Review of Week 5 of Odu’a Organization of Michigan’s Children’s Yoruba Class in Detroit.

Pronouns are words used instead of a noun.

For Example: Niyi jẹun – He eats

Niyi jẹun – Ó jeun

“Ó” is used instead of Niyi

“Ó” is used as pronoun for He, She or it

Forms of Pronouns and Usages

English     Yoruba      Example     Useage

I                        Mo          e.g.      I sleep=Mo sùn
You                 O             e.g.      You sleep=O sùn
He/She/It   Ó.            e.g.      He/she/it sleep=Ó sùn
They               Wọn.     e.g.       They sleep=Wọn sùn
We.                 A              e.g.     We sleep=A sùn
You (Pl)         Ẹ              e.g.    You sleep=Ẹ sùn

Second sets of pronoun still on the use of I, You, He, She, it and they.
They can take other forms when:

Laying Emphasis on person/s.

I am – Èmi ni
You are – ìwọ ni
They are – Àwọn ni
We are – Àwa ni
She/He – òun ni
You (plural) are – Ẹ̀yin ni
It is Niyi – Niyi ni

Making a negative Statement

I am not or – Èmi kọ́
You are not or It is not you – Ìwọ kọ́
They are not or It is not they – Àwọn kọ́
Bayo is not or It is not Bayo – Bayo kọ́

Introducing Oneself / A Thing

I am Adeniyi – Èmi ni Adeniyi
I am not Tokunbọ – Èmi kọ́ ni Tokunbọ
He is not Dayọ – Òun kọ́ ni Dayọ
We are Taiwo and Kehinde – Àwa ni Taiwo àti Kehinde.

In summary, these pronouns have two forms each:

I – Mo or Èmi
You – O or Ìwọ
They – Wọn or Àwọn
We – A or Àwa
He/She/ It – Ò or Òun
You (pl) – Ẹ or Ẹ̀yin

Èmi, Ìwọ, Àwọn, Òun, Ẹ̀yin are also known as pronominals.

Third set of Pronouns are:

My – Mi. Our – Wa
Your – Rẹ. Their – Wọn
His/Her – Rẹ̀. Your (plural) – Yin

LÍLÒ

My book – ìwé mi
Not my book – Ìwé mi kọ́

Your chair – Àga rẹ
Not your chair – Àga rẹ kọ́

His/Her chair – Àga rẹ̀
Their house – Ilé wọn

Our teacher – Olùkọ́ wa
Not out teacher – Olùkọ́ wa kọ́
Your (pl) teacher – Olùkọ́ yin

SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION

MO = I

FẸ = WANT, LIKE, LOVE

MI Ò = I DON’T

LỌ = GO

NLỌ = GOING

MBỌ̀ = COMING

NFẸ́ = LIKING, LOVING

SÍ = TO

NÍ = AT

MO FẸ́RÀN LÁTI WÁ SÍ ILÉ ẸKỌ́ YORÙBÁ

NFẸ́ = WANTING, LOVING

TÍÌ = HAVE NOT

ÌWỌ = YOU

ÈMI = ME

VOCABULARIES

TIME OF DAY AND CALENDAR:

Day – Ọjọ́

Morning – àárọ̀

Afternoon – Ọ̀sán

Evening – Alẹ́

Sunset – Ìrọ̀lẹ́

Work/Job – Iṣẹ́

Tomorrow – Ọ̀la

Today – Òní

Yesterday – Àná

Be watchful/sorry/take heart – Pẹ̀lẹ́

Week – Ọ̀ṣẹ̀

Month – Oṣù

Year – Ọdún

Time – Àsìkò, Àkókò

Period/Season – Ìgbà

Vocabularies

Ẹbi:

Home – ilé/ìdile

Man – Ọkùnrin
Boy – Ọmọkùnrin

Woman – Obìnrin
Girl – Ọmọbìnrin

Father – Bábà
Grandfather – Bábà-Àgbà

Mother – Ìyá
Grandmother – Ìyá-Àgbà

Parent – Òbí

Bride/Wife – Ìyàwó
Bridegroom – Ọkọ Ìyàwó
Husband – Ọkọ

Elder – Ẹ̀gbọ́n
Elder Brother – Ẹ̀gbọ́n Ọkùnrin
Younger – Àbúrò
Younger Brother – Àbúrò Ọkùnrin
Elder Sister – Ẹ̀gbọ́n Obìnrin
Person/Somebody – Ènìyàn