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

Alphabet

English

Sound

Pronunciation

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

Yoruba

Alphabet

English

Sound

Pronunciation

Example

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

Yoruba

Alphabet

English

Sound

Pronunciation

Example

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

sometimes

Mo ma nka iwe kan nigba

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

Pronouns Yoruba Pronouns

I speak Mo soro

you speak Iwo soro, O soro

he speaks O soro

English


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

his book Iwe re (different tonation on

"re")

her book Iwe re (different tonation on

"re")

our book Iwe wa

English


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

I can arrive tomorrow Mole de lola/ mole de ni

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

me O figagbaga pelu mi

we complain about it Ase aniyan nipa re

they continued

reading Won nkawe lo

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

you") Ko t'ope

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?

I'm from (the U.S/ Nigeria) Mowa lati ilu

(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/

engineer)

(Oluko/akeko/ onimo ero) ni

mi

Do you speak (English/

Yoruba)? S'ole so ede(geesi/ yoruba)?

Just a little Mole so die

I like Yoruba Moferan yoruba

I'm trying to learn Yoruba Mongbiyanju lati ko ede

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)

years old

Omo (ogun odun lekan,ogun

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

Mr.../ Mrs. .../ Miss... Ogbeni…/ Iya afin…/

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

evening? S'o raye lati ola lo

I would like to invite you to

dinner mo fe kajo jade fun ounje ale

You look beautiful! (to a

woman) O rewa gan lobinrin

You have a beautiful name Oruko re rewa

Can you tell me more about

you? Se ole so si fun mi nipa re?

Are you married? Se oti se igbeyawo?

I'm single Mosi da wa

I'm married Moti se igbeyawo

Can I have your phone

number?

Se mole gba nomba ero ibani

soro re?

Can I have your email? Se mole gba iwe ateranse re?

Do you have any pictures of

you? Se oni awon aworan re?

Do you have children? Se oni awon omo?

Would you like to go for a

walk? Se ole jeka nase jade

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

of love Okan mi nso ede ife

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

English?

Kini itumo oro yen ni ede

geesi?

How do you say "thanks" in

Yoruba?

Bawo lese nso pe"Ese gan" ni

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

I have an accent Ede mi fihan pe mi owa lati ilu

yi

You don't have an accent Ede re dabi tiwa

Asking for Directions

Excuse me! (before asking

someone) Ejo

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,

this city)? Bawo ni mosele de adugbo yi?

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

there? Ato igbawo k'atodebe?


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

phone) Ejo monbo

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!

Call the ambulance! Epe oko tongbeyan lo si ile

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

pharmacy?

Ibo ni ile oloogun oyinbo to

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

room) Motigba yara kan sile

Do you have rooms available? Se awon yara wanle?

With shower / With bathroom To ni baluwe

I would like a non-smoking

room

Mofe yara ti won ti kin mu

siga

What is the charge per night? Elo ni owo re fun ale kan?

I'm here on business /on

vacation Mo wasibi fun ise/ fun isinmi

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

please?

S'ele fun mi ni iwe sowedowo

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

something) Gba eleyi!

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

craziness) Kantan kantan leyi!

My God! (to show amazement) Oluwa o!

Oh gosh! (when making a

mistake) Mogbe!

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

very interesting

Asa ati awon eyan yi daa gan

ni

I had a good time with you Mogbadun igba ti molo pelu e

I would love to visit your

country again Mafe lati wa si orile ede re si


Don't forget to write me back

from time to time

Magbagbe lati mak'owe simi

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 ke rìndínló gbò n.

1) E nì kò ò kan ló ní è tó láti kó è kó . Ó kéré tán, è kó

gbo dò jé ò fé ní àwo n ilé-è kó alákò ó bè rè . E kó ní ilé-

è kó alákò ó bè rè yìí sì gbo dò jé dandan. A gbo dò

pèsè è kó is é -o wó , àti ti ìmò -è ro fún àwo n ènìyàn

lápapò . Àn fàní tó dó gba ní ilé-è kó gíga gbo dò wà ní

àró wó tó gbogbo e ni tó bá tó sí.

2) Ohun tí yóò jé ète è kó ni láti mú ìlo síwájú tó

péye bá è dá ènìyàn, kí ó sì túbò rí i pé àwo n ènìyàn

bò wò fún è tó o mo nìyàn àti àwo n òmìnira wo n, tó jé

kò-s eé-má-nìí. E tò è kó gbo dò lè rí i pé è mí;

ìgbó ra-e ni-yé, ìbágbépò àlàáfíà, àti ìfé ò ré -sí-ò ré

wà láàrin orílè -èdè, láàrin è yà kan sí òmíràn àti

láàrin e lé sìn kan sí òmíràn. E tò-è kó sì gbo dò kún

àwo n akitiyan Àjo -ìsò kan orílè -èdè àgbáyé ló wó láti

rí i pé àlàáfíà fìdí múlè .

