Jobs and Professions in Yoruba

Talking about work is part of many introductions.

Common professions

Yoruba	Meaning
dókítà	doctor
olùkọ́	teacher
ẹnjinia	engineer
àgbẹ̀	farmer
awakọ̀	driver
agbẹjọ́rò	lawyer
akẹ́kọ̀ọ́	student
oníṣòwò	trader
nọ́ọ̀sì	nurse
ayàwòrán	artist, painter

Many titles start with a- or oní-

Yoruba often forms job titles from verbs and nouns:

• a- forms a person who does something: awakọ̀ (one who drives).
• oní- forms an owner or seller of something: oníṣòwò (one who trades).

Asking about work

• Iṣẹ́ wo ni ẹ̀ ń ṣe? What work do you do?
• Níbo ni ẹ ti ń ṣiṣẹ́? Where do you work?

Answering

• Olùkọ́ ni mí. I am a teacher.
• Dókítà ni ó jẹ́. He or she is a doctor.
• Mo ń ṣiṣẹ́ ní ọ́fíìsì. I work in an office.
• Àgbẹ̀ ni bàbá mi. My father is a farmer.

Work words

• iṣẹ́ (work, job)
• ọ́fíìsì (office)
• owó oṣù (salary)
• ọ̀gá (boss)
• alábàáṣiṣẹ́pọ̀ (colleague)

Looking for a job

• Mo ń wá iṣẹ́. I am looking for a job.
• Mo ń kàwé. I am studying.

Greeting at work

Ẹ kú iṣẹ́ (well done at work) is a common greeting to someone who is working.