Yoruba Syllables: How Words Are Built
How Yoruba words are formed from simple syllables, and what that means for reading and pronunciation.
Yoruba syllables are simple, which makes words easy to read once you know the pattern.
The basic shapes
A Yoruba syllable is usually one of:
| Shape | Example |
|---|---|
| Vowel (V) | i in ilé |
| Consonant + vowel (CV) | ba in bàbá (father) |
| Syllabic nasal (N) | n in ń |
Most words are built from CV syllables.
No consonant clusters
Yoruba does not allow two consonants in a row within a syllable. This is why borrowed words are adapted:
- English bus becomes bọ́ọ̀sì
- English bread becomes búrẹ́dì
- English church is often written ṣọ́ọ̀ṣì
Words end in vowels
Native Yoruba words usually end in a vowel or a nasal vowel, which gives the language a flowing sound.
Counting syllables
- ilé (house): i-lé, two syllables
- ọmọ (child): ọ-mọ, two syllables
- ọ̀rẹ́ (friend): ọ̀-rẹ́, two syllables
- obìnrin (woman): o-bìn-rin, three syllables
The syllabic nasal
A nasal n can form a syllable by itself, usually marked with tone:
- ń appears before a verb to show an ongoing action: Mo ń jẹun (I am eating).
Reading tip
Read each syllable at an even pace. Do not stress one syllable heavily, as English does. Yoruba rhythm depends on tone and not on stress.
Why this helps
Knowing the pattern lets you break long words into small pieces:
- ẹ̀kọ́ = ẹ̀-kọ́ (lesson)
- ìwé = ì-wé (book)
Tips
- Split words into syllables.
- Keep an even pace.
- Use the dictionary to check word forms.
English Yoruba Dictionary
Offline English–Yoruba dictionary with clear, accurate meanings
More about English Yoruba Dictionary
GB and P: Yoruba's Two Doubled Sounds
How to pronounce the sounds written gb and p in Yoruba, which are made with two articulations at once.
Read article →The Subdot Letters Ẹ, Ọ and Ṣ and How to Type Them
Why the dots under ẹ, ọ and ṣ matter, and practical ways to type them on a phone or computer.
Read article →The Yoruba Alphabet: Twenty-Five Letters
The standard Yoruba alphabet, which letters differ from English and which English letters are not used.
Read article →Yoruba Vowels: Oral and Nasal
The seven oral vowels and the nasal vowels of Yoruba, with examples to practise.
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