ole ni
It's an easy language Ede ti kole ni
Oh! That's good! hehen, Iyen da
Can I practice with you? se mole ko pelu e?
I will try my best to learn Mase iwon ti mole se lati ko
How old are you? Omo odun melo ni e?
I'm (twenty one, thirty two) Omo (ogun odun lekan,ogun

years old odun lemeji) ni mi
It was nice talking to you! Mogbadun bi mose nba e soro
It was nice meeting you! mogbadun bi mose pade e
Ogbeni…/ Iya afin…/

Mr.../ Mrs. .../ Miss...
Omidan….
This is my wife Iyawo mi niyi
This is my husband Oko mi niyi
Say hi to Thomas for me Bami ki Thomas

Romance and Love Phrases
Are you free tomorrow
S'o raye lati ola lo
evening?
I would like to invite you to

mo fe kajo jade fun ounje ale
dinner
You look beautiful! (to a

O rewa gan lobinrin
woman)
You have a beautiful name Oruko re rewa
Can you tell me more about

Se ole so si fun mi nipa re?
you?
Are you married? Se oti se igbeyawo?
I'm single Mosi da wa
I'm married Moti se igbeyawo
Can I have your phone Se mole gba nomba ero ibani

number? soro re?
Can I have your email? Se mole gba iwe ateranse re?
Do you have any pictures of

Se oni awon aworan re?
you?
Do you have children? Se oni awon omo?
Would you like to go for a

Se ole jeka nase jade
walk?
I like you Moferan e
I love you Mon'ife e!
You're very special! Eeyan pataki ni e!
You're very kind! Odaa gan!
I'm very happy Inumi dun gan
Would you marry me? Se wa femi?
I'm just kidding Mon sere ni o
I'm serious Mi o selere rara
My heart speaks the language

Okan mi nso ede ife
of love
Solving a Misunderstanding
Sorry! (or: I beg your pardon!) Ema binu
Sorry (for a mistake) Epele
No problem! Kosi'yonu
Can you repeat please? Se ole tunso jo?
Can you speak slowly? Se ole soro didie?
Can you write it down? Se ole koosile?
Did you understand what I Se nko ti mo so ye e?

said?
I don't understand! Ko ye mi!
I don't know! Mi o mo!
What's that called in Yoruba? Kini won npe ni ede yoruba?
What does that word mean in Kini itumo oro yen ni ede
English? geesi?
How do you say "thanks" in Bawo lese nso pe"Ese gan" ni

Yoruba? ede yoruba?
What is this? Ki leleyi?
My Yoruba is bad Ede yoruba mi da
Don't worry! Mase iyonu!
I agree with you Mo faramo nko to so
Is that right? Se iyen da?
Is that wrong? Se iyen o da?
What should I say? Kini kinso?
I just need to practice moni lati ko gan
Your Yoruba is good Ede yoruba re da
Ede mi fihan pe mi owa lati ilu

I have an accent
yi
You don't have an accent Ede re dabi tiwa

Asking for Directions
Excuse me! (before asking
Ejo
someone)
I'm lost Mi o mona
Can you help me? S'ele ran mi lowo?
Can I help you? Se mole ran e lowo?
I'm not from here Mio kinse ara ile yi
How can I get to (this place,

Bawo ni mosele de adugbo yi?
this city)?
Go straight Malo lookan
Then Tobaya
Turn left Ya si apa osi
Turn right ya si apa otun
Can you show me? S'ole fihan mi?
I can show you! Mole fihan e
Come with me! Telemi kalo!
How long does it take to get

Ato igbawo k'atodebe?
there?
Downtown (city center) Aarin ilu
Historic center (old city) Ilu atijo
It's near here Itosi ibi
It's far from here Ojina s'ibi
Is it within walking distance? Se molerin debe
I'm looking for Mr. Smith Mon bere Ogbeni smith
One moment please! Jo funmi ni iseju kan!
Hold on please! (when on the

Ejo monbo
phone)
He is not here Ibi kis'ebi ( kosi nibi)
Airport Papako Ofurufu
Bus station Ibudoko
Train station Ibudoko oko ojurin
Taxi tansi
Near Sunmo
Far Jina
Emergency Survival Phrases
Help! Egbawa o!
Stop! Oto!
Fire! Ina!
Thief! Ole!
Run! Sare!
Watch out! (or: be alert!) Egbara di
Call the police! Epe olopa!
Call a doctor! Epe dokita!
Epe oko tongbeyan lo si ile

Call the ambulance!
iwosan
Are you okay? S'owa daada!
I feel sick Ara mi oya
I need a doctor Moferi dokita
Accident Ijamba
Food poisoning Majele ounje
Where is the closest Ibo ni ile oloogun oyinbo to

pharmacy? sunmon ju?
It hurts here Eeyan nsese nibi?
It's urgent! Ogba kiakia!
Calm down! Fara bale!

You will be okay! Ara re aya!
Can you help me? Se ole ranmi lowo?
Can I help you? Se mole ran e lowo?

Hotel Restaurant Travel
Phrases
I have a reservation (for a
Motigba yara kan sile
room)
Do you have rooms available? Se awon yara wanle?
With shower / With bathroom To ni baluwe
I would like a non-smoking Mofe yara ti won ti kin mu

room siga
What is the charge per night? Elo ni owo re fun ale kan?
I'm here on business /on

Mo wasibi fun ise/ fun isinmi
vacation
Dirty Idoti
Clean Mimo
Do you accept credit cards? S'e n gba owo ni ona kaadi
I'd like to rent a car Mafe lati ya oko ayokele
How much will it cost? Elo lo ma na mi?
A table for (one / two) please! Ejo tabili fun eyan (kan/meji)!
Is this seat taken? Se wan ti gba aye yi ni?
I'm vegetarian Ounje elewe lemi nje
I don't eat pork Mio kin je elede
I don't drink alcohol Mio kin mu oti
What's the name of this dish? Ki'loruko ounje yi?
Waiter / waitress! Adani loun!
Can we have the check S'ele fun mi ni iwe sowedowo

please? na?
It is very delicious! Odun gan!
I don't like it Mi o feran e
Shopping Expressions Ise nibi nkan rira
How much is this? Elo leleyi?
I'm just looking Mo kan nwo ni
I don't have change Mio ni sanji
This is too expensive Eyi ti won ju
Expensive Owon
Cheap Kowon
Daily Expressions
What time is it? Ago melo lolu?
It's 3 o'clock Ago meta lolu
Give me this! Fun mi leleyi!
Are you sure? S'o da e loju?
Take this! (when giving

Gba eleyi!
something)
It's freezing (weather) Otutu gan nibi gan
It's cold (weather) Otutu nibi
It's hot (weather) Ogbona nibi
Do you like it? S'o feran e?
I really like it! Moferan gan!
I'm hungry Ebi npa mi
I'm thirsty Orungbe ngbe mi
He is funny Apani lerin ni
In The Morning l'owuro
In the evening N'irole
At Night L'ale
Hurry up! Se kia!

Cuss Words (polite)
This is nonsense! (or: this is
Kantan kantan leyi!
craziness)
My God! (to show amazement) Oluwa o!
Oh gosh! (when making a

Mogbe!
mistake)
It sucks! (or: this is not good) Eyi oda!
What's wrong with you? Kilo ndamu e?
Are you crazy? S'onsiere ni?
Get lost! (or: go away!) Kuroni'waju mi!
Leave me alone! Fimi sile!
I'm not interested! Ko wunmi!

Writing a Letter
Dear John John mi owan
My trip was very nice Irin ajo mi dara
The culture and people were Asa ati awon eyan yi daa gan
very interesting ni
I had a good time with you Mogbadun igba ti molo pelu e
I would love to visit your

Mafe lati wa si orile ede re si
country again
Don't forget to write me back Magbagbe lati mak'owe simi
from time to time ni gbogbo igba
Short Expressions and
words
Good Oda
Bad Koda
So-so (or: not bad not good) Koda kobaje
Big Nla
Small Kekere
Today Eni
Now ni'sin
Tomorrow Ola
Yesterday Ana
Yes Be'ni
No Be'ko
Fast yara
Slow Koyara
Hot Gbona
Cold Tutu
This Eyi
That Iyen
Here Ibi
There Ibe
Me (ie. Who did this? - Me) Emi
You Iwo
Him Owun (okunrin)
Her Owun (obinrin)
Us Awa
Them Awon
Really? Looto?
Look! Woo!
What? Kini?
Where? Nibo?
Who? Tani?
How? Bawo?
When? Nigba wo?

