What does "you" mean in Yoruba?
English uses one word, "you", for one person or many, for a child or a king, as subject or object. Yoruba has two sets of second-person pronouns and chooses between them all the time. Every Yoruba speaker has to decide which "you" to use.
The singular "you" is used to one person who is your equal or younger than you: a friend, a brother or sister younger than you, a child.
- o: "you", the subject: O lọ, "You went." - ọ / ọ́: "you" as the object of a verb or a short preposition: Mo rí ọ, "I saw you"; Ó ń pè ọ́, "He is calling you." - rẹ: "your" after a noun: ilé rẹ, "your house". It is also "you" after a verb or preposition of two syllables: Mo fẹ́ràn rẹ, "I love you"; pẹ̀lú rẹ, "with you." - ìwọ: the full or emphatic form: Ìwọ ńkọ́?, "And you?"; Ìwọ ni, "It's you."
The plural "you" is used to two or more people. It is also used to one person who is older than you or has higher standing: a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, an older sibling, a stranger of some age.
- ẹ: "you", the subject: Ẹ kú àárọ̀, "Good morning (to you)." - yín: "you" as object and "your" after a noun: Inú mi dùn láti rí yín, "I'm glad to see you"; ilé yín, "your house." - ẹ̀yin: the full or emphatic form: Ẹ̀yin ńkọ́?, "And you?"
Three things differ from English:
1. Respect is built into the pronoun. To call an elder o is rude, like a child using a parent's first name. In Lesson 8 you saw Kẹ́hìndé say ẹ and yín to his grandmother, while she said o and ọ to him. The plural of respect is not optional politeness. It is the grammar of speaking to an older person. 2. "You" and "he/she" differ only in tone. O lọ (mid tone) is "You went". Ó lọ (high tone) is "He went" or "She went". Likewise the possessive rẹ (mid) is "your", and rẹ̀ (low) is "his, her". The tone marks are not decoration: they are the only difference between "your mother" and "his mother". 3. "You" keeps its shape in the negative. Unlike "I" (Lesson 8), o simply takes the negative after it: O kò lọ, "You didn't go", and in speech O ò lọ. The plural is Ẹ kò lọ / Ẹ ò lọ.
- o = you (one friend, child or equal), subject: O ṣé, Ṣé o gbọ́ èdè Yorùbá? - ẹ = you (several people, or one elder), subject: Ẹ kú àárọ̀, Ẹ jókòó - Object and "your": ọ / ọ́ and rẹ (singular), yín (plural and polite): Mo rí ọ, Ó ń pè ọ́, ilé rẹ, ilé yín - Emphatic and one-word answers: ìwọ and ẹ̀yin: Ìwọ ńkọ́?, "And you?" - Watch the tone: o "you" / ó "he, she"; rẹ "your" / rẹ̀ "his, her"
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The IPA in this lesson marks tone as the spelling does: acute = high (á), grave = low (à), no mark = mid (a).
- o /o/ "you": mid tone; the close o of French eau. Say it level, in the middle of your voice - ó /ó/ "he, she": the same vowel on a high pitch. Practise the pair O lọ / Ó lọ until you hear the difference - ọ /ɔ/, ọ́ /ɔ́/ "you" (object): the open o of British "hot"; mid tone after a high-tone verb (rí ọ), high after a mid- or low-tone verb (pè ọ́) - ìwọ /ìwɔ/: low then mid, "EE-waw" with the first syllable lower, not stressed - rẹ /ɾɛ/ "your": a tapped r, as in Spanish pero, then the e of "bed", on a mid tone; rẹ̀ /ɾɛ̀/ "his, her" is the same syllable on a low tone - ẹ /ɛ/ "you" (plural, polite): the e of "bed", mid tone; a whole word made of one vowel - yín /jĩ́/: y + a nasal i on a high tone; the n is not pronounced as a consonant. It only shows that the vowel is nasal - ẹ̀yin /ɛ̀jĩ/: low then mid, the second vowel nasal - ńkọ́ /ńkɔ́/ "what about?": a high-tone syllabic nasal, then kọ́ - gb /ɡ͡b/ and p /k͡p/ are single sounds, lips and back of the tongue closing at once: gbọ́ /ɡ͡bɔ́/, pè /k͡pè/
