Basic Greetings

Hello.

Ẹ ǹlẹ́. (eh n leh)

Good morning.

Ẹ káàrọ̀. (eh kah-ah-raw)

Good evening.

Ẹ kú alẹ́. (eh koo ah-leh)

Good night.

Ó dàárọ̀. (oh dah-ah-raw)

Goodbye.

Ó dàbọ̀. (oh dah-baw)

See you later.

A tún rí. (ah toon ree)

Nice to meet you.

Inú mi dùn láti rí yín. (ee-noo mee doon lah-tee ree yin)

Welcome.

Ẹ káàbọ̀. (eh kah-baw)

How are you?

Báwo ni ẹ ṣe wà? (bah-woh nee eh shay wah)

I'm fine.

Mo wà dáadáa. (moh wah dah-dah)

And you?

Ẹ̀yin ńkọ́? (eh-yin n-koh)

Good afternoon.

Ẹ káàsán. (eh kah-ah-san)

How is your family?

Báwo ni ìdílé yín? (bah-woh nee ee-dee-leh yin)

Have a good day.

Ọjọ́ òní á dára o. (aw-jaw oh-nee ah dah-rah oh)

Long time no see.

Ó tó ọjọ́ mẹ́ta. (oh toh aw-jaw meh-tah)

How is work?

Báwo ni iṣẹ́? (bah-woh nee ee-sheh)

Welcome back.

Ẹ káàbọ̀. (eh kah-baw)

Have a safe journey.

Ìrìn àjò á yọrí rere o. (ee-reen ah-jaw ah yaw-ree reh-reh oh)

I am glad you are here.

Inú mi dùn pé ẹ wà níbí. (ee-noo mee doon peh eh wah nee-bee)

How is everything?

Báwo ni gbogbo nkan? (bah-woh nee gboh-gboh n-kan)

Politeness & Basics

Please.

Ẹ jọ̀wọ́. (eh jaw-woh)

Thank you.

Ẹ ṣé. (eh shay)

Thank you very much.

Ẹ ṣé púpọ̀. (eh shay poo-paw)

You're welcome.

Kò tọ́pẹ́. (koh taw-peh)

Excuse me.

Ẹ gbà mi láàyè. (eh gbah mee lah-yeh)

I'm sorry.

Ẹ má bínú. (eh mah bee-noo)

No problem.

Kò sí wàhálà. (koh see wah-hah-lah)

That's okay.

Kò burú. (koh boo-roo)

Of course.

Dájúdájú. (dah-joo-dah-joo)

Don't worry.

Ẹ má yọ̀nú. (eh mah yaw-noo)

Yes.

Bẹ́ẹ̀ni. (beh-nee)

No.

Rárá. (rah-rah)

I understand.

Ó yé mi. (oh yeh mee)

I don't understand.

Kò yé mi. (koh yeh mee)

Do you speak English?

Ṣé ẹ ń sọ Gẹ̀ẹ́sì? (shay eh n saw geh-eh-see)

Just a moment.

Ẹ jọ̀wọ́ fún mi ní ìṣẹ́jú kan. (eh jaw-woh foon mee nee ee-sheh-joo kan)

Can you help me?

Ṣé ẹ lè ràn mi lọ́wọ́? (shay eh leh ran mee law-waw)

I don't know.

Mi ò mọ̀. (mee oh maw)

Maybe.

Bóyá. (boh-yah)

Please speak slowly.

Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, ẹ rọra sọ̀rọ̀. (eh jaw-woh, eh raw-rah saw-raw)

Core Survival Patterns

Pattern: I need …

Mo nílò … (moh nee-loh)

I need water.

Mo nílò omi. (moh nee-loh oh-mee)

I need a doctor.

Mo nílò dókítà. (moh nee-loh doh-kee-tah)

I need help.

Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́. (moh nee-loh ee-ran-law-waw)

I need time.

Mo nílò àkókò. (moh nee-loh ah-koh-koh)

I need information.

Mo nílò àlàyé. (moh nee-loh ah-lah-yeh)

Pattern: I want …

Mo fẹ́ … (moh feh)

I want food.

Mo fẹ́ oúnjẹ. (moh feh oh-oon-jeh)

I want to sleep.

Mo fẹ́ sùn. (moh feh soon)

I want to go.

Mo fẹ́ lọ. (moh feh law)

I want this.

Mo fẹ́ èyí. (moh feh eh-yee)

I want to pay.

Mo fẹ́ sanwó. (moh feh san-woh)

Pattern: I would like …

Mo fẹ́ … (moh feh)

I would like a room.

Mo fẹ́ yàrá kan. (moh feh yah-rah kan)

I would like to eat.

Mo fẹ́ jẹun. (moh feh jeh-oon)

I would like to drink.

Mo fẹ́ mu nkan. (moh feh moo n-kan)

I would like a ticket.

Mo fẹ́ tikẹ́tì kan. (moh feh tee-keh-tee kan)

I would like to buy this.

Mo fẹ́ ra èyí. (moh feh rah eh-yee)

Pattern: Can you …?

Ṣé ẹ lè …? (shay eh leh)

Can you help me?

Ṣé ẹ lè ràn mi lọ́wọ́? (shay eh leh ran mee law-waw)

Can you repeat that?

Ṣé ẹ lè sọ yẹn lẹ́ẹ̀kan sí i? (shay eh leh saw yen leh-eh-kan see ee)

Can you show me?

Ṣé ẹ lè fi hàn mi? (shay eh leh fee han mee)

Can you call a taxi?

Ṣé ẹ lè bá mi pè tákìsì? (shay eh leh bah mee peh tah-kee-see)

Can you write it down?

Ṣé ẹ lè kọ ọ sílẹ̀? (shay eh leh kaw aw see-leh)

Pattern: Where is …?

Níbo ni … wà? (nee-boh nee … wah)

Where is the bathroom?

Níbo ni balùwẹ̀ wà? (nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)

Where is the hotel?

Níbo ni hótẹ́ẹ̀lì wà? (nee-boh nee haw-teh-eh-lee wah)

Where is the hospital?

Níbo ni ilé ìwòsàn wà? (nee-boh nee ee-leh ee-woh-san wah)

Where is the exit?

Níbo ni ẹnu ọ̀nà ìjáde wà? (nee-boh nee eh-noo aw-nah ee-jah-deh wah)

Where is the bank?

Níbo ni ilé ìfowópamọ́ wà? (nee-boh nee ee-leh ee-foh-woh-pah-maw wah)