Why? kilo fa?
Zero Odo
One Eni
Two Eji
Three Eta
Four Erin
Five Arun
Six Efa
Seven Eje
Eight Ejo
Nine Esan
Ten Ewa
Yoruba Reading
Read the following text very carefully and see what you can understand without looking at the
English translation, and see what you understood from it.
Yoruba Reading
Abala kerìndínlógbòn.
1) Enì kòòkan ló ní ètó láti kó èkó. Ó kéré tán, èkó
gbodò jé òfé ní àwon ilé-èkó alákòóbèrè. Ekó ní ilé-
èkó alákòóbèrè yìí sì gbodò jé dandan. A gbodò
pèsè èkó isé-owó, àti ti ìmò-èro fún àwon ènìyàn
lápapò. Àn fàní tó dógba ní ilé-èkó gíga gbodò wà ní
àrówótó gbogbo eni tó bá tó sí.
2) Ohun tí yóò jé ète èkó ni láti mú ìlosíwájú tó
péye bá èdá ènìyàn, kí ó sì túbò rí i pé àwon ènìyàn
bòwò fún ètó omonìyàn àti àwon òmìnira won, tó jé
kò-seé-má-nìí. E tò èkó gbodò lè rí i pé èmí;
ìgbóra-eni-yé, ìbágbépò àlàáfíà, àti ìfé òré-sí-òré
wà láàrin orílè-èdè, láàrin èyà kan sí òmíràn àti
láàrin elésìn kan sí òmíràn. E tò-èkó sì gbodò kún
àwon akitiyan Àjo-ìsòkan orílè-èdè àgbáyé lówó láti
rí i pé àlàáfíà fìdí múlè.
3)Àwon òbí ló ní ètó tó ga jù lo láti yan èkó tí wón
bá fé fún àwon omo won.
Abala ketàdínlógbòn.
1) Enì kòòkan ló ní ètó láìjé pé a fi ipá mú un láti
kópa nínú àpapò ìgbé ayé àwùjo rè, kí ó je ìgbádùn
gbogbo ohun àmúse wà ibè, kí ó sì kópa nínú
ìdàgbàsókè ìmò sáyén sì àti àwon àn fàní tó ń ti ibè
jáde.
2) Enì kòòkan ló ní ètó sí ààbò àn fàní ìmoyì àti
ohun ìní tí ó je yo láti inú isé yòówù tí ó bá se ìbáà
Yoruba Reading
se ìmò sáyén sì, ìwé kíko tàbí isé onà.
Below is the translation of the above text, check what you understood without the help of the
dictionary, after reading the translation one time, go back up and read the Yoruba text and see if
you can recognize the more words this time.
English Translation
Article 26
1. Everyone has the right to education. Education
shall be free, at least in the elementary and
fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be
compulsory. Technical and professional education
shall be made generally available and higher
education shall be equally accessible to all on the
basis of merit.
2. Education shall be directed to the full
development of the human personality and to the
strengthening of respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms. It shall promote
understanding, tolerance and friendship among all
nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further
the activities of the United Nations for the
maintenance of peace.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of
education that shall be given to their children.
Article 27
1. Everyone has the right freely to participate in the
cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and
to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the
moral and material interests resulting from any
scientific, literary or artistic production of which he
is the author.
TONE MARKS
The tone marks adopted to help in pronouncing Yoruba words are the first three musical
notes; do, re, mi.
“do” is the low tone. The sign representing this is \
“re” is the medium tone. It has no sign representation.
“mi” is the high tone. The sign representing this is /
* Tone marks are strictly placed on Yoruba vowels.
For instance, try to call these common words below. Let the tones in the brackets above guide
you, pronouncing the corresponding tone mark before pronouncing the word.
Can you now try and pronounce these words below, putting to mind the tone marks just
learnt:
WORD TONE
(i). Come – wá mi
(ii). Child – ọmọ re re
(iii). A name – Adé re mi
(iv). Cooked garri – èbà do do
BIRDS ANIMALS
1. owl -òwìwí 1. lion - kìnìùn
2. bat - àdán 2. lizard - alàngbá
3. bush fowl - àparò 3. camel - ràkúnmí
4. sparrow - ẹgà 4. donkey - kẹtẹkẹtẹ
5. kite - àwòdì 5. elephant - erin
6. hawk - àşádì 6. wolf - ìkòokò
7. eagle – àşá 7. hedgehog – túrùkú
8. vulture - igún 8. snake- ejò
9. kiwi - ẹyẹ odò 9. cat - olóngbo
10. duck - pẹpẹyẹ 10. horse - ẹşin
11. guinea fowl - ẹtù; awó 11. goat - ewurẹ
12. fowl - adiẹ; cock -akukọ; hen - obídiẹ; chick - 12. sheep – àgùtàn; ewe – àgùtàn; ram
òròmọdìẹ - àgbò
13. parrot - ayékòótọ 13. deer - èsúró
14. wood pecker – ẹyẹ àkókó 14. monkey - ọbọ
15. ostrich – ògòngò 15. leopard - amọtẹkun
16. peacock – ọkin 16. tiger - ẹkun
17. turkey – tòlótòló 17. guinea pig - ẹmọ
18. dove – àdàbà 18. hamster - aşin
19. cuckoo - òdèrè 19. dog - ajá
20. rabbit - ehoro
21. hare – ehoro igbo
22. tortoise – ìjàpá; ahun
23. fox - kọlọkọlọ
24. grasscutter - ọyà
25. buffalo - ẹfọn
26. squirrel - ọkẹrẹ
27. snail - ìgbìn
28. fish - ẹja
29. wall gecko - ọmọọle
30. turtle – ahun odò
31. lobster/prawn/crayfish - edè
32. chameleon - ọgà
33. squirrel - ọkẹrẹ
34. Iguana – antà
35. hippopotamus – erinmilokun; erin
odó
36. crocodile - ọni
37. alligator - ẹlẹgungun
BUILDING
Ceiling – àjà
Roof – òrùlé KITCHEN UTENSILS
Roofing sheet – páànú
Roofing – ríró ilé
Wall – ògiri 1. teaspoon - şíbí tọbele
Fence – odi 2. tablespoon – şíbí ìjẹun
Window – fèrèsè 3. fork – şíbí oníga
Door – ilẹkun 4. serving spoon – şíbí ìbù-njẹ
Carved door – aasẹ 5. breakable plates – àwo
Pillar – òpó 6. unbreakable plates - abọ;
Beams – arópòódògiri abọmafọ
Corner – igununlé 7. serving dish – àwo ìjẹun
Backyard – ẹhìnkùùlé 8. tray - ọpọn
Frontage – iwájùúlé 9. frying pan – agbada idinran
Entrance – ojúulé; ẹnu ọna 10. stove – sitoofu
Corridor – ọdẹdẹ 11. water pot – ìkòkò omi
Courtyard – igbẹjọ 12. cooking pot – ìkòkò ìdáná
Veranda – ojúde 13. stool – àpótí
Lobby – abawọle 14. wooden spoon – şíbí onípọn
Dining – ibi -ijẹun 15. cup – ife
Kitchen – ilé ìdáná 16. cutting saucer - igbakọ
Hearth – ààrò 17. stirring stick - orógùn
Toilet – ilé igbọnsẹ
Bathroom – ilé iwẹ
Gate – ìloro
Plastering – irẹle, rirẹ ilé
Well – kànga
Lamp – àtùpà
Ladder – àkàbà; akasọ
YORÙBÁ FROM ENGLISH
Version 1 - with a few errors for correction please - February 2003
SIMPLE THROAT EXERCISE - 16 KEY WORDS

(Repeat EACH Yorùbá word shown in red many times slowly ... and then at VERY high
speed)
English Yorùbá translation Pronunciation
Good Morning E KAAA-RO “AYKK0 ARR-ROW”
Male OKUURIN “OH-KPP-RRNN”
Female OBIRIN “OH-BEAR-RRN”
Yes BEE NI “BEAR NEE”
No RARA/BEE KO “RATA/BEAR-KOU”
Good ODAA “OH-DAAA”
Please E JO “AY JAW”
Do you have? SE E NI? ”SAY AY NEE”
Thank you E SE “AY SHHHAY”
Goodbye O DABO “OH DAR-BOH”
See you soon!!! MA RI E LAIPE “MARR REE AY LIE-PEEH”
Who? TA-NI? “TARR-MEE”
What? KI-NI? “KEA-NEE”
I want MO FE “MO FAY”
Where? NIBO? “NEE-BOW”
OK! O-DAA! “OH-DAAA”
Note: For simplicity ... the program is typed without accents!
English Yorùbá translation

Thank you. E se
Good Morning E karo
Yes/no Bee-ni/Rara
Please E jo/e joo/jowo
Everything is OK! Gbo-gbo e wa daa-daa (OK)!
Good morning E-karo.
My name is ... Oruko-o (name) mi ni ...
What is your name? Ki ni oruko ee?
How are you? Se dandaa ni o?
Fine (thanks) Daadaa ni.
Where do you come from? Nibo (where) lo ti wa (come)?
I am from ... Mo wa lati (from) ...
Good-bye. O dabo.
so start chatting now ...to everyone ...
CRE - CREATIVE RELAXATION EXERCISE
THE NATURAL WAY TO PLAY

WITH LANGUAGE AND A BEAUTIFUL ACCENT
WITH A 30 MINUTE AUDIO TAPE IN ONE DAY
KEY CONCEPT: "WHEN you create new POSITIVE wave patterns in YOUR mind, they give
you the CONFIDENCE to RELAX and LEARN naturally without EFFORT ... E Se"
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 STRUCTURE
This program gives you practice in understanding the structure of the language almost
instinctively, as for each difficult phrase, English words are inserted. There is a also a
Mini Phrase-book, a Brief Note on Grammar and a list of the 100 "most used" words in
conversation.
1.2 MEMORY
A simple technique for the memory of difficult sounds is to make up a ridiculous English phrase as a
memory "trigger", for example:
Yes ... bee-ni ... say ...
... yes ... be nice say yes ... bee ni
Goodbye ... o dabo ... say ...
... goodbye ... o dear Bob ...bye bye ... o dabo
I want ... mo fe ... say ...
... I want ... moaning for it again ... mo fe
or email robertboland@wanadoo.fr for our CRE 33 MemoryAlert.
1.3 PRACTICE.
Learn very rapidly the list of "most used 100 words" and each day, take one
page of the mini-phrase-book, to make 10 minutes of Yorùbá conversation with a natural
speaker or aloud with yourself. Then make a friend of the main Yorùbá Phrase-book.
INSTANT RELAXATION TECHNIQUE
1. This is a simple IRT exercise, to give you confidence to learn naturally. When you don't believe
you can learn ... you won't learn! ... When you are tense, anxious and stressed ... you won't
learn! When you have no confidence ... you won't learn. But with relaxation, your mind and
body become clear, confident and ready to learn. So do the IRT exercise now ... and again
before every CRE session. It takes only three minutes, and with practice, it becomes a powerful
tool for you. The only "equipment" you need is an "open mind" and a marble (or similar small
object) in your "right" (major) hand.
2. So, get into that comfortable position, in which you know ... you really can relax. Be aware
that marble gets warm as it absorbs heat from contact with your right hand. Open you hand and
allow the warmth to evaporate. Close the hand again, and recognize the marble ... as a physical
external symbol ... of the internal function of your mind and body. Allow it to receive and
evaporate not just heat ... but emotion, anxiety and stress ... leaving you free, relaxed, confident
and ready to learn to speak and understand the natural language without effort ....
3. Now, relax with the hands on the lap, and fix your eyes on the marble as you repeat aloud ...
the following sentence ... four times, feeling free to change the wording a little ... to fit your style
... four times ... aloud ... in all:
"I AM, I CAN, I WILL, I BELIEVE ... I WILL LEARN ... AND HELP OTHERS TO LEARN ... TO
SPEAK AND ENJOY ... THE NEW NATURAL LANGUAGE ... WITH A BEAUTIFUL ACCENT ...
NATURALLY ... RAPIDLY ... EASILY ... WITHOUT EFFORT"
4. With the eyes fixed on the marble ... or closed if you wish ... start to take three slow and very
deep breaths ... and be sure to pause ... on each inhalation ... and imagine ... each exhalation ...
as transferring all the anxiety and stress ... from your mind and body ... through to the marble in
your hand.
5. After the third breath, let your whole mind and body relax completely for two minutes ...
thinking ONLY of your breathing ... nothing else ... no self talk at all ... just concentrate on the
BREATHING ... very important, counting down from 20 to 1
6. Then bring yourself back, by simply counting up from 1 to 5, feeling well, relaxed, confident
and ready to learn. The marble is now your very personal symbol ... of your confidence to learn
and speak the natural language with a beautiful accent.
Note: This simple CRE "Instant Relaxation Technique" can be used anywhere
(eyes open or closed) to achieve a calm mind ... without anger, anxiety or stress ...
ready and confident to learn .. or deal with any new problem ... that you have to
face. Keep the marble always to hand, as a symbol ... of your confidence ... to feel
comfortable ... in the new natural language ... and to speak almost instinctively ...
without stress or effort ...
NATURAL SUGGESTIONS
Plan to do the whole CRE in one 6 hour CRE day, with a partner or a small group. A natural
speaker (if available) would be most welcome as a partner or group member. On the day before,
as pre-learning (alone), play the 30 minute tape, just before sleeping, speaking all the time,
completely relaxed making no conscious effort to learn anything.
After the one full day of CRE, plan revision during your NORMAL ROUTINE in the following week,
for just an hour a day. Feel free to do it in any way ... that YOU know ... will suit YOU best ...
and will allow you ... both to speak AND to understand ... what is spoken to you ... so relax
completely ... and ABSORB ... both consciously and sub-consciously ... the very carefully selected
... 30 minute audio tape ... of new natural language ... which becomes part of you ... intuitively
... instinctively ... without effort ... as you relax with IRT and establish a very POSITIVE attitude
... and a confident EXPECTATION of SUCCESS ... just from PLAYING ... with the natural language
... Our suggested schedule for the 6 hour CRE day (with breaks as needed) is:
1 – Do IRT. Do the Throat exercise - 16 key words