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9.1a O you ṣé thank
9.1b O /o/ 2SG.SUBJ ṣé /ʃé/ thank
9.2a Ìwọ you ńkọ́ what-about
9.2b Ìwọ /ìwɔ/ 2SG.EMPH ńkọ́ /ńkɔ́/ what.about
9.3a Mo I rí saw ọ you
9.3b Mo /mo/ 1SG.SUBJ rí /ɾí/ see ọ /ɔ/ 2SG.OBJ
9.4a Ẹ you kú greetings àárọ̀ morning
9.4b Ẹ /ɛ/ 2PL.HON kú /kú/ greet àárọ̀ /àáɾɔ̀/ morning
9.5a Ilé house rẹ your dára is-beautiful
9.5b Ilé /ilé/ house rẹ /ɾɛ/ 2SG.POSS dára /dáɾa/ be.good
9.6a Ṣé is-it-that o you gbọ́ hear èdè language Yorùbá Yoruba
9.6b Ṣé /ʃé/ Q o /o/ 2SG.SUBJ gbọ́ /ɡ͡bɔ́/ hear/understand èdè /èdè/ language Yorùbá /joɾùbá/ Yoruba
9.7a O you kò not lọ went sí to ilé-ìwé school lánàá yesterday
9.7b O /o/ 2SG.SUBJ kò /kò/ NEG lọ /lɔ/ go sí /sí/ to ilé-ìwé /ilé ìwé/ house-book lánàá /lánàá/ at-yesterday(ní+àná)
9.8a Màmá mother rẹ your ń is pè calling ọ́ you
9.8b Màmá /màmá/ mother rẹ /ɾɛ/ 2SG.POSS ń /ń/ PROG pè /k͡pè/ call ọ́ /ɔ́/ 2SG.OBJ(high after low verb)
9.9a Ẹ̀yin you ni are olùkọ́ teacher wa our
9.9b Ẹ̀yin /ɛ̀jĩ/ 2PL.EMPH(HON) ni /ni/ FOC.be olùkọ́ /olùkɔ́/ one.who-teach wa /wa/ 1PL.POSS
9.10a Mo I fẹ́ràn like rẹ you gan-an very-much
9.10b Mo /mo/ 1SG.SUBJ fẹ́ràn /fɛ́ɾã̀/ like/love rẹ /ɾɛ/ 2SG.OBJ(after two-syllable verb) gan-an /ɡãã/ very
9.11a Mo I fẹ́ want kí that o you wá come sí to ilé house mi my lọ́la tomorrow
9.11b Mo /mo/ 1SG.SUBJ fẹ́ /fɛ́/ want kí /kí/ SUBJUNCT o /o/ 2SG.SUBJ wá /wá/ come sí /sí/ to ilé /ilé/ house mi /mi/ 1SG.POSS lọ́la /lɔ́la/ at-tomorrow(ní+ọ̀la)
9.12a Ìwọ you ni it-is mo I ń am wá seeking
9.12b Ìwọ /ìwɔ/ 2SG.EMPH ni /ni/ FOC mo /mo/ 1SG.SUBJ ń /ń/ PROG wá /wá/ seek
9.13a Bí if o you bá should ní have ìbéèrè question bi ask mí me
9.13b Bí /bí/ if o /o/ 2SG.SUBJ bá /bá/ COND ní /ní/ have ìbéèrè /ìbéèɾè/ question bi /bi/ ask mí /mí/ 1SG.OBJ(high after mid verb)
9.14a Ẹ you kú greetings iṣẹ́ work ẹ̀yin you ọmọ children mi my ẹ you ti have ṣiṣẹ́ worked gan-an very-much lónìí today
9.14b Ẹ /ɛ/ 2PL.SUBJ kú /kú/ greet iṣẹ́ /iʃɛ́/ work ẹ̀yin /ɛ̀jĩ/ 2PL.EMPH ọmọ /ɔmɔ/ child mi /mi/ 1SG.POSS ẹ /ɛ/ 2PL.SUBJ ti /ti/ PERF ṣiṣẹ́ /ʃiʃɛ́/ work gan-an /ɡãã/ very lónìí /lónìí/ at-today(ní+òní)
9.15a Ẹ̀yin you ńkọ́ what-about Ta who ni is-it ẹ you rò think pé that mo I jẹ́ am Ìwọ you ni are Mesaya Messiah Ọmọ Son Ọlọrun God Alààyè living
9.15b Ẹ̀yin /ɛ̀jĩ/ 2PL.EMPH ńkọ́ /ńkɔ́/ what.about Ta /ta/ who ni /ni/ FOC ẹ /ɛ/ 2PL.SUBJ rò /ɾò/ think pé /k͡pé/ that mo /mo/ 1SG.SUBJ jẹ́ /ɟɛ́/ be Ìwọ /ìwɔ/ 2SG.EMPH ni /ni/ FOC.be Mesaya /mesaja/ Messiah Ọmọ /ɔmɔ/ child/son Ọlọrun /ɔlɔ́ɾũ/ God Alààyè /alààjè/ living.one
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9.1 O ṣé. → "Thank you." (to a friend or a younger person)
9.2 Ìwọ ńkọ́? → "And you?"
9.3 Mo rí ọ. → "I saw you."
9.4 Ẹ kú àárọ̀. → "Good morning." (to an elder, or to several people)
9.5 Ilé rẹ dára. → "Your house is beautiful."
9.6 Ṣé o gbọ́ èdè Yorùbá? → "Do you understand Yoruba?"
9.7 O kò lọ sí ilé-ìwé lánàá. → "You didn't go to school yesterday."
9.8 Màmá rẹ ń pè ọ́. → "Your mother is calling you."
9.9 Ẹ̀yin ni olùkọ́ wa. → "You are our teacher." (said to one teacher, with respect)
9.10 Mo fẹ́ràn rẹ gan-an. → "I like you very much."
9.11 Mo fẹ́ kí o wá sí ilé mi lọ́la. → "I want you to come to my house tomorrow."
9.12 Ìwọ ni mo ń wá. → "It's you I'm looking for."
9.13 Bí o bá ní ìbéèrè, bi mí. → "If you have a question, ask me."
9.14 Ẹ kú iṣẹ́, ẹ̀yin ọmọ mi; ẹ ti ṣiṣẹ́ gan-an lónìí. → "Well done, my children; you have worked very hard today."