3)Àwo n òbí ló ní è tó tó ga jù lo láti yan è kó tí wó n

bá fé fún àwo n o mo wo n.

Abala ke tàdínló gbò n.

1) E nì kò ò kan ló ní è tó láìjé pé a fi ipá mú un láti

kópa nínú àpapò ìgbé ayé àwùjo rè , kí ó je ìgbádùn

gbogbo ohun àmús e wà ibè , kí ó sì kópa nínú

ìdàgbàsókè ìmò sáyé n sì àti àwo n àn fàní tó ń ti ibè

jáde. 2) E nì kò ò kan ló ní è tó sí ààbò àn fàní ìmo yì àti

ohun ìní tí ó je yo láti inú is é yòówù tí ó bá s e ìbáà

Yoruba Reading

s e ìmò sáyé n sì, ìwé kíko tàbí is é o nà.

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

1. owl -òwìwí

2. bat - àdán

3. bush fowl - àparò

4. sparrow - ẹgà

5. kite - àwòdì

6. hawk - àşádì

7. eagle – àşá

8. vulture - igún

9. kiwi - ẹyẹ odò

10. duck - pẹpẹyẹ

11. guinea fowl - ẹtù; awó

12. fowl - adiẹ; cock -akukọ; hen - obídiẹ; chick -

òròmọdìẹ

13. parrot - ayékòótọ

14. wood pecker – ẹyẹ àkókó

15. ostrich – ògòngò

16. peacock – ọkin

17. turkey – tòlótòló

18. dove – àdàbà

19. cuckoo - òdèrè

ANIMALS

1. lion - kìnìùn

2. lizard - alàngbá

3. camel - ràkúnmí

4. donkey - kẹtẹkẹtẹ

5. elephant - erin

6. wolf - ìkòokò

7. hedgehog – túrùkú

8. snake- ejò

9. cat - olóngbo

10. horse - ẹşin

11. goat - ewurẹ

12. sheep – àgùtàn; ewe – àgùtàn; ram

- àgbò

13. deer - èsúró

14. monkey - ọbọ

15. leopard - amọtẹkun

16. tiger - ẹkun

17. guinea pig - ẹmọ

18. hamster - aşin

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

Roofing sheet – páànú

Roofing – ríró ilé

Wall – ògiri

Fence – odi

Window – fèrèsè

Door – ilẹkun

Carved door – aasẹ

Pillar – òpó

Beams – arópòódògiri

Corner – igununlé

Backyard – ẹhìnkùùlé

Frontage – iwájùúlé

Entrance – ojúulé; ẹnu ọna

Corridor – ọdẹdẹ

Courtyard – igbẹjọ

Veranda – ojúde

Lobby – abawọle

Dining – ibi -ijẹun

Kitchen – ilé ìdáná

Hearth – ààrò

Toilet – ilé igbọnsẹ

Bathroom – ilé iwẹ

Gate – ìloro

Plastering – irẹle, rirẹ ilé

Well – kànga

Lamp – àtùpà

Ladder – àkàbà; akasọ

KITCHEN UTENSILS

1. teaspoon - şíbí tọbele

2. tablespoon – şíbí ìjẹun

3. fork – şíbí oníga

4. serving spoon – şíbí ìbù-njẹ

5. breakable plates – àwo

6. unbreakable plates - abọ;

abọmafọ

7. serving dish – àwo ìjẹun

8. tray - ọpọn

9. frying pan – agbada idinran

10. stove – sitoofu

11. water pot – ìkòkò omi

12. cooking pot – ìkòkò ìdáná

13. stool – àpótí

14. wooden spoon – şíbí onípọn

15. cup – ife

16. cutting saucer - igbakọ

17. stirring stick - orógùn

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected])

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

[email protected].

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:

[email protected] 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:

[email protected]. 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: [email protected]

33 450 408982 199 Chemin Garenne, Prevessin 01280 France

Copyright: RGAB/2003/1 - Free for aid workers ...

http://www.bu.edu/familymed/distance/cre/

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

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 ẹ tọ kọ ọ kan sì dọ gba. Wọ n ní ẹ bùn ti làákàyè àti ti ẹ rí-ọkàn, ó sì yẹ kí wọn ó máa hùwà sí ara wọn gẹ gẹ 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

http://www.eimages1.com/mal/media/songs/yoruba_alphabetrhyme.wav

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

Documents

Yoruba Language Resources