Play the tape (30 minutes) with the text (hear, see, speak, MOVE, and feel)
... make it fun! Review the Natueal Vocabulary (2 pages).
2 – Repeat the text (Sections 2-4) to understand every word!
Play the tape with the text SPEAKING VERY LOUDLY - STOP THE TAPE AND SING OR
SHOUT ANY VERY DIFFICULT PHRASES.
Do SPEED READING (2-16) in 14 minutes (recorded if possible- for fun!).
Review the Grammar (1 page) and the Glossary.
Play the tape WITHOUT the text, SPEAKING IN VERY DRAMATIC style.
Repeat the Throat exercise.
Begin to create simple conversation with the Mini-phrase book (Hello etc.).
Play the tape with the text, SPEAKING SOFTLY with a good accent.
Do SPEED READING (Sections 2-16) and Mini-phrase Book.
5 – Play the tape WITHOUT the text, speaking with three different
voices - just for fun!. Create conversation with the Mini-phrase book.
Do SPEED READING (2-16).
. 6 - Play the tape SPEAKING with a beautiful CONFIDENT accent.
Do the quiz (1 page). Create converation with mini phrase book.
Do SPEED READING (2-16) and Mini-phrase book 14 minutes.
Do APS and plan for individual review next week, helping partners as
needed.
NATURAL SUGGESTIONS (continued)
Generally:
1. REINFORCE the learning in the CAR/TRUCK at any time … make it an

amusing THEATRE of one … YOU!!! … by playing and acting out … ONLY
Sections 2 - 16. DO NOT play the relaxation sections in the car ... skip
them please! Play the Learning Reinforcement side of the tape as needed
for encouragement, be sure to blame your strategy, and not yourself!!
2. RECOGNIZE that a TERRIBLE accent is PAINFUL … for the hearer …

and so strive always for a beautiful accent in EVERY WORD.
3. Be POSITIVE and NEVER apologise for your language … you are making
the effort to learn the LANGUAGE … and the HUMAN VALUES … an thus
the CULTURE … of the people you speak with … and THEY will appreciate
MORE than you can EVEN imagine!! If they reply to you in ENGLISH …
then YOU just CONTINUE to speak in the NATURAL new language … and
they will too ...
4. LISTEN very carefully to what PEOPLE say to YOU … and BEFORE

replying … REPEAT in YOUR MIND ... EXACTLY what they said … … this
gives you excellent PRACTICE in recognising good STRUCTURE.
5. HESITATE before you SPEAK … and then speak FREELY and

CONFIDENTLY … without long pauses and … WITHOUT … "Urrs and
Umms" which are so ANNOYING and BORING … for the listener ...
6. When you do not know a necessary word … do NOT hesitate … simply

USE the ENGLISH word … in the sentence … the hearer will almost
certainly give you the translation … and you can repeat it … three times to
get it right … without embarrassment. Use the LEARNING
REINFORCMENT as needed but not in the car!
7. Use SIMPLE SHORT sentences and be CONFIDENT as you begin to

talk to people ... expect SUCCESS ... and you will NOT be disappointed
... and try just one MORE new thing ... just for fun in this one week ...
drink one litre of WATER EVERY DAY … it rinses mind and body and has a
REMARKABLE preventive/curative therapeutic effect … to support new
learning ... on we go together.
1. GENTLE RELAXATION ...
And now … I'd like you to arrange yourself … in a position that is so comfortable ... and natural …
for you ... so that you can sit … or lie … for a while ... easily and effortlessly ... and where you can
be comforable ... and yet still remain alert enough ... to focus on the meaningful ... natural
language learning ... that we will do together ... natural anguage ... gentle ... quiet ... peaceful ...
and instinctive ... without any effort ... as you absorb its deepest meaning ... interpretation ... and
value ... in terms of very personal expectations.
And then when your are ready … to focus yourself ... you can begin by taking a few deep relaxing
breaths ... breathing slowly ... and feeling the rise of your chest ... as you gradually inhale ... feeling
that each breath in ... and out ... relaxes you ... calms you ... and re-acqaints you ... with deeper
parts of yourself that you are sometimes too busy to notice.
You know ... and I know ... its very easy ... to get caught up in day to day living ... there is so much
to do ... and now is your time … and I would like you to allow your eyes to close ... as you start to
build ... an internal focus ... within yourself ... on those parts of yourself... that will absorb the
natural language ... gently ... peacefully … and instinctively ... almost automatically ... as you … let
yourself go ... relax ... without conscious effort ... because you have nothing … to do … now …
except relax ..
And as we go on together ... repeating the phrases ... in the natural language ... with your whole
body involved ... moving hands and face … feelings and body … to express … and absorb the words
and phrases ... as they will come … instinctively ... to your mind ... as you speak softly ... with a
beautiful accent ... yes … with a beautiful accent … which will please and surprise you... as its fits
the music ... of the natural language
So on we go together ... speaking all the time ... and moving hands, face feelings and body … to
express ourselves ... in the new natural language ... as you create new wave patterns … in that
special… "Yorùbá Place" … in your mind …
2. HERE AND THERE:
Mo (I) wa (at present) nibi yi (am). I am here.

E (you) wa nibe (there). You (are) there.
Se (question) o (you) wa nibe? (Are) you there?

Bee ni. o wa nibe. Yes, you (are) there.
Se o -wa nibi? (Are) you here?

Rara, o si (not) nibi. No, you (are) not here.
O (it) wa nibi yi. It is here.

Nibo lo (it) wa (at present)? Where is it?
O wa nibi yi. It is here.

So (question) wa nibe? Is it there?
Mo (I) ko (not) mo (know). I do not know.
Nibo ni Miguel wa (at present)? Where is Miguel?

Ko (he) si (not) nibi yi. He is not here.
Nibo lo (he) wa? Where is he?

Mo (I) mo (know) rara (not). I do not know.
Huh! O wan (there) na (he) re (is). Darn-it! There he is!

Eniyam (he) todar (wonderful) ni (is). He is wonderful!
3. LIKING:
Mo ni fe (like) e (you). I like you.

Se (question) o (you) fe-ron (like) mi (me)? Do you like me?
Bee ni, mo ran (like) e (you). Yes, I like you.
Se feran owo (money)? Do you like money?

Bee ni, mo fe-ran owo. Yes, I like the money.
Mo fe-ran omi (water).. I like water.

O (you) feran omi. You like water.
Mo fe-ran awon (some) iwe (books). I like some books.
O fe-ran moto (car) naa.. He likes the car.

Ko (she not) fe-ran moto naa. She does not like the car.
Se fe-ran onje (dinner) naa? Do you like the dinner?

Rara, mo ko fe onje naa. No, I do not like the dinner.
Oh. Huh! Huh! Oh. Darn-it! Mate!

Jowo, mase (do not) soro Huh. Please do not say Mate!
4. DOING:
Mo se I do.
Mo se seji (this). I do this.
Ko (you) se e You do.

Ko se iye (that) You do that
Ao se iye. We do that
Pelu (and) inu (we) wa (at present) n-du (happy) And we are happy.
Se (question) ko soro (easy)? Is it easy?

Bee ni, kole (diificult) rara (not). Yes, it is not difficult.
Se (question) wa e se (do) iye (that)? Do (you) do that?

Jowo (please) se (do) iye (that) Do that please!!!
Huh!! Darn-it!!!
O-ya (it) ni (is) lenu-papo (wondefrful). It is wonderful!
5. CAN/ABLE TO DO:
Mo le (can). I can
SE )question) mo le? Can I?
Bee ni, mo le. Yes, I can.
Se (question) o le (can) se (do) seyi (this? Can you do this?

Bee ni, mo le se yi (that). Yes, I can do that.
Mo le je (eat) die (little) I can eat a little.

Mo le mu (drink) die. I can drink a little.
Mo le malo (go). I can go.

Mo l wa (come) I can come.
Mo le sun (sleep). I can sleep.

O (you) le soro (speak). You can speak.
Se (question) le soro? Can (you) speak?

Bee ni, mo le. Yes, I can.
Se (question) le se seyi (this)? Can you do this?

Rara, mo ko (not) le se iye (that). No, I can not do that.
Se (question) o (you) le ye (understand)? You can understand?

Se le se ye? Can you understand?
So le ye? Can you understand?

Bee nidie (litt;e). Yes, a little.
Se le soro (speak) huh? Can you say Mate?

Bee ni, mo le soro Yoruba die. Yes, I can speak a little Yoruba!
Huh! Enyam tadani mi! Darn-it! I am wonderful!
6. UNDERSTANDING:
O ye mi. I understand.
Ko ye na. I do not understand.
So ye e. You understand.
Ko le ye rara. You do not understand.
Se (question) obirin (women) ye (understand)i? (Do you) understand women?

Rara. Rara, ko ye mi rara? No. No. I do not understand them!!!
Oh. Huh! Huh! Oh. Darn-it! Mate!

O dara pupo. You are wonderful!

7. WANTING:
Mo fe I want.
Mo fe je (eat) die I want to eat a little.
Mo fe mimu omi I want to drink the water.

Mo fe lo (go) s-ile-gbonse (toilet) I want to go to the toilet!!!
Se(question) wa (at prsent) je (eat) die? Do you want to eat a little?

Rara, mi o fe je. No, I do not want to eat.
Huh! Mo fr funi (give) ni (you) die. Darn! I want to give you a bit.
Rara. e se. No thank you.
Mo fe wa (come). I want to come.

Se o fe sun (sleep) pelu-mi (with me)? Do you want to sleep with me?
Rara, mo ko fe sun. No, I do not want to sleep.

Miguel, se fe je opolo (frogs)? Miguel do you want to eat the frogs?
Zut! Rara, ko (not) se ni-si-yi (now). e se. Darn-it! Not just now, thank you!
Enjan hda ni wa. We are wonderful!
8. GETTING:
E jowo, fun (give) mi owo (money) na. Please give me the money.
E jowo, gba (take) owo na. Please take the money.
Mo le gba owo na. I can take the money.
E jowo, fun mi tiket. Please give me the ticket.

E jowo, gba tiket-i. Please take the ticket.
Mo le gba tiket. I can take the ticket.
E jowo, fun mi kini (that) Please give me that.

Nibo ni kini ye na? Where is the thing?
Mo mo?????. I do not know.
E jowo, fun mi okurin(man). Please give me a man!