9.15 Ẹ̀yin ńkọ́? Ta ni ẹ rò pé mo jẹ́? … Ìwọ ni Mesaya, Ọmọ Ọlọrun Alààyè. → "And you? Who do you think I am?" … "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." (Matiu 16:15–16, Yoruba Bible, YCE)
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9.1 O ṣé.
9.2 Ìwọ ńkọ́?
9.3 Mo rí ọ.
9.4 Ẹ kú àárọ̀.
9.5 Ilé rẹ dára.
9.6 Ṣé o gbọ́ èdè Yorùbá?
9.7 O kò lọ sí ilé-ìwé lánàá.
9.8 Màmá rẹ ń pè ọ́.
9.9 Ẹ̀yin ni olùkọ́ wa.
9.10 Mo fẹ́ràn rẹ gan-an.
9.11 Mo fẹ́ kí o wá sí ilé mi lọ́la.
9.12 Ìwọ ni mo ń wá.
9.13 Bí o bá ní ìbéèrè, bi mí.
9.14 Ẹ kú iṣẹ́, ẹ̀yin ọmọ mi; ẹ ti ṣiṣẹ́ gan-an lónìí.
9.15 Ẹ̀yin ńkọ́? Ta ni ẹ rò pé mo jẹ́? … Ìwọ ni Mesaya, Ọmọ Ọlọrun Alààyè.
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These are the grammar rules for o, ìwọ and ẹ in Yoruba:
1. The two sets of "you".
Singular (to one equal or younger person):
- o: subject: O ṣé (9.1), Ṣé o gbọ́ (9.6), O kò lọ (9.7) - ọ / ọ́: object after a one-syllable verb or preposition: rí ọ (9.3), pè ọ́ (9.8) - rẹ: "your" after a noun: ilé rẹ (9.5), màmá rẹ (9.8); and "you" after a two-syllable verb or preposition: fẹ́ràn rẹ (9.10), pẹ̀lú rẹ (9.22) - ìwọ: emphatic and independent: Ìwọ ńkọ́? (9.2), Ìwọ ni mo ń wá (9.12)
Plural (to several people, or to one elder):
- ẹ: subject: Ẹ kú àárọ̀ (9.4), ẹ ti ṣiṣẹ́ (9.14) - yín: object and "your": rí yín (9.24), ilé yín - ẹ̀yin: emphatic and independent: Ẹ̀yin ni olùkọ́ wa (9.9), Ẹ̀yin ńkọ́? (9.15)
2. O with the tense and aspect markers. Like mo, the subject o comes first and the marker stands between it and the verb:
- O lọ: you went - O ń lọ: you are going / you go regularly - O ti lọ: you have gone - O máa lọ: you will go (everyday future) - Ẹ ń lọ, Ẹ ti lọ, Ẹ máa lọ: the same with the plural or polite ẹ
3. The negative. "You" does not change shape, as "I" does. The negative kò follows the pronoun:
- O kò lọ: you didn't go (written, 9.7; the Bible: o kò ní, Psalm 16:10) - O ò lọ: you didn't go (everyday speech, where kò shrinks to ò) - Ẹ kò lọ / Ẹ ò lọ: the plural or polite form - Must not: O kò gbọdọ̀ pẹ́, "You mustn't be long" (9.29)
4. The object: ọ, ọ́ or rẹ.
- After a one-syllable verb the object is ọ, and its tone follows the rule you learned for mi in Lesson 8. After a high-tone verb it is mid: rí ọ (9.3), jó ọ "burn you" (Section F). After a mid- or low-tone verb it is high: pè ọ́ (9.8), rà ọ́, bò ọ́, ni ọ́ (Section F). - After a verb of two syllables, such as fẹ́ràn "like, love", the object is usually rẹ: Mo fẹ́ràn rẹ (9.10, and Isaiah 43:4 in Section F). It is the same word as the possessive "your". - After a preposition of two syllables, such as pẹ̀lú "with" or nípa "about", it is also rẹ: pẹ̀lú rẹ (9.22), nípa rẹ (9.25). After the one-syllable sí it is ọ: sí ọ, "to you". - The plural object yín never changes: rí yín, fẹ́ràn yín, pẹ̀lú yín.
5. Ìwọ and ẹ̀yin, the full forms. Use them where English stresses "you", or where no verb follows:
- the returned question: Ìwọ ńkọ́? / Ẹ̀yin ńkọ́?, "And you?" (9.2, 9.15, 9.18) - identity and focus with ni (Lesson 2): Ìwọ ni Mesaya (9.15); Ìwọ ni mo ń wá, "It's you I'm looking for" (9.12) - a question about identity: Ṣé ìwọ ni Bímbọ́? (9.25) - with àti "and": ìwọ àti èmi, "you and I" (Lesson 3)
6. Commands. A command to one equal has no subject: Jókòó!, "Sit down!" (Lesson 8, 8.29); bi mí, "ask me" (9.13). A polite command or a command to several people puts ẹ in front: Ẹ jókòó, "Please sit down"; Ẹ wò ó, "Look at it" (Lesson 8, 8.24). The ẹ is what makes the command polite.
