Respect in Yoruba: The Polite Ẹ and Forms of Address
How Yoruba uses plural pronouns for respect, and the titles and kinship terms used to address others.
Yoruba has a strong culture of respect, expressed in grammar and in titles.
The respectful plural
Like many languages, Yoruba uses a plural form to be polite to a single person:
| Informal (one person) | Respectful (or plural) |
|---|---|
| o (you) | ẹ (you) |
| ìwọ (you, emphatic) | ẹ̀yin (you, emphatic) |
Use ẹ with elders, strangers and those in authority, and o with children, friends and people of equal or lower status.
Examples
- Báwo ni? How are you?
- Ẹ kú àárọ̀. Good morning (respectful, plural).
- Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, ẹ jókòó. Please, sit down.
Respect through titles
| Title | Use |
|---|---|
| Bàbá | father, also for an elderly man |
| Ìyá / Mọ́mì | mother, also for an elderly woman |
| Àǹtí | aunt, widely used for older women |
| Ọ̀gá | boss, master |
| Ọ̀jọ̀gbọ́n | professor |
| Ọba | king, traditional ruler |
Kinship terms for non-relatives
People use family terms for others as a sign of warmth:
- Bàbá for an older man
- Ìyá for an older woman
- Ẹ̀gbọ́n (older sibling) for someone slightly older
- Àbúrò (younger sibling) for someone slightly younger
Age matters
Yoruba language and manners pay close attention to age. The older person is greeted first, and addressed with the respectful form.
What to avoid
- Calling an elder by name alone
- Using the informal o with someone older, unless invited
- Interrupting elders
Tips
- Default to ẹ.
- Use family titles.
- Use the dictionary to check forms.
English Yoruba Dictionary
Offline English–Yoruba dictionary with clear, accurate meanings
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