Huh!!! Oberin re e! Darn-t!!! What a woman!!
Oburin to da ni. She is wonderful!
9. HAVING:
E mi ohun kan. I have one thing.

E mi ma ohun kan I do not have one thing.
E se, ohun kan You have one thing.

E-ao ohun kan We have one thing.
E un ohun kan She has one thing.
E mi aago ki, Iya-woo! I have the time, Miss!

E se pamosi ki, O-koo Do you have some money, Sir?
Rara. No.
Oh. Merde! Oh. Mate!
Ko gbo Mate, e jo. Please do not say Mate!

10. ORDERING (POLITELY):
E jo e de mi ohun kan, Please give me the thing.

E jo, e de mi pamosi Please give me the money.
E jo, e de mi omi. Please give me the water.

E see e Thank you.
Ma mimu ami e France na. Please don’t drink the water in France!!
Mimu ,wain-i Drink the wine.
E jo ma nibi. Please come here.

e jo, jade nijen. Please go there.
Mimu leyi. Please drink this.

Ma nma niyi na. Do not eat that!
E jo, e de mi leyi. Please give me this.

E jo, ma gbe niyi na, Please do not take that.
e jo gbo leyi. Please say this.

Zut! E se e. Se gbadun ni. Darn-it! Thank you. You are wonderful!
11. GREETING:
Ba wo ni, Michelle. Hello Michelle.

Ba wo ni, Paula. Hello Paula.
E karo, Miche. Good morning Miche.

Mingala ba, Sancos. Good morning Sancos.
Se daadaa ni, Eliza? How are you, Eliza?

Dadaa ni o, Khulu. I am well, Khulu.
Ba-wan, Xavier? How goes it, Xavier?

O-daa, e se, Miguel. OK , thank you Miguel.
A digba, Giles. Goodbye Giles.

A dabo Judith. Bye bye Judith.
Bee ni. O-daa, Hollie Yes OK, Hollie.

Gbadun yi, Heidi! It is wonderful, Heidi!
O daa, Sam.? OK Sam?

Bee ni a-daa, Lucie. Yes OK, Lucie.
Ko wa buru na, Henri. Not too bad, Henri.

Se ara re da, Alblufin? Are you well, my darling?
Rara.! No!!!
Huh! Obimin to-da-ni! She is wonderful!
12. DESCRIBING:
Lo daa (good) ra It is good.

Ko daa ra. It is not good.
Ko daa ra. It is bad (not good).
Iwe (book) na ko da. It is a book.

O tobi? Is it big?
Rara, o ti -kere (small). No, it is small.
Kole rara? Is it easy? (not difficult)

Rara, ole gan???? No, it is hard.
Se (question) omi (water) na daa (good)? Is the water good?

Rara, omi Faransi ko ta rara. No, the water is not good in France!!
Oh Huh!! Oh Mate!!!
Se, enyan to-ga-ni wa? Are we wonderful?!!!

Huh! Bee ni!! Darn-it! Yes!!
13. KNOWING (THINGS & PEOPLE):
Mo mo (know) yi (this). I know this.

Se, o mo yi (that)? Do you know this?
Bee ni, mo mo yi. Yes, I know this.
O (you) mo iye (that). You know that.

Se, o mo iye? Do you know that?
E mi ko (not) mo iye. I do not know that.
Mo mo obirin (woman) na (that). I know that woman.

Mo mo okurin (man) na. I know the man.
O mo mi (me). He knows me.

So (question/you) mo obirin na? Do you know that woman?
Rara. E kara Ma (madame). No. Good morning Madame?

Se ara ji ya, Ma? Are you well, Madame?
Rara. Ofi ara mi ko ya. O dabo!! No, I am not well!! Goodbye!!!

O mo ra ra, You do not know her!
Huh! Obirin to-da-ni! Darn-it! She is wonderful!
14. NUMBERING:
Mo ni isoro (problem) kan (one). I have one problem.

Bee ni, so ni isoro kan. Yes, you have a problem.
Rara, so ni isoro meji (2). No, you have two (of them).
O ni meta. He has three.
Obirin na ni merin (4). She has four.

An marun (5). We have five.
So ni marun? Do you have five?

Bee ni, ni-si-yi (now)mo ni isoro marun. Yes now, I have five problems!!!
Gbogbo (all) awon-omo! All the children!

Awon o mo-dara! Children are wondeful!
15. ASKING:
Elo ni (how much) iwe (book) na How much is the book?

Dolar marun-un. Five dollars.
Elo ni ni kini (this) yi? How much is this (thing)

Elo ni? How much?
Dolar merin (4). Four dollars.
Lo nibo ni (where) o wa? Where is it?

O wa (at present) nibe (there). It is there.
Rara, ko (not) si nibe. No, it is not there.
E jowo, nibo ni ile-ignonse (toilet)? Where is the toilet, please?

Ile-ignonse wa nibe (there) yi. The toilet is ove there.
Ki-ni (what) ye? What (is) that?

Ki-le-wi (pardon). Ki ni ye? Pardon. What?
I-ye e. That.
Oh, o dara (good) bi iwe (book) lo iwe daa. Oh, it is aa good book.
Ki (what) lo fe (want)? What do you want?

Mo fe waini (wine0 na , e jo (please). I want the wine, please.
Ta lo wa (at present) nibe (there)? Who is there?

A-o (we) wa nibi. We are here.
Ta ni (who) obirin (woman) yi? Who is that woman?

Mi o mo (know) rara (not). I do not know.
Huh! Madonna ni Darn. It is Mdonna!

Obirin (woman) to-da ni! Gbudan ni! Wha a woman! (She is) wonderful!
16. EVERYTHING - COLLOQUIAL:
Mo wa nibe yi. I am here.

Se wa nijen yi You are there.
Mo feran e (you). I like you.

So feran owu (money) na. You like the money.
O (he) se (does) yi (this). He does this.

O (she) se ye. She does that.
Mo le so (speak) Yoruba die (little). I can speak a little Yoruba!

E jo, ole so (do not say) Huh. Please do not say Mate!
Oro e (you) ye (know) mi I understand you.

Oro mi (me) ko-ye rara (not). You do not understand me.
Mo fe (want) lo (go) si bar ile (to) emu, I want to go to the bar.

So fe lo si ile-ignonse (toilet). You want to go to the toilet.
Mo ni (to me) asiko (time) na, Obirin. I have the time, Miss!
SEo ni omi (money) na, Okurin? Do you have some money, Sir?
E jo, ma se mu (drink) France lati (in). Please don’t drink the water in France!!
Mu o waini! na Drink the wine.
Da wo ni, Eliza? O-daa? How are you, Eliza? OK?

O se (thank you), daadaa ni, Khulu. Thank you, I am well, Khulu.
O tobi, Okurin? Is it big, Sir?

Rara, o kere, Obirin.. No, it is small, Miss.
O ko (not) mo (know) obirin ye. You do not know that woman.

Huh! Obirin to-da-ni!!. Darn-it! She is wonderful!
Bee ni. ni-si-yi (now), e mi (to me) ni isoro (problem) maru-un.

. Yes now, I have five problems!!!
Awon-omo de. All the children!
Ki ni ye (that)? What is that?

Jowo ki-le-wi. Ki ni? Pardon. What?
Owun na re e. There it is.

Oda be. Not bad.
Huh!! Darn it!

O-daa? OK?
Bee ni, o rarun!! Yes, it's cool!

Bee ni, rorun! Yes, it's cool! (classy)
Bee ni, o tutt Yes, it's cool! (upper class)

Jowo, ma se so (say) Huh. Do not say Mate!!!
Rara rorun!!! It is not cool (upper class)!!!
Mo lati se (do) eyi (this). I must do this.

O lati se ye (that). You must do that.
Gbadun? Wonderful?
Bee ni, enyan to-da nie!!! Yes you are wonderful!
Marin e to-ba-ya! Bye bye, for now!
Speed reading: 14 minutes

17. CLOSING
Now of all the things … your mind … has been playing with … to create new … wave patterns … in
the natural language … from … here and there … liking … doing … can … understanding … wanting
… getting … having … ordering… greeting … describing … knowing … numbering … asking … and …
everything … I wonder which things ... you will bring back … to stay deep within you … so easily
available ... to you … as needs arise … without conscious effort … because … you will believe …
you can do it …
Just naturally ... in your own way … as part of you ... instinctively ... as that new part of you ...
grows ... stronger and stronger ... you will begin to speak with a beautiful accent … so easily ...
reinforcing your learnimg ... with a gentle quiet confidence ... which will surprise you ... and such
a beautiful accent ... of which you will be proud ... to fit the music of the natural language ... will
surpise you even more ... and more … as you repeat the CRE … so that … in every day … in every
way … you believe … you will … get … better and better …
And now as you choose ... to believe you can do something ... that makes you feel so
comfortable with yourself ... something you will feel more and more … able to do ... so that you
feel ... even more comfortable ... and confident ... naturally … in your own way … you can take
whatever time you need ... just to process your thoughts ... in your own special way ... and to
bring this experience to a comfortable close ...
You will feel well ... and you will begin … to feel confidenct ... about the future ... and about
making progress ... in the natural language ... in your own natural way ... and you will find such
joy … in speaking so gently … with growing confidence ... and experience ... which will add … a
new exciting quality to your life ... because ... with every new language you learn ... you do add a
new quality to your life ... in that special "English Place" … in your mind …
And when you feel ... you are ready ... and you want to ... you can start the process of
reorienting yourself ... bringing yourself back ... taking your time ... and when you are ready ...
you can fully orient yourself ... and allow your eyes to open ... feeling well ...and happy ...
because ... and you will begin to experience confidence … more and more … because … from now
… in every day … in every way … you will … be getting … better and better …
And as we end of each CRE session … 30 minutes has just flashed by … to be repeated … and
enjoyed … many times … relaxed … calm and confident … of achieving a beautiful accent … that
becomes natural for you … with learning that is efficient and effective … so from now on … be
positive … and with a positive expectation of success … surprise yourself … as you feel the
contining support … of our Team … which all began in Bayonne, France on August 15, 2001 ...
and of course … as with all things … we believe can do … together … God Bless …
18. NATURAL VOCABULARY:
(without accents)
a. Greetings/Exclamations:
hello good morning, how are you?` I am fine thank you

ba wo ni mingala ba se daadaa ni? daadaa ni o e se/o se
goodbye yes no/not OK please

o dabo bee ni rara, o/ko o-daa e jo/e
joo/jowo
Darn-it! Merde! there it is! "cool"!! pardon!

huh! huh! owun re! o-tutu/o-rarun ejo
b. Verbs:
to be have like want can

wa/ni/yi e fe/feran fe le
do say/speak go come give

se gbo/soro,so lo/malo wa funi
take eat drink sleep know

gbe je mu sun mo
understand must see at the present time

ye lati se rin wa
c. Prepositions:
some a the to from

awon/ojo kan ye de lati
d. Pronouns:
I you he she wa
mo/mi se/le/so o/ku o/ku a-o/awa
it this that Mr Mrs.
lo/owu/un/o yi/leyi/seyi ye/leye/seye Ogbeni/Okurin Obirin
e. Nouns:
money thing man woman water

owo ohun/yi okirin obirin omi
car ticket book friend time

moto tiket iwe oree akoko
f. Adjectives/adverbs.other:
good bad big small now

to-daa/da buru/ko dara tobi okere ni-si-yi
later a little wonderful! happy easy/difficult

laipe die/ojo to-da-ro/gbadun n-du ro/bole
here/there and
nibi/nibe pelu
g. Interogatives:
how much? where? what? who? when?

elo ni? nibo? ki ni? ta ni? nigba wo?
Note: What is this? Ki ni e leyi (this)?