7. Kí o: "that you". After kí the subject o stays as it is: Mo fẹ́ kí o wá, "I want you to come" (9.11). Compare kí n, "that I" (Lesson 8).
- Saying o to an elder. O ṣé, Bàbá is disrespectful. To a parent, teacher or older stranger say Ẹ ṣé, Ẹ kú àárọ̀, and use yín for "you" and "your". - Losing the tone of o. Without its mid tone, O lọ "You went" becomes Ó lọ "He went". Say it level and write it without a mark. - Confusing rẹ and rẹ̀. Màmá rẹ is "your mother"; màmá rẹ̀ is "his/her mother". Check the grave accent every time. - Using o as an object. Mo rí o is wrong. After a verb the object is ọ (open vowel): Mo rí ọ. - Ọ after a two-syllable verb. Mo fẹ́ràn ọ can be found, but the usual form, in speech and in the Bible, is Mo fẹ́ràn rẹ. Learn that one. - Using ẹ for one friend. To a friend of your own age, ẹ sounds distant or formal, or makes the listener think you mean a group. Use o. - Reading ẹ̀yin as a plain plural only. In 9.9 ẹ̀yin refers to one teacher. The plural form carries respect as often as it carries number, so the context tells you which.
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Age decides the pronoun. In Yoruba society seniority is counted carefully, even between siblings a year apart. A younger person uses ẹ and yín to anyone older, and receives o and ọ in return. Learners are usually safest with the polite form for any adult they do not know well. Using o where ẹ is expected is noticed at once.
Greetings begin with ẹ. Most Yoruba greetings are built on kú, "greetings on…", with the pronoun in front: Ẹ kú àárọ̀ "good morning", Ẹ kú ọ̀sán "good afternoon", Ẹ kú iṣẹ́ "well done (on your work)" (9.14). A young person greeting an elder often adds a bodily sign of respect: traditionally a boy prostrates and a girl kneels or curtsies. The ẹ of the greeting is the verbal form of that bow.
Ìwọ ńkọ́? After Ṣé dáadáa ni? "Are you well?" the answer Dáadáa ni, "I'm well", is usually followed by the returned question Ìwọ ńkọ́? to a friend, or Ẹ̀yin ńkọ́? to an elder (9.18). The same ńkọ́ asks after absent people: Màmá rẹ ńkọ́?, "And your mother?" (9.27).
Speech and writing. Written Yoruba and the Bible use o kò in the negative. In speech o ò is usual. In fast or regional speech you may also hear other object forms after verbs, such as ẹ or rẹ where the standard has ọ. Learn the standard ọ / ọ́ / rẹ pattern first; it is what you will read.
The Bible's "you". The Yoruba Bible, like the King James Bible in English, keeps the two sets distinct. God addressing one person, or a person praying to God, uses the singular o, ọ, rẹ and ìwọ, the language of closeness (Section F). A crowd of disciples is ẹ̀yin (9.15).
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From Isaiah 43, verses 1, 2 and 4, in the Yoruba Bible (YCE, Bible Society of Nigeria, 1900/2010). God speaks to Israel as to one person, so the passage is addressed to a singular "you" throughout. In a few lines it shows every shape of the singular: o as subject, ọ and ọ́ as object with the tone rule working both ways, and rẹ as possessive, after a preposition of two syllables and after a verb of two syllables.
The text is quoted exactly as this edition prints it. Like other older editions, it leaves some tone marks off common words: it writes pada, pẹlu and ninu where modern standard spelling has padà, pẹ̀lú and nínú. The IPA below gives the modern pronunciation.
F.1a Má don't bẹ̀rù fear nítorí because mo I ti have rà bought ọ́ you pada back
F.1b Má /má/ NEG.IMP bẹ̀rù /bɛ̀ɾù/ fear nítorí /nítoɾí/ because mo /mo/ 1SG.SUBJ ti /ti/ PERF rà /ɾà/ buy ọ́ /ɔ́/ 2SG.OBJ(high after low verb) pada /k͡padà/ return
F.2a mo I ti have pè called ọ́ you ní by orúkọ name rẹ your èmi I ni it-is mo I ni own ọ́ you
F.2b mo /mo/ 1SG.SUBJ ti /ti/ PERF pè /k͡pè/ call ọ́ /ɔ́/ 2SG.OBJ(high after low verb) ní /ní/ at/by orúkọ /oɾúkɔ/ name rẹ /ɾɛ/ 2SG.POSS èmi /èmi/ 1SG.EMPH ni /ni/ FOC mo /mo/ 1SG.SUBJ(resumptive) ni /ni/ own ọ́ /ɔ́/ 2SG.OBJ(high after mid verb)
