How to Greet in Yoruba

Greetings – Ìkíni

Greeting A Friend Or Younger Person:

Báwo ni – How are things?
- Dáadáa ni. – Things are fine.
Ṣé àlàáfíà ni? – Is everything well?
- Àlàáfíà ni. – Everything is well.
Ṣé dáadáa ni. – Are things well?
- Dáadáa ni. – Things are fine.
Ṣé o sùn dáadáa? – Did you sleep well?
- Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni, ẹ ṣé – Yes, thank you.
Iṣẹ́ ńkọ́? – How is work?
- Ó wà. – It’s fine.
Ó dàbọ̀. – Goodbye.
- Ó dàbọ̀. – Goodbye.

Greeting An Elder:

Ẹ káàárọ̀ mà – Good morning ma’am.
- Káàárọ̀ – Good morning.
Ẹ káàsán, Sà. – Good afternoon sir.
- Káàsán – Good afternoon.
Ẹ kúùrọ̀lẹ́ – Good evening.
- Kúùrọ̀lẹ́ – Good evening.

Elision

In normal speech Yoruba speakers drop one vowel in an environment when one word ends with a vole and the other begins with a vowel. Elision are marked by an apostrophe. After the elision n becomes l before vowels e, o, ẹ, ọ, a.

Ṣé àlàáfíà ni? – Ṣ’álàáfíà ni?
Kí ni orúkọ rẹ? – Kí l’orúkọ rẹ?
Níbo ni o ń gbé? – Níbo l’o ń gbé?

Cultural Note:

Greetings are of great importance in Yoruba culture. The younger person initiated the greeting. Young ladies kneel down and young men prostrate to greet their elders. The plural/honorific pronoun Ẹ must be used when addressing older people.