The child is here Omo (child) wa (at prsent) nibi (here) yi (is).
Question: is the child here? Se (question) omo yi wa nibi yi?
Question: do you have? Se (question) e ni (you to)?
h. Numbers:
one two three four five

kan meji meta merin marun-un
i. And some survival words:
WC (ile ignonse), always (nigra-gbogbo), fast/slow (yara/diedie), but (sugbon), never

(la-lai), food (ounje), train (oko), bus (boosi), home (ile), work (ise), today (oni),
tomorrow (ola), paper (iwe), newspaper (iwe iriyin), day (ojo), week (osi), year
(odun), hour (koja), minute (iseju), hamburger (hamburger), McDonalds (McDonalds),
think (ronu), read (kaa), write (ko-o-sile), laugh (rerin), dance (jo), stop (duro),
policeman (olopaa), six (mefa), seven (meje), eight (oiejo), nine (mesan-an), ten
(mewaa), hundred (ogorun un), thousand (egberun), mate (egbe) … bye bye for now
(o-dabo)!!
19. NATURAL FEEDBACK AND NEW IDEAS
(to robertboland@wanadoo.fr)
1. HOW LONG DID YOU TAKE TO STUDY THE CRE?
2. WHAT WAS GOOD ABOUT IT?
3. WHAT WAS BAD ABOUT IT?
4. WHAT NEW IDEAS?
5. HOW CAN WE HELP YOU IN THE FUTURE?

20 - DAILY MINI PHRASE BOOK
(Challenge: Check with a natural speaker to check and understand the meaning of
EVERY word ... insert English for each difficullt word - speed reading 4 minutes)
BASICS:
Thank you. E se
Hello E karo
Yes/no Bee ni/rara, bee ko
Please E jo/e joo (respect for old people)
Pardon Ejo
Everything is OK! Gbo-gbo e wa (is) daa-daa (OK)?
INTRODUCTIONS:
Good morning E karo/mingala ba
Good-bye. O dabo
My name is ... Oruko-o (name) mi ni (of me) ...
What is your name? Ki ni oruko ee (your)?
How are you? Se (question- you) daa-daa ni?

Fine (thanks), Daa-daa ni
And you? Iwo naa nko? ???
Where do you come from? Nibo (where) le ti (come) wa?
I'm from: ... mo (I) wa la-ti.

France France
England Geesii
America Amerika
I work with: Mo si-e (work) pelu ,,,:

UN ONU
Red Cross Red Cross
Nokia Nokia
QUESTIONS:
When/how? Nigha wo/Ba wo ni?
What/why? Ki, ki ni ye/Ki lo de?
Who/which? Ta/wo ni?

Where is/are ...? Nibo mi/lo wa?
Where can I find ...? Nibo ni (where) mo tileri ...?
How much is this? Elo ni (how much) leyi?

Can you help me? (m) E jowo ran mi lowo?
Can you translate this, for me?
Nje e le timo eyi (this) fun mi (for me)?
UNDERSTANDING:
I understand O ye mi.
I don't understand. Ko ye mi.
Please say that again.. E jo, soro ye soo.
Can I have (for me)...? Se e le (fun mi ni)...?
Do you speak: Se egbo:

english/spanish? Geesi/Yoruba?
I don't speak .... Mi o gbo ...
I speak a little. Mi gbo die e.
COMMENTS:
I must do this. Mo lati se eyi.
You must do that. O lati se yi.
It's: O:
big/small tobu/kere
cheap/expensive ko wan/oti wan ju
good/bad daa/buru
hot/cold gbona/tutu
near/far wa nitosi/jinna
vacant/occupied sofo/ko sofo
OK! o-daa!
FOOD:
I like some: Mo fe ounjie (meal):
breakfast (morning) aroo
lunch osan
dinner. ale
May I have some: Se ole fun mi:
bread/butter buredi/bota
cheese ?
eggs eyin
meat/potatoes eran/anamo
apples/oranges apu/osan
coffee/tea kofi/tii
milk miliki
fruit juice omi eso mimu
water omi
I want to pay now. Mo fe-e sanwo.

I think there is a mistake. Mo ro wipe asise wa.
We enjoyed it, thank you. A gbadun-un re, e se e.
TRANSIT:
Where is the nearest shop? Nibo ni shobu to sumo wa?
Where is a taxi? Nibo ni taxi?
How miuch to ...? Elo ni de ...?
Take me to this address. E joo, e gbe mi lo si adress yii.

Please stop here. E joo, e duro nibi.
This is not the right road. Eleyi ko se ona na?
Go straight ahead. E maa lo taarata.
It's there, on the: Oun niyen nisale yen lapa:

left/right osi/oe
next to/after legbee/nikojaa
north/south lariiwa/ni guisu
east/west ni ila-oorun/ni iwo-oorun
Where is the: Nibo ni:

town centre arin ili?
pharmacy uwo san?
SHOPPING:
Do you have ...? Se e ni ...?
How much is this/that? Elo ni eyi/niyi?
I will take it. Ma a mu yi.
What colours have you? Color wo ni?

Black dudo
Blue buluu
Red pupa
White funfun
Yellow yelo
Green alawoo ewe
I want to buy: Mo fe-e ra ...:
aspirin aspirin-in
soap ose
half kilo apples idafi iwon-on kilo apu kan
litre of milk litar wara kan
film/newspaper filmu/iwe iroyin
TELEPHONE:
Hello, this is ... Heloo ... lo un soro.
Who is speaking? Ta lo soro?
Please speak: Jo soro:
louder soke
slowly die-die
I want to speak to: Mo fe-e ba ... soro:
Mr. ??
Mrs. ??
Miss ??e
When will he be back? Nigha wo ni yoo de?
Tell him I called. Eso fun wipe mope.
TIME:
Do you have enough time? AE oni asiko pupo?
What time is it? Aago meloo lo lu?
The time now is: Aago:
five past one kan-an (1) koja iseju marun-un (5)
quarter to three metaa (3) koja oseju meeedogun (15)
twenty past five marun-un (5) koja ogun (20) iseju
half past seven meje (7) abo (30)
MEETINGS:
We will see you: A-o ri-oor ...
today oni
tomorrow ola
next week ni ose ti ounbo
in the morning ni aaro
in the afternoon ni osan
in the evening ni irole
tonight ni ale
soon lai pe
You are right. You are wrong. O ribe. Ko ribe.
That is right O jebe.
LOCATIONS:
Here/there Nibi/nijen
At the UN office ni UN officci
Is it near/far? O sun mo/ji-nan?
How many hours? Aago me lo ni?
21. PLAY QUIZ
(Challenge - Test your instinctive Yoruba … by associating the phrases …
and then discuss with a natural speaker)
a. I am well, thank you E se

b. Pardon? O-daa.
c. Thank you. Daadaa ni
d. OK Ki-le-?
e. Wonderful! Se daadaa ni?

f. You must do that. Gbadun!
g. Hello O lati se yi.
h. How are you? E kare.
i. I want to buy. Se e le fun mi ni?

j I take it. Mo soro die.
k. Can I have? Mo fe-e ra.
l. I speak a little Ma a mu un
m. Yes/No Se e ni... ?
n. Please Mo fe ...
o. I would like... E jo
p. Do you have any ... ? Bee ni/Rara
q. How much is that? Ile-agnonse nibo ni?

r. Where is the toilet? Elo ni niyi
s. Where/when/why? Aago meloo lo lu?
t. What time is it? Nibo/nigba wo/ki lo de?
u. Can you help me? Ki ni itumi eyi?

v. I do not understand E jowo ran mi lowo?
w. What does this mean? E joo, soro jeejee.
x. Please speak slowly Ko ye mi.
y. What is this? O daba

z. Goodbye Ni ni e leyi?
Answers: In the Berllitz phrase book … now a friend of yours...

APPENDIX A - ROUTINE FOR ACCENT IMPROVEMENT
AND LONG TERM RE-INFORCEMENT AFTER ONE MONTH -
TRY TO WORK WITH A PARTNER AND A NATURAL SPEAKER
FOR JUST ONE DAY MORE
RELAX with ... a very POSITIVE attitude ... and a very confident EXPECTATION of SUCCESS ... in
just one more day ... of PLAYING with the natural language ... instinctively ... naturally ...
completely relaxed ... with no stress or effort ... jsut play!
Our natural suggestions are:
1 – Do again APS with your own tape. Then play our tape and the LEARNING REINFORCEMENT..
Do IRT and the Throat exercise. Study the Brief Grammar and Mini-Phrase Book to understand
every word. Then SPEAK wth the tape and RECORD your efforts. LIST your five key problems!
2 - STUDY the text (Sections 2-16). Then SPEAK LOUDLY and then very SOFTLY with the tape.
SPEED READING (2-16) in 14 minutes. USE the Mini-phrase Book for easy interactive
conversation
3 – SPEAK in THEATRICAL style with the tape and text together. Do SPEED READING (2-16) in
reverse-mode in 12 minutes. USE the Mini-phrase Book for easy interactive conversation
4 – SPEAK with tape and text. For difficult words/phrases ... stop the tape ... and repeat the
word/phrase many times ... singing and shouting! Review your five problems.
5 - USE the Mini-phrase Book for easy interactvie conversation. Then do it as SPEED READING
(reverse-mode) in 4 minutes. SPEAK with tape and text using three different voices ... just for
fun!.
6 – SPEED READING (2-16) in 8 minutes. Review your five problems. LiSTEN to your recording.
Then SPEAK with the tape … with a beautiful CONFIDENT accent. Email your feedback to
robertboland@wanadoo.fr.
APPENDIX B - ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY SELECTED TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF
EACH CLIENT ORGANIZATION (100 WORDS)
Special Vocabulary for UNHCR

(Challenge - insert Yorùbá in CAPITAL LETTERS and discuss with a natural speaker)
English Pashto Dari YORUBA