F.3a Nígbà when tí that o you bá should ń be la crossing ibú deep omi water kọjá across n I óo will wà be pẹlu with rẹ you
F.3b Nígbà /níɡ͡bà/ at-time(ní+ìgbà) tí /tí/ REL o /o/ 2SG.SUBJ bá /bá/ COND ń /ń/ PROG la /la/ cross ibú /ibú/ depth omi /omi/ water kọjá /kɔɟá/ pass n /ŋ/ 1SG.SUBJ óo /óo/ FUT wà /wà/ be.located pẹlu /k͡pɛ̀lú/ with rẹ /ɾɛ/ 2SG.OBJ(after two-syllable preposition)
F.4a nígbà when tí that o you bá should la cross odò river ńlá great kọjá across kò not ní will bò cover ọ́ you mọ́lẹ̀ down
F.4b nígbà /níɡ͡bà/ at-time tí /tí/ REL o /o/ 2SG.SUBJ bá /bá/ COND la /la/ cross odò /odò/ river ńlá /ńlá/ big kọjá /kɔɟá/ pass kò /kò/ NEG ní /ní/ FUT.NEG bò /bò/ cover ọ́ /ɔ́/ 2SG.OBJ(high after low verb) mọ́lẹ̀ /mɔ́lɛ̀/ against-ground(mọ́+ilẹ̀)
F.5a nígbà when tí that o you bá should ń be kọjá passing ninu in iná fire kò not ní will jó burn ọ you
F.5b nígbà /níɡ͡bà/ at-time tí /tí/ REL o /o/ 2SG.SUBJ bá /bá/ COND ń /ń/ PROG kọjá /kɔɟá/ pass ninu /nínú/ at-inside iná /iná/ fire kò /kò/ NEG ní /ní/ FUT.NEG jó /ɟó/ burn ọ /ɔ/ 2SG.OBJ(mid after high verb)
F.6a Nítorí because pé that o you ṣọ̀wọ́n are-precious lójú in-eye mi my o you níyì have-honour mo I sì and fẹ́ràn love rẹ you
F.6b Nítorí /nítoɾí/ because pé /k͡pé/ that o /o/ 2SG.SUBJ ṣọ̀wọ́n /ʃɔ̀wɔ̃́/ be.rare/precious lójú /lóɟú/ at-eye(ní+ojú) mi /mi/ 1SG.POSS o /o/ 2SG.SUBJ níyì /níjì/ have-honour(ní+iyì) mo /mo/ 1SG.SUBJ sì /sì/ and.then fẹ́ràn /fɛ́ɾã̀/ love rẹ /ɾɛ/ 2SG.OBJ(after two-syllable verb)
Má bẹ̀rù, nítorí mo ti rà ọ́ pada; mo ti pè ọ́ ní orúkọ rẹ, èmi ni mo ni ọ́. (…) Nígbà tí o bá ń la ibú omi kọjá, n óo wà pẹlu rẹ; nígbà tí o bá la odò ńlá kọjá, kò ní bò ọ́ mọ́lẹ̀, nígbà tí o bá ń kọjá ninu iná, kò ní jó ọ. (…) Nítorí pé o ṣọ̀wọ́n lójú mi, o níyì, mo sì fẹ́ràn rẹ.
→ "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. (…) When you pass through the deep waters, I will be with you; when you cross great rivers, they will not overwhelm you; when you pass through fire, it will not burn you. (…) Because you are precious in my sight, you are honoured, and I love you."
— Aisaya 43:1, 2, 4, Yoruba Bible (YCE), Bible Society of Nigeria
Má bẹ̀rù, nítorí mo ti rà ọ́ pada; mo ti pè ọ́ ní orúkọ rẹ, èmi ni mo ni ọ́. (…) Nígbà tí o bá ń la ibú omi kọjá, n óo wà pẹlu rẹ; nígbà tí o bá la odò ńlá kọjá, kò ní bò ọ́ mọ́lẹ̀, nígbà tí o bá ń kọjá ninu iná, kò ní jó ọ. (…) Nítorí pé o ṣọ̀wọ́n lójú mi, o níyì, mo sì fẹ́ràn rẹ.
- rà ọ́ pada, "redeemed you", literally "bought you back": rà has a low tone, so the object is the high ọ́. Pada "back" comes after the object, as a second verb. This is how Yoruba builds many English phrasal verbs. - pè ọ́ ní orúkọ rẹ, "called you by your name": the object ọ́ (high after the low-tone pè, as in 9.8) and the possessive rẹ (mid) in the same phrase. Only one tone mark keeps orúkọ rẹ "your name" apart from orúkọ rẹ̀ "his name". - èmi ni mo ni ọ́, "it is I who own you", that is, "you are mine": a focus sentence with èmi ni, then the resumptive mo, then the verb ni "own" (mid tone, not the focus ni). After the mid-tone verb the object is again high: ọ́. - nígbà tí o bá…, "when you…": three times the singular subject o follows the conditional bá. Compare Bí o bá ní ìbéèrè (9.13). - pẹlu rẹ, "with you": after the two-syllable preposition the Bible uses rẹ, not ọ. Compare Psalm 23:4 in Lesson 8, where "you are with me" is o wà pẹlu mi. The first person keeps mi everywhere. - bò ọ́ mọ́lẹ̀ and jó ọ: the tone rule in both directions within one verse. Bò "cover" is low, so ọ́ is high; jó "burn" is high, so ọ is mid. - mo sì fẹ́ràn rẹ, "and I love you": after the two-syllable fẹ́ràn the object is rẹ, exactly as in 9.10. These are the same words a Yoruba speaker uses today to say "I love you" to one person. - Literary effect: in these lines the listener is never named with a noun; the text holds them in the small syllables o, ọ́, ọ and rẹ, repeated through each danger (water, rivers, fire). The singular "you" makes the promise personal: God speaks to the nation as a parent speaks to one child.
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A street near the market in Ìbàdàn, a weekday afternoon. Bímbọ́, a secondary-school student, meets her classmate Túndé, who is walking with his father.
9.16a Bímbọ́: Túndé Tunde Ṣé is-it-that ìwọ you ni it-is
9.16b Túndé /túndé/ Tunde Ṣé /ʃé/ Q ìwọ /ìwɔ/ 2SG.EMPH ni /ni/ FOC.be
9.17a Túndé: Èmi I ni it-is Báwo how ni is-it Ṣé is-it-that dáadáa well ni it-is
9.17b Èmi /èmi/ 1SG.EMPH ni /ni/ FOC.be Báwo /báwo/ how ni /ni/ FOC.be Ṣé /ʃé/ Q dáadáa /dáadáa/ well ni /ni/ FOC.be
9.18a Bímbọ́: Dáadáa well ni it-is Ìwọ you ńkọ́ what-about
9.18b Dáadáa /dáadáa/ well ni /ni/ FOC.be Ìwọ /ìwɔ/ 2SG.EMPH ńkọ́ /ńkɔ́/ what.about
9.19a Túndé: Mo I wà am dáadáa well Mi I ò not rí saw ọ you ní at ilé-ìwé school lánàá yesterday
9.19b Mo /mo/ 1SG.SUBJ wà /wà/ be.located dáadáa /dáadáa/ well Mi /mi/ 1SG.SUBJ.NEG ò /ò/ NEG rí /ɾí/ see ọ /ɔ/ 2SG.OBJ ní /ní/ at ilé-ìwé /ilé ìwé/ house-book lánàá /lánàá/ at-yesterday
9.20a Bímbọ́: Rárá no mi I ò not lọ went Ara body mi my kò not yá was-well
9.20b Rárá /ɾáɾá/ no mi /mi/ 1SG.SUBJ.NEG ò /ò/ NEG lọ /lɔ/ go Ara /aɾa/ body mi /mi/ 1SG.POSS kò /kò/ NEG yá /já/ be.quick/well
9.21a Túndé: Pẹ̀lẹ́ sorry o indeed Ṣé is-it-that ara body rẹ your ti has yá become-well báyìí now
9.21b Pẹ̀lẹ́ /k͡pɛ̀lɛ́/ gently/sorry o /o/ EMPH Ṣé /ʃé/ Q ara /aɾa/ body rẹ /ɾɛ/ 2SG.POSS ti /ti/ PERF yá /já/ be.well báyìí /bájìí/ now
9.22a Bímbọ́: Ó it ti has yá become-well o you ṣé thank Ta who ni is ọkùnrin man tí who ó he wà is pẹ̀lú with rẹ you
9.22b Ó /ó/ 3SG.SUBJ ti /ti/ PERF yá /já/ be.well o /o/ 2SG.SUBJ ṣé /ʃé/ thank Ta /ta/ who ni /ni/ FOC.be ọkùnrin /ɔkùnɾĩ/ man tí /tí/ REL ó /ó/ 3SG.SUBJ(resumptive) wà /wà/ be.located pẹ̀lú /k͡pɛ̀lú/ with rẹ /ɾɛ/ 2SG.OBJ(after two-syllable preposition)
9.23a Túndé: Bàbá father mi my ni it-is Bàbá Father ọ̀rẹ́ friend mi my Bímbọ́ Bimbo nìyí is-this
9.23b Bàbá /bàbá/ father mi /mi/ 1SG.POSS ni /ni/ FOC.be Bàbá /bàbá/ father ọ̀rẹ́ /ɔ̀ɾɛ́/ friend mi /mi/ 1SG.POSS Bímbọ́ /bímbɔ́/ Bimbo nìyí /nìjí/ FOC-this(ni+èyí)
9.24a Bímbọ́: Ẹ you kú greetings ọ̀sán afternoon Bàbá sir Inú inside mi my dùn is-sweet láti to rí see yín you
9.24b Ẹ /ɛ/ 2PL.HON kú /kú/ greet ọ̀sán /ɔ̀sã́/ afternoon Bàbá /bàbá/ father/sir Inú /inú/ inside mi /mi/ 1SG.POSS dùn /dũ̀/ be.sweet láti /láti/ to rí /ɾí/ see yín /jĩ́/ 2PL.OBJ(HON)
9.25a Bàbá: O you ṣé thank ọmọ child mi my Ṣé is-it-that ìwọ you ni are Bímbọ́ Bimbo Túndé Tunde sọ spoke fún to mi me nípa about rẹ you
9.25b O /o/ 2SG.SUBJ ṣé /ʃé/ thank ọmọ /ɔmɔ/ child mi /mi/ 1SG.POSS Ṣé /ʃé/ Q ìwọ /ìwɔ/ 2SG.EMPH ni /ni/ FOC.be Bímbọ́ /bímbɔ́/ Bimbo Túndé /túndé/ Tunde sọ /sɔ/ say fún /fṹ/ to mi /mi/ 1SG.OBJ nípa /ník͡pa/ about rẹ /ɾɛ/ 2SG.OBJ(after two-syllable preposition)
9.26a Bímbọ́: Bẹ́ẹ̀ so ni it-is Bàbá sir Ṣé is-it-that ẹ you ń are lọ going sí to ọjà market