Airport hawaa dagar maydaan-e hawaa-i
Army pauz fauj/ordu
Asylum panaah pamaah
Border pdlay sarhadd
Camp dd kaamp kaamp-d
Children muchouman awladah AWON-OMO
Clothing jama poxaak
Cooking pot chainaq dd paxldy loxay/deg
Cooperation hamkari pd gdda kaar kawdl
Customs gumruk gumruj
Delay nawakta dzandy
Detention ndzar-band tawkif
Development program dd wadi prograam prograam-d ynkyshaafi
Displaced persons be-zaya shdwi xaldk be-jaa shodygaan
Electricity breshna brexnaa
Emergency hajol ber-dndy pexa
Expulsion shar-dl kharej/zxraaj
Family koranay hekraaj
Government hokumat hokumat
Grandparents padar kalan padar wa maser kalan
Handicapped saya ma-yub
Health roghtyaa seat/syhhat
Hospital roghe shafakhana
House kor khana/kor
HQ mankaz mankae
Human rights dd bashar hakkuna hokuk e bashar
Husband mehra shwahan

Lamp dewan tsheragh
Legal protection kaanuni saatdna hymayat e kanoun
Malnutrition bada ghdzaa sou-e taghziya
Material assistance maadi komak komak-e mawadi
Ministry wdzaarat wezarat
Nutrition ghdzaa taghziya
Pain - days/weeks dard worat dard e ruz/hafta
Pain - months/years dard hafta dard e mo/sol
Pain - treatment dard mehda dard e ta-dow-wi
Pain - arms/legs dard bazou/paie dard e dest/pal

Pain - chest dard sina dard e sina
Pain - ears/eyes dard gauche/sterguee
dard e goch/cheshom
Pain - hands/feet dard daste/paie dard e dest/pai
Pain - head/neck dard sav/gardan dard e sar/ghardin
Pain - stomach dard mehda dard e meda
Persecution zawrawdi aziyat

Petrol tel petrol/tel
Police-station dd polis st-eshan sar-mammuriyat-e-police
President mdshir ra-is
Prison bandy-khana zyndan
Province ayaalat wela-yate
Reception centre dd melma paaldne mahal e pazirahi/
markaz-d paziraa-i
Refugee mohajer panahenda
Representative astaazy nema-yandghi
Rural da kdll
Sanitation hyfzu-syhna hyfzu syhha

Shelter rijdi panaga
Status haysiyat haysiyat
Tent rijdi gihejdi/khayma
Torture shekanja shykanja

Town khar shahr
Transportation transport transport
Travel Docs sdd safar sanaduna sdd safar sanaduna
Tribe t-dbdr kabila
Truck lan mot-dr/lari motar-d laar/lari
Urban dd khari dd khari
Village kday karya
Voluntrary repatriation pd rdzaa-sara berta legal
bar-gasht-d yraadi
War jagara jangue
Water aaba aab
Wife kaza zawja/khanom
APPENDIX C - BRIEF GRAMMAR
(Challenge ... study ... and then discuss with a natural speaker)
1. Structure - subject, object and verb:

MO WA nibi YI (is). I AM here.
OMO wa nibi yi. The CHILD is here.
Question - SE omo YI wa nibi yi? Question - is the child here?
2. Articles:
Omo KAN wa (at present) nibi yi (is). A child here is.
3. Nouns:
AWON-omo wa nibi yi Child-REN are here.
Omo DAA wa nibi yi. The GOOD child is here.
Omo ni (is). (HE) is a child.
4. Possession:
Omo MI wa nibi yi. (He) is MY child.
5. Relative:
Omo TO wa nibi yi. The child WHO here is.
6. Demostrative:
Omo LEYI wa nibi yi. THIS child is here.
Omo NIYI wa NIBE yi. THAT child is THERE.
7. Interogatives:
KI leyi? WHAT (is) this?
TA ni ye? WHO (is) that?
Omo NOBI ni? WHERE is the child?
ELO mi iwe (book)? HOW-MUCH is the book?
8. Imperatives:
SE leyi. DO this!
WA nibi! COME here!
9. Negatives:
Bee ni, E MI NI iwe (book). Yes, I HAVE (TO ME IS) a book.
RARA, mo KO ni iwe MA. NO, I do NOT have the book.
MA wa SI nibi YI. Do NOT come here.
10. To be, have and want:
Mo/mo ni/mo fe I am/have/want
Se/se ni/se fe You are/have/want
O/o ni/o fe He is/has/wants
BROCHURE
CRE - CREATIVE RELAXATION EXERCISE
THE NATURAL WAY TO PLAY WITH LANGUAGE AND A BEAUTIFUL ACCENT
WITH A 30 MINUTE AUDIO TAPE IN ONE DAY
KEY CONCEPT: "WHEN you create new POSITIVE wave patterns in YOUR mind
they give you the CONFIDENCE to RELAX and LEARN naturally without EFFORT"
Opportuunity for AID WORKERS on short or long missions to other countries to feel more secure,
comfortable and effective in achieving better working relationships in English, with local
companies, governments, refugees, client and project staff, as they perceive the effort to speak
the local language with a good accent, and thus to show clearly a deep respect for local values
and culture.
Description: dynamic English-based brief language learning system developed initially with some
UN staff, for aid workers in Afghanistan, and now available in: Dari, Pashto, Uzbek, Tajik,
Turkmen, English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Urdu, Finnish, Arabic,
Indonesian, Malay, Shona, Russian, Mandarin, Xhosa and with other languages in process:
Cantonese, Zulu, Tswana, Sutu, Swedish, Nepali, Italian, Swahili, Basque, Yoruba, Hausa,
Mende, Burmese etc.
Designed for: mature motivated learners who need to achieve very rapidly, the personal
confidence to speak and understand, basics of the local natural language. Designed also also for
current speakers to who want to achieve significant accent improvement.
Course duration: one full six hour day with a partner or small group, followed by daily brief
individual revision, in the following week and one day reinforcement a month later.
Application: individual training or as a small part of any mmangement training program to

stimulate creativity, because: "Each language is an intellectual treasure-house of communication,
culture and humanitarian values" - Professor Kenneth Hale - linguistics expert of MIT who spoke
50 languages fluently and died October 8th 2001.
Method: uses CRE techniques to achieve relaxation and intuitive absorption of the natural
language with confidence and without stress or effort. Designed to handle varying individual
value systems and needs. CRE techniques, once acquired, can be easily used for any other
languages or dialects. Uses IRT - the Instant Relaxation Technique create the confidence to
learn. Learnign reinforcement with APS.
Further information: 33 450 408982 or 199 Chemin Garenne, Prevessin, 01280 France or email:
robertboland@wanadoo.fr from Dr. Bob Boland MD, MPH (Johns Hopkins), DBA, ITP (Harvard
Business School), Former visiting professor at: INSEAD: IMD, Cranfield, Columbia, GSB,
Stellenbosch, Wits, WHO, ILO, WB, UNEP, UNIDO, AID, IRC, Peace Corps, Shell, Burma, Barlows,
Baxter, Nokia etc.
BRIEF DICTIONARY - ENGLISH/ FRENCH/ SPANISH/ GERMAN
(Challenge - insert Yorùbá in CAPITAL LETTERS ... and discuss with a natural speaker)
a un/une un/una
about environ cerca de
accident accident,l' accidente Unfall
action action,la accion Handlung
actually en fait realmente eigentlich
after après depués nach
afternoon après-midi,l' tardes
airport aeroport,l' aeropuerto Flughafen
alone seul solo/unico allein
also aussi también
always toujours siempre
am (I) suis (je) yo soy/estoy
and et y
anniversary anniversaire cumpleaños Jahrestag
anybody nìmporte qui cualquiera irgendjemand
anything nìmporte quoi cualquier cosa irgendetwas
April Avril abril April
are(you) êtes (vous) usted es/está sind
arrive arriver llegar ankommen
at à a/en an
August Aout agosto August
bad mauvais malo
bank banque,la banco Bank
bar bar bar
bath bain,le baño
beat battre batir schlagen
beautiful beau/belle hermoso schön
because parce que porque weil
bed lit,le cama Bett
begin commencer comenzar anfangen
behind derrière detrás/atrás hinter
beside à côté de al lado de nächst
better meilleur mejor besser
bill facture,la cuenta Rechnung, die
big grand grande gross
biscuit biscuit,le galleta Keks
black noir negro schwarz
book livre,le libro Buch
boy garcon,le niño/muchacho Junge
bread pain,le pan Brot
breakfast petit dej.le desayuno Frühstück
brother frère,le hermano Bruder, der
bus autobus,le autobús/camión Bus
business affaires,les negocio Geschäft
buy acheter comprar kaufen
can (able) pouvoir poder können
car auto,l' carro/coche Auto
carefully prudent prudente vorsichtig
carry porter llevar tragen
cash argent,le dinero Bargeld
chair chaise,la silla Stuhl
cheap bon marché barato billig
children enfants niños Kinder
choose choisir seleccionar wählen
cigarette cigarette,la cigarillo Zigarette
clean propre limpio sauber
clever intelligent inteligente klug
clouds nuages,les nubes Wolken, die
coffee cafe,le café Kaffee
cold froid frio kalt
colour couleur,la color Farbe
come venir venir kommen
complain plaindre reclamar klagen
contract contrat,le contrato Vertrag
cook cuire cocinar kochen
cost coût,le costo Kosten
count conter contar zählen
creditors créditeurs,les acreedor Gläubiger
cup tasse,la taza Tasse
customer client,le cliente Kunde
customs douane,la aduana Zoll
daughter fille,la hija Tochter
day jour,le día Tag
dear cher caro teuer
debtors débiteurs,les deudores Schuldner
December Décembre diciembre Dezember
dinner dîner,le comida Abendessen
dirty sale sucio schmutzig
divided by divisé par dividir de dividiert durch
do faire hacer e
doctor médecin,le doctor/médico Arzt
doers actifs,les trabajadores Täter
drink boire beber/tomar trinken
drive conduire manejar/coduc. fahren
dry sec seco/árido trocken
early de bonne heure temprano früh
easy facile fácil leicht
eat manger comer essen
eight huit ocho acht
eighty quatre vingt ochenta achtzig
either ou o entweder
eleven onze once elf
English Anglais inglés Englisch
enjoy sàmuser gozar de sich freuen
enough assez(de) bastante/suf. genug
etc. et cetera etcétera usw
evening soir,le tarde Abend
every chaque cada jeder
fall off tomber caer fallen
family famille,la familia Familie
father père,le padre Vater
father/law beau-père,le suegro Schwiegervater
fat gros gordo fett
Febuary Février febrero Februar
fifty cinquante cincuenta fünfzig
fight combattre luchar kämpfen
finance financer finanza finanzieren
find trouver encontrar finden
fine beau fino/perf/bel. schön (Wetter)
fingers doigts,les dedos Finger
finish finir terminar beenden
fish poisson,le pescado Fisch
five cinq cinco fünf
fog brouillard,le niebla Nebel
food nourriture,la comida/alim. Essen
fools fous,les tontos/locos Verrückten
for pour para/por für
fork fourchette,la tenedor Gabel
four quatre cuatro vier
forty quarante cuarenta vierzig
Friday Vendredi,le viernes Freitag
friendly sympathique amigable freundlich
friends amis,les amigos Freunde
future(adj) futur futuro zukünftig
game jeu,le juego Spiel
generally généralement generalmente allgemein
get obtenir obtener bekommen
girl jeune fille,la niña/muchacha Mädchen
give donner dar geben
glass verre,le vaso Glas
go aller ir/andar gehen
good bon bueno/buen gut
good-bye au revoir adiós auf Wiedersehn
good even. bonsoir buenas tardes guten Abend
good morn. bonjour buenos días guten Morgen
good night bonne nuit buenas noches gute Nacht
greedy gourmand codicioso gierig
half moitié medio/mitad halb
happy heureux contento/feliz glücklich
hate dêtester odiar hassen
have avoir (j'ai) haber/tener haben
he il él er
hello salut hola hallo
help aider ayudar helfen
helpful utile util behilflich
her (acc.) la/lui la/le ihr
here ici aquí hier
herself elle-même ella misma sie selbst
him le/lui le/lo ihn/ihm
himself lui-même él mismo er selbst
his son suyo sein
honest honnêt honrado ehrlich
hope espèrer esperar hoffen
hospital hopital,le hospital Krankenhaus
hot chaud caliente heiss
hotel hotel,le hotel Hotel
how are y.? comment a.-v.? cómo está Ud? wie geht e.I.?
how many? combien de? cuántos? wieviel?
however cependant sín embargo jedoch
hundred cent cien hundert
hungry avoir faim tener hambre hungrig
husband mari,le esposo/marido Ehemann
I je yo ich
I am well je vais bien muy bien mir geht es gut
ice-cream glace,la helado Eis
if si si wenn
important important importante wichtig
impossible impossible imposible unmöglich
in front of devant enfrente de vor
intelligent intelligent inteligente klug
inventory inventaire, l' inventario iventor
is (he) est (il) es ist (er)
it cela eso es (er)
itself cela-même eso mismo es selbst
January Janvier enero Januar
journey voyage,le viaje Reise
July Juillet julio Juli
June Juin junio Juni
knife coûteau,le cuchillo Messer
know savoir/conn. saber/conocer wissen
labour main dòeuvre trabajo Arbeit
language langue,la idioma Sprache
late tard tarde spät
later plus tard mas tarde/lu. später
learn apprendre aprender lernen
less moins de menos minus/weniger
letter lettre,la carta/letra Brief
life vie,la vida Leben
like (verb) aimer gustar gern haben
listen écoûter oir zuhören