9.26b Bẹ́ẹ̀ /bɛ́ɛ̀/ so ni /ni/ FOC.be Bàbá /bàbá/ father/sir Ṣé /ʃé/ Q ẹ /ɛ/ 2PL.HON ń /ń/ PROG lọ /lɔ/ go sí /sí/ to ọjà /ɔɟà/ market
9.27a Bàbá: Bẹ́ẹ̀ so ni it-is Màmá mother rẹ your ńkọ́ what-about Ṣé is-it-that ara body rẹ̀ her le is-strong
9.27b Bẹ́ẹ̀ /bɛ́ɛ̀/ so ni /ni/ FOC.be Màmá /màmá/ mother rẹ /ɾɛ/ 2SG.POSS ńkọ́ /ńkɔ́/ what.about Ṣé /ʃé/ Q ara /aɾa/ body rẹ̀ /ɾɛ̀/ 3SG.POSS le /le/ be.strong
9.28a Bímbọ́: Ara body rẹ̀ her le is-strong Bàbá sir Ẹ you ṣé thank
9.28b Ara /aɾa/ body rẹ̀ /ɾɛ̀/ 3SG.POSS le /le/ be.strong Bàbá /bàbá/ father/sir Ẹ /ɛ/ 2PL.HON ṣé /ʃé/ thank
9.29a Bàbá: Ó it dáa is-good Túndé Tunde o you kò not gbọdọ̀ must pẹ́ be-late o indeed
9.29b Ó /ó/ 3SG.SUBJ dáa /dáa/ be.good Túndé /túndé/ Tunde o /o/ 2SG.SUBJ kò /kò/ NEG gbọdọ̀ /ɡ͡bɔdɔ̀/ must pẹ́ /k͡pɛ́/ delay o /o/ EMPH
9.30a Túndé: Mi I ò not ní will pẹ́ be-late Bàbá Father Bímbọ́ Bimbo mo I máa will pè call ọ́ you lálẹ́ at-night yìí this
9.30b Mi /mi/ 1SG.SUBJ.NEG ò /ò/ NEG ní /ní/ FUT.NEG pẹ́ /k͡pɛ́/ delay Bàbá /bàbá/ father Bímbọ́ /bímbɔ́/ Bimbo mo /mo/ 1SG.SUBJ máa /máa/ FUT pè /k͡pè/ call ọ́ /ɔ́/ 2SG.OBJ(high after low verb) lálẹ́ /lálɛ́/ at-night(ní+alẹ́) yìí /jìí/ this
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9.16 Bímbọ́: Túndé! Ṣé ìwọ ni? → "Tunde! Is that you?"
9.17 Túndé: Èmi ni! Báwo ni? Ṣé dáadáa ni? → "It's me! How are you? Are you well?"
9.18 Bímbọ́: Dáadáa ni. Ìwọ ńkọ́? → "I'm well. And you?"
9.19 Túndé: Mo wà dáadáa. Mi ò rí ọ ní ilé-ìwé lánàá. → "I'm fine. I didn't see you at school yesterday."
9.20 Bímbọ́: Rárá, mi ò lọ. Ara mi kò yá. → "No, I didn't go. I wasn't well."
9.21 Túndé: Pẹ̀lẹ́ o! Ṣé ara rẹ ti yá báyìí? → "Oh, sorry! Are you better now?"
9.22 Bímbọ́: Ó ti yá, o ṣé. Ta ni ọkùnrin tí ó wà pẹ̀lú rẹ? → "I'm better, thanks. Who is the man with you?"
9.23 Túndé: Bàbá mi ni. Bàbá, ọ̀rẹ́ mi Bímbọ́ nìyí. → "It's my father. Dad, this is my friend Bimbo."
9.24 Bímbọ́: Ẹ kú ọ̀sán, Bàbá. Inú mi dùn láti rí yín. → "Good afternoon, sir. I'm glad to meet you."
9.25 Bàbá: O ṣé, ọmọ mi. Ṣé ìwọ ni Bímbọ́? Túndé sọ fún mi nípa rẹ. → "Thank you, my child. So you're Bimbo? Tunde has told me about you."
9.26 Bímbọ́: Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni, Bàbá. Ṣé ẹ ń lọ sí ọjà? → "Yes, sir. Are you going to the market?"
9.27 Bàbá: Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni. Màmá rẹ ńkọ́? Ṣé ara rẹ̀ le? → "Yes. And your mother? Is she well?"
9.28 Bímbọ́: Ara rẹ̀ le, Bàbá. Ẹ ṣé. → "She's well, sir. Thank you."
9.29 Bàbá: Ó dáa. Túndé, o kò gbọdọ̀ pẹ́ o! → "Good. Tunde, you mustn't be long, mind!"
9.30 Túndé: Mi ò ní pẹ́, Bàbá. Bímbọ́, mo máa pè ọ́ lálẹ́ yìí! → "I won't be long, Dad. Bimbo, I'll call you tonight!"
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9.16 Bímbọ́: Túndé! Ṣé ìwọ ni?