little peu poco wenig
long long largo lang
long run finalement a lo largo auf die Dauer
look regarder mirar schauen
look for chercher buscar suchen
loss perte,la pérdida Verlust
lot,lots beaucoup de mucho viel
love aimer bien querer lieben
low bas bajo tief
lucky (be) avoir/chance tener suerte Glück (haben)
luggage bagages,les equipaje Gepäck
lunch déjeuner,le almuerzo Mittagessen
make/do faire hacer/realizar machen
man homme,l' hombre Mann
manager directeur,le gerente/dir. Manager
many beaucoup (de) muchos viele
map plan,le mapa Landkarte
March Mars marzo März
marriage marriage,le matrimonio Heirat
marry se marier casar heiraten
materials materiaux,les materia prima Materialien
May Mai mayo Mai
me me mi mich
meal repas,le comida Essen
meat viande,la carne Fleisch
meet rencontrer encontrar kennen lernen
meeting réunion,la reunión Versammlung
mind (not) égal (etre) no importa egal (mir)
minute minute,la minuto Minute
Miss Mademoiselle Señorita Fräulein
mistake erreur,la error Fehler
Monday Lundi,le lunes Montag
money argent,la dinero Geld
month moins,le mes Monat
more plus más mehr
morning matin,le mañana Morgen
mother mère,la madre Mutter
mother-i.l. belle-mère suegra Schwiegermutter
Mr Monsieur Señor Herr
Mrs Madame Señora Frau
multipl.by multiplier par multiplic.por multipliz.mit
must devoir deber/tener de müssen
my mon mi/mis mein
myself moi-même mi ich selbst
near près de cerca de nahe
never jamais nunca/jamás niemals
never mind n'importe no importa nichts (macht)
new neuf nuevo neu
nice agréable fino/bueno nett
nine neuf nueve neun
night nuit,la noche Nacht
ninety quatre-v.-dix noventa neunzig
no non no nein
nobody personne nadie niemand
noise bruit,le ruido Krach
not ne...pas no nicht
nothing rien nada nichts
November Novembre noviembre November
now maintenant ahora jetzt
o`clock heures (7.00) hora (7.00) Uhr (7.00)
October Octobre octubre Oktober
of course naturellement naturalmente natürlich
Oh! Oh! O! Ach!
old vieux viejo alt
on sur sobre auf
one un un/uno eins
or ou o oder
orders ordres,les órdenes Bestellung
our notre nuestro unser
ourselves nous-même nosostros wir selbst
out dehors fuera aus
overheads frais gen.les gasto gener. Laufenden U.
owner`s eq. capital,le capital Anlagekapital
parents parents,les padres Eltern
passport passeport,le pasaporte Pass
people gens gente Menschen
place endroit,le sitio/lugar Platz
plane avion,le avión Flugzeug
plate assiette,la plato Teller
please sìl v. plaît por favor bitte
police police,la policía Polizei
polite poli cortés höflich
porter porteur,le portero Träger
possible possible posible möglich
present prèsent presente gegenwärtig
pretty joli bonito hübsch
products produits,les productos Produkte
profit profit,le ganancia Gewinn
put mettre poner legen
quarter quartier,le cuarto Viertel
quickly vite aprisa/de pri. schnell
rain pluie,la lluvia Regen
read lire leer lesen
really vraiment de veras wirklich
red rouge colorado/rojo rot
relax se relaxer relajarse entspannen
remember rappeller recordar erinnern
restaurant restaurant,le restaurante Restaurant
right raison (avoir) correcto/der. richtig
road rue,la calle Strasse
room chambre,la cuarto/habit. Zimmer
sales ventes, les venta/saldo Verkäufe
Saturday Samedi,le sábado Samstag
save sauver salvar sparen
say dire decir sagen
see voir ver sehen
sell vendre vender verkaufen
September Septembre septiembre September
serve servir servir bedienen
service service servicio Dienst
seven sept,le siete sieben
seventy soixante-dix setenta siebzig
she elle ella sie
short court corto kurz
should devoir deber sollen
sick malade enfermo krank
Sir Monsieur Señor Mein Herr
sister soeur,la hermana Schwester
sit s'asseoir sentar sitzen
sit down être assis sentarse sich setzen
six six seis sechs
sixty soixante sesenta sechzig
sky ciel,le cielo Himmel
sleep dormir dormir schlafen
small petit pequeño/chiqu. kein
smoke fumer fumar rauchen
snack snack,le snack Imbiss
some quelques unos/poco de etwas
somebody quelqu'un alguno jemand
something quelque-chose algo etwas
sometimes quelque-fois algún tiempo manchmal
son fils,le hijo Sohn
sorry dommage lo siento Verzeihung
soup potage,le sopa Suppe
speak parler hablar sprechen
spend dépenser gastar ausgeben
spoon cuillère,la cuchara Löffel
stand up se lever pararse aufstehen
station gare,la estación Banhhof
stay rester quedarse bleiben
stool banc,le taburete Stuhl
sugar sucre,le azúcar Zucker
summer été,le verano Sommer
sun soleil,le sol Sonne
Sunday Dimanche,le domingo Sonntag
sweet(pud.) dessert,le dulce/postre Süsspeise
table table,la mesa Tisch
take prendre tomar/llevar nehmen
talk parler hablar sprechen
talkers bavards,les habladores Schwätzer
taxi taxi,le taxi Taxi
tea the,le té Tee
téléphone téléphone,le teléfono Telefon
tense temps,le tiempo Zeitform
ten dix diez zehn
terrible terrible terrible schrecklich
thank you merci gracias danke
that la/cela/que ese/aquel/cual jener/jene/jenes
the le/la el/la/los/las der/die/das
their leur su ihr
them eux ellos/ellas sie
themselves eux-mêmes ellas/ellos sie selbst
there là allí dort/da
they ils ellos/ellas sie
this ce/cet este/esta dieser
thin mince delgado dünn
thing chose,la cosa Ding
thirsty avoir soif tener sed durstig
thirty trente treinta dreissig
thousand mille mil tausend
three trois tres drei
three-qtr. trois-quarts tres cuartros dreiviertel
Thursday Jeudi jueves Donnerstag
ticket billet,le boleto/billete Karte
time heure,la tiempo/vez Zeit,die
tip pourboire,le propina Trinkgeld
tired fatigué cansado müde
to à para/a nach
today aujourd'hui hoy heute
tomorrow demain mañana morgen
too much trop demasiado zu viel
train train,le tren Zug
travel voyager viajar reisen
Tuesday Mardi martes Diensttag
twelve douze doce zwölf
twenty vingt veinte zwanzig
two deux dos zwei
under sous debajo/bajo unter
up en haut arriba oben
us nous nos/nosostros uns
vegetables légumes,les legumbres Gemüse
wait attendre esperar warten
waiter garcon,le camarero Kellner
walk marcher caminar/pasear spazieren
want vouloir querer wollen
waste(n) gaspillage,le desgaste Abfall
we nous nosostros wir
weather temps,le tiempo Wetter
Wednesday Mercredi miércoles Mittwoch
week semaine,la semana Woche
wet pluvieux húmedo/mojado nass
what? quel/quoi? qué? was?
what time? quelle heure? qué hora? wie spät.ist es?
when? quand? cuándo? wann?
where où? dónde? wo?
white blanc blanco weiss
who? qui? quién? wer?
wife femme,la esposa Ehefrau
win gagner ganar gewinnen
wine vin,le vino Wein
winter hiver,le invierno Winter
woman femme,la mujer Frau
work travail,le trabajo arbeiten
worse pire peor schlechter
worst,the le pire el/lo peor schlechteste
write écrire escribir schreiben
wrong avoir tort falso/equiv. falsch
year année,la año Jahr
yes oui sí ja
yes but oui mais si, pero ja, aber
yesterday hier ayer gestern
you (nom.) vous usted/ustedes Sie
you (acc.) vous usted Sie
young jeune joven jung
your votre su Ihr
yourself vous-même usted Sie selbst
yourselves vous-mêmes ustedes Sie selbst
zero zero cero null
THE ONE HUNDRED MOST USED WORDS IN CONVERSATION
(Challenge: Insert/check Yoruba in CAPITAL LETTERS... with a natural speaker)
1. A/an 2. After 3. Again 4. All 5. Almost
KAN
6. Also 7. Always 8. And 9. Because 10. Before
LALE NIGRA-GBOGBO ERAN
11. Big 12. But 13. I can 14. I come 15. Either/or
TOBI SUGBON MO SE MO T-WA
16. I find 17. First 18. For 19. Friend 20. From
EKINI FUN OREE LATI
21. I go 22. Good 23. Goodbye 24. Happy 25. I have
MO JADE DAA O DABO IDUNU MO E
26. He 27. Hello 28. Here 29. How 30. I
WU BA WO NI NIBI MO
31. I am 32. If 33. In 34. I know 35. Last
MO NI MO GBO
36. I like 37. Little 38. I love 39. I make 40. Many
MO FE KERE MO FE MO E
41. One 42. More 43. Most 44. Much 45. My
KAN FUN MI
46. New 47. No 48. Not 49. Now 50. Of
RARA/KO NEE KO FUN
51 Often 52. On 53. One 54. Only 55. Or
KAN
56. Other 57. Our 58. Out 59. Over 60. People
FUN A-O
61. Place 62. Please 63. Same 64. I see 65. She
E JOO MO RIN WU
66. So 67. Some 68. Sometimes 69. Still 70. Such
ojo
71. I tell 72. Thank you 73. That 74. The 75. Their
E SE E KE HI
76. Them 77. Then 78. There is 79. They 80. Thing
NJE NI OHUN
81. I think 82. This 83. Time 84. To 85. Under
LEYI AAGO DE
86. Up 87. Us 88. I use 89. Very 90. We
FUN A-O MO E A-O
91. What 92. When 93. Where 94. Which 95. Who
KI NI NIGBA WO NIBO NI TA NI
96. Why 97. With 98. Yes 99. You 100. Your
KI LO DE PELU BEE NI SE/LE/O FUN SE
APS - LEARNING REINFORCEMENT
AUTONOMIC PLAYBACK SYSTEM
1. Make a special 30 minute APS audio tape recording of all the material
that you want to absorb into your long term memory, as follows:
a. Speak with gentle persuasive tone. This encourages perception