9.17 Túndé: Èmi ni! Báwo ni? Ṣé dáadáa ni?
9.18 Bímbọ́: Dáadáa ni. Ìwọ ńkọ́?
9.19 Túndé: Mo wà dáadáa. Mi ò rí ọ ní ilé-ìwé lánàá.
9.20 Bímbọ́: Rárá, mi ò lọ. Ara mi kò yá.
9.21 Túndé: Pẹ̀lẹ́ o! Ṣé ara rẹ ti yá báyìí?
9.22 Bímbọ́: Ó ti yá, o ṣé. Ta ni ọkùnrin tí ó wà pẹ̀lú rẹ?
9.23 Túndé: Bàbá mi ni. Bàbá, ọ̀rẹ́ mi Bímbọ́ nìyí.
9.24 Bímbọ́: Ẹ kú ọ̀sán, Bàbá. Inú mi dùn láti rí yín.
9.25 Bàbá: O ṣé, ọmọ mi. Ṣé ìwọ ni Bímbọ́? Túndé sọ fún mi nípa rẹ.
9.26 Bímbọ́: Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni, Bàbá. Ṣé ẹ ń lọ sí ọjà?
9.27 Bàbá: Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni. Màmá rẹ ńkọ́? Ṣé ara rẹ̀ le?
9.28 Bímbọ́: Ara rẹ̀ le, Bàbá. Ẹ ṣé.
9.29 Bàbá: Ó dáa. Túndé, o kò gbọdọ̀ pẹ́ o!
9.30 Túndé: Mi ò ní pẹ́, Bàbá. Bímbọ́, mo máa pè ọ́ lálẹ́ yìí!
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The dialogue has three speakers: two friends of the same age and one father. Listen to who says o and who says ẹ.
- Between friends: o, ọ, rẹ, ìwọ. Bímbọ́ and Túndé use only the singular: Ṣé ìwọ ni? (9.16), Ìwọ ńkọ́? (9.18), rí ọ (9.19), ara rẹ (9.21), o ṣé (9.22), pẹ̀lú rẹ (9.22). - To the elder: ẹ and yín. The moment Bímbọ́ turns to Túndé's father she switches to the plural of respect: Ẹ kú ọ̀sán and rí yín (9.24), Ṣé ẹ ń lọ (9.26), Ẹ ṣé (9.28). Compare her o ṣé to Túndé in 9.22 with her Ẹ ṣé to his father in 9.28. - From the elder: o. The father answers her with the singular: O ṣé, ọmọ mi (9.25), and he uses it to his own son: o kò gbọdọ̀ pẹ́ (9.29). His o does not show disrespect. It is simply the form an older person uses to a younger one. - Rẹ and rẹ̀ in one breath. In 9.27 Màmá rẹ is "your mother" and ara rẹ̀ is "her body". The accent on rẹ̀ is the only difference. - Ọ or rẹ as object. rí ọ (9.19) and pè ọ́ (9.30) after one-syllable verbs, with the tone rule of Section D §4. pẹ̀lú rẹ (9.22) and nípa rẹ (9.25) after two-syllable prepositions. - The negative keeps o. o kò gbọdọ̀ pẹ́ (9.29): "you" keeps its shape before kò, while Túndé's "I" becomes mi ò (9.19, 9.30).
Vocabulary:
- Báwo ni?: How are you? ("How is it?") - dáadáa: well, fine; Ṣé dáadáa ni? "Are you well?" - ńkọ́: what about…? Ìwọ ńkọ́? "And you?" - ilé-ìwé: school ("house of books") - lánàá: yesterday (ní + àná) - ara … yá: be well, recover ("body … is quick"); Ara mi kò yá, "I'm not well" - Pẹ̀lẹ́ o: sorry, take it easy (sympathy, not an apology) - báyìí: now - ọkùnrin: man - ọ̀rẹ́: friend - … nìyí: this is … (introducing someone) - Ẹ kú ọ̀sán: good afternoon (to an elder or several people) - sọ fún: tell ("say to") - nípa: about - Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni: yes ("so it is") - gbọdọ̀: must; kò gbọdọ̀ "must not" - pẹ́: be late, take long - lálẹ́ yìí: tonight (ní + alẹ́ "night" + yìí "this")
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- o, ó, ọ, ọ́: four different words. o /o/ "you" (subject), ó /ó/ "he, she, it", ọ /ɔ/ and ọ́ /ɔ́/ "you" (object). The underdot changes the vowel; the accent changes the pitch. - rẹ / rẹ̀: "your" is mid tone and carries no accent; "his, her" carries the grave. Always write the grave on rẹ̀. - ẹ / ẹ̀yin: the short form is a single mid-tone vowel; the full form has a low tone on its first syllable. Do not confuse ẹ̀yin "you (plural)" with ẹyin "egg" or ẹ̀yìn "back, behind", as in lẹ́yìn "behind". - yín is written with n, but the n only marks a nasal vowel: /jĩ́/, not "yeen". - ìwọ always carries the grave on its first vowel and a dot under the ọ. - ńkọ́ begins with a high-tone syllabic nasal, written ń. - Typing on a Mac: the ABC Extended keyboard gives the underdot with Option+x and tone marks with Option+e (acute) and Option+` (grave). For ọ́ and ẹ̀, type the dotted letter first and then add the tone mark.
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Course Index: [latinum.substack.com/p/index](https://latinum.substack.com/p/index)