and retention without effort.
b. Speak only for about 8 seconds ... pause for about 4 seconds ....
continue for about 8 seconds ... pause 4 seconds etc. This gives your
mind time to absorb easily without stress,
c. Add seven key learning points which were important to

you! Thus provides "associations" in your mind for the new
learning.
2. The NEXT DAY, relax and playback the tape (using ear phones) while
watching some interesting TV show WITHOUT audio e.g. a football
match or other a sports event or a cartoon. Make NO EFFORT to
listen to the tape. In fact, TELL yourself NOT to listen, but just
to relax and gently give all attention to the TV show. Relax and let
your mind absorb the data WITHOUT ANY CONSCIOUS EFFORT at
all.
3. Play this once more..
4. Finally on the FOLLOWING DAY, do IRT (relax), and playback the

tape (with ear phones) while gently viewing and repeating the text
material (hear, see, say and feel).
5. Adapt APS to your special needs and personality. Use it for any new
material that you want to absorb without stress or effort. And please
remember to email feedback and new creative ideas to our Team at:
robertboland@wanadoo.fr. So, and from now on - relax and remember!!
Note:
Appendix A - is the routine for long term reinforcement after one month, which can also be
used by experienced speakers for the chronic problem of accent deterioration. Books to
buy: Berlitz African Phrase Book and Crosslines - Afghanistan Essential Field Guides to
Humanitarian and Conflict Zones - on the web.
Inspired by: Dr. Bob Boland (IU) and Mr. Shanu Majekodynmi (Nigeria) and
Dr. Giles Boland (Harvard) and Dr Shams Bathija (UNCTAD) and Boston University and the
Team http://www.bu.edu/familymed/distance/cre/
Email: robertboland@wanadoo.com
33 450 408982 199 Chemin Garenne, Prevessin 01280 France
Copyright: RGAB/2003/1 - Free for aid workers ...
DEDICATION
This program is dedicated to the memory of Professor Kenneth Hale, the eminent
linguist of MIT who died on October 8th 2001.
He spoke about 50 languages fluently and regarded each language as an intellectual

treasure-house of communication, culture and humanitarian values.
He suggested ... that 30 minutes of a new language ... should be enough to start to
make one-self understood ... and then ... the best way ... to progress ... was to speak
... confidently ... more and more ... with natural speakers of the language ...
So on we go ... for one whole day ... with a partner or small group ... speaking and
speaking ... and moving ... face, hands and body language to reinforce your
communication ... and ending with ... almost instinctive ... easy inter-active
conversation ... in the natural language ... and if you are lucky enough to find ... ANY
natural speaker for the day ... to be a partner ... or just part of the small group ... that
would be just great ...
Yorùbá
Yorùbá jẹ ọkan lara awọn ede mẹrin ti o se itẹwọgba ni Naijeria o si jẹ ọkan lara awọn ẹka -
ede ti Naija-Kongo. Bi i miliọnu mejilelogun eniyan ni n sọ ede naa ni iwọ oorun-mọ-guusu
Naijeria, orilẹ ede Benin, Togo, Ilu Ọba (UK), ati ni Amẹrika.
A kọ Yoruba fun ìgbà akọkọ ni bii igba ọdun diẹ sẹhin. Awọn atẹjade akọkọ lori Yoruba ni
awọn iwe idanilẹkọ pelebe-pelebe ti a ti ọwọ John Raban kọ ni ọdun 1830 si 1832. Ẹni ti o
ko ipa ti o tobi julọ si imọ-ẹkọ Yoruba ni. Bisọọbu Ajayi (Samuel) Crowther (1806 si 1891),
ẹni ti o kẹkọọ nipa diẹ ninu awọn ede ti a n sọ ni Naijeria, eyi ti Yoruba jẹ ọkan ninu wọn, o
kọwe, o si tun se titumọ diẹ ninu wọn. Crowther tun jẹ Bisọọbu onigbagbọ akọkọ ti orirun rẹ
jẹ Ìwọ-Oorun Afirika. Akọtọ Yoruba akọkọ jade ni nnkan bi i ọdun 1850, biotilẹjẹpe o ti la
orisirisi iyipada kọja lati igba naa.
Yoruba (èdè Yorùbá)
Yoruba is one of the four official languages of Nigeria and is a member of the Niger-Congo
family of languages. It is spoken by about 22 million people in southwest Nigeria, Benin,
Togo, the UK, Brazil and the USA.
Yoruba first appeared in writing during the 19th century. The first Yoruba publications were
a number of teaching booklets produced by John Raban in 1830-2. The person who made
the biggest contribution to Yoruba literacy was Bishop Ajayi (Samual) Crowther (1806-
1891), who studied many of the languages of Nigeria, including Yoruba, and wrote and
translated in some of them. Crowther was also the first Christian bishop of West African
origin. A Yoruba orthography appeared in about 1850, though it has undergone a number of
changes since then.
Alufabẹẹti/ABD Yorùbá
You can hear the sounds of the Yorùbá alphabet at:

http://www.africa.uga.edu/Yoruba/alphabet.html
Yorùbá jẹ ede olohun- ọrọ mẹta: ohun oke, ohun aarin ati ohun isalẹ. Ami ohun oke ni a n
kọ bayii: (à, è, è, ì, ò, ò, ù). Ohun aarin kò ni ami kankan, ami fun ohun isalẹ si ni a n kọ
bayii: (á, é, é, í, ó, ó, ú)
Numbers (Cardinal)
(1) ọkan/mení, (2) méjì (3) mẹta (4) mẹrin (5) màrún (6) mẹfà (7) méje (8) mẹjọ (9)
mẹsan (10) mẹwa
Numbers (Ordinal)
(1st) èkíní , (2nd) èkejì (3rd) ẹkẹta (4th) ẹkẹrin (5th) èkarùn (6th) ẹkẹfà (7th) èkeje (8th)
ẹkẹjọ (9th) ẹkẹsàn (10th) ẹkẹwà
Sample text
Gbogbo ènìyàn ni a bí ní òmìnira; iyì àti ẹtọ kọọkan sì dọgba. Wọn ní ẹbùn ti làákàyè àti ti
ẹrí-ọkàn, ó sì yẹ kí wọn ó máa hùwà sí ara wọn gẹgẹ bí ọmọ ìyá.
Sise Itumọ
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with
reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)
Yoruba Alphabet Rhyme
Alphabet Rhyme to help learning the Yoruba Alphabet (from Yoruba Online)
A - ajá, B � bàtà, D � dọjẹ, E � ejò
Ẹ � ẹyẹ, F - fila, G � gèlè, GB - gbàgbá
H � haúsá, I � igi, J � jàgùdà, K � kàkàkí
L � labalábá, M � maalu, N � naira, O � owo
Ọ � ọpọlọ, P � pàkúté, R � ràkúnmí, S � sálúbàtà
ß � ÿíbí, T � tata, U � isU, W � Wàhálà
Y � yànmùyánmú
A - dog, B � shoe, D � sickle, E � snake
C � bird, F - hat, G � headgear, GB - type of vegetable
H � Northern Nigerian, I � tree, J � thief, K � trumpet
L � butterfly, M � cow, N � Nigerian currency, O � money
V � frog, P � trap, R � camel, S � slippers
X � spoon, T � grasshopper, U � yam, W � trouble
Y � mosquito
Odun de odun de
Odun de a tun yo
Odun de odun de
Odun de mo tun yo
Dunmare jowo wa gbope mi o
Ire ire e e
Odun de odun de odun de
Ire ire e e
Odun de odun de odun de
E dunmare pese fun wa fun wa
E dunmare pese fun mi fun mi
Lai ye lai ye lai ye
O bangiji ye gbope wa
E dunmare mo wa jubba
E dunmare mo wa jubba
Odun de odun de

Yoruba Language Resources

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Yoruba Alphabet

Yoruba English Pronunciation

i [i] 'ee' as in meat

u [u] 'oo' as in mood

English Adjectives Yoruba Adjectives

a green tree Igi alawo ewe

a tall building Ile giga

a very old man Arugbo okunrin

the old red house Ile atijo alawo eje

a very nice friend Ore todara pupo

List of Adjectives in Yoruba

English Adjectives Yoruba Adjectives

green Alawo ewe

orange Alawo osan

red Alawo eje

white Alawo efun

yellow Alawo oorun

long Gun or gigun

short Kuru or kukuru

bitter Koro or Kikoro

sour Kikan or kan

spicy Alata or otaa

sweet Adun or didun

dark Okuku or dudu

expensive won or owon

young omode or odo

many opo or pupo

much opo or pupo

part ara or eya ara

a few awon die

English Adverbs Yoruba Adverbs

I read a book Mo ma nka iwe kan nigba

I will never smoke Nko ni mu ciga

are you alone? Se odawa ni?

List of Adverbs in Yoruba

English Adverbs Yoruba Adverbs

today Eni or Loni

tonight Lale oni or ale oni

right now Nisisiyin

last night Ale ana

this morning Owuro yi

next week Ose to nbo

still Sibe or sibe sibe

yet Sibe or sibe sibe

over there Nibeye

everywhere Gbogbo ibi

anywhere Gbogbo ibi

out Ode or ita

well Odaa or Odara

mostly opo or opolopo

List of Ordinal Numbers in Yoruba

English Numbers Yoruba Numbers

English Nouns Yoruba Nouns

my car Moto mi or oko mi

green car Moto alawo ewe

three cars Moto meta or oko meta

car garage Ibugbe moto

outside the car Ita moto

List of Nouns in Yoruba

English Nouns Yoruba Nouns

cheeks Ereke or eeke

fingers Omo ika

thumb Omo ika

toe Omo ese