Yoruba Idioms and Usage

  1. Fi àáké kọ́rí

Meaning: to refuse completely.

Example: a bèbè títí sùgbọ́n ó fi àáké kori pé Òun ò ní gbà

2. Àárọ̀ ọjọ́

Meaning: childhood or youthful

Example: Ọmọ náà ní ìwà akíkanjú ní àárọ̀ ọjọ́ rẹ̀

3. Fi àbàrá kékeré gba ńlá

Meaning: to receive a heavy blow in return for a light one inflicted on someone else

Example: wàá fi àbàrá Kékeré gba ńlá tí o bá gbéjẹ́

4. Kan  ojú abẹ ní ìkó

Meaning: to go straight to the point.

Example: kò fi àkókò wa sòfò, ó kan ojú abẹ ní ìkó

5. Abùṣe bùṣe

Meaning: the matter is ended

Example: bí a bá ti bẹ̀bẹ̀, abùṣe bùṣe

6. Àfi orí afi ọrùn

Meaning: at all cost

ofẹ́ ó kọ̀, Wàá délé; àfi orí afi ọrùn.

7. Ṣe àfọwọ́ra

Meaning: to steal petty things

Ẹ máa bójútó ọmọ yín, ó nse àfọwọ́ra

8. Fi aga gbága

    Meaning: to compete.

    Example: Táiyé ńfi aga gbára pèlu ọ̀rẹ́ rẹ̀

9. Dá nÍ agara

    Meaning: to push someone to the wall or to become disgusted

    Example: àtẹnumọ́ kìí pẹ́ dá mi l’ágara

10. Ko àgbákò

    Meaning: to be unfortunate

11. Já sí agbami

     Meaning: to let someone down / to be disappointed

      Example: obìnrin yẹn já a sí agbami

12. Àgbọ́ fọwọ́ dití

      Meaning: meaningless talk or a loud noise

       Example: ọ̀rọ̀ àgbọ́ dití lásán lóun sọ

13. Jálé agbọ́n

     Meaning:  to cause oneself a misfortune.

     Example: ó fi ọwọ́ ara rẹ̀ jálé agbọ́n nígbà tó gba ìyàwó ọ̀rẹ́ rẹ̀

14. Ké àgò

      Meaning: ask for permission

       Example: mo k’ágò fó n’ílé o.

15. Ti ajá ti ẹran

       Meaning: all sorts of

       Example: t’ajá t’ẹran ló wá sí ìpàgọ́ àná

16. Akéré korò

       Meaning: a short devil

       Ènìyàn kúkúrú bìlísì, akéré korò ẹ̀dá

17. Alárìnjẹ

      Meaning: a vagabond

      Example: alárìnjẹ ni  okùnrin náà

18. Tẹ ojú ajẹ́ mọ́lẹ̀

       Meaning: to be extravagant

19. Lái sí àníyàn

      Meaning: with no hesitation

      Example: mo máa lọ sí èkó, lái sí àníyàn

20. Da àníyàn sí ọ̀nà kan soso

       Meaning: put all eggs in one basket

       Example: kò dára láti da àníyàn sí ọ̀nà kan soso

21. Anù mọ́ dàárò

      Meaning: an aimless wanderer

       Example: ọmọlúàbí kìí wùwà anù mọ́ dàárò

22. Fi ara balẹ̀

       Meaning: to be patient and at alert

       Example: fi ara balẹ̀ gbọ́ ọ̀rọ̀ tí mo fẹ́ sọ

23. Fi ara dàá

      Meaning: endure

      Example: ọmọ tí ó bá f’ara da ẹ̀gbin iṣẹ́ kíkọ́ ni yóò k’érè rẹ̀

24. Ara fífà

      Meaning: indisposition

      Example: mo lọ rèé rí onísègùn nítorí ara mi fà díẹ̀

25. Fi ara hàn

       Meaning: to present oneself

        Example: mo fi ara hàn ní ilé ẹjọ́

26. Ará rọ̀ọ́

       Meaning: to be comfortable or relieved

        Example: ará rọ̀ mí nígbàtí mo bẹ̀erẹ̀ isẹ́ titun

27. Fi ara sílẹ̀

       Meaning: to be caught unawares, unalert, not cautious

       Example: nígbà tí ó fi ara sílẹ̀ ni ọwọ́ bàá

28. Fi ara sinko

       Meaning: hide

       Example: olóyè máa nf’ara sinko nígbàtí ó bá lọ sí ìlú tí ati bíi

29. Gbé ara sọ

          Meaning: to stretch oneself beyond assumed capability

           Example: àbúrò mi gbéra sọ nígbàtí ódé ọ̀dọ̀ ògáa rẹ̀

30. Fi ara wé

       Meaning: to imitate or copy

        Example: okùnrin yẹn nfi ara wé mi

31. Àṣírí tú

      Meaning: a secret is exposed

       Example: àṣírí olùkọ́ ti tú sí ọwọ́ ọmọ ilé ìwé

32. Tẹ orí gba aṣọ

       Meaning: to die

        Example: mo gbọ́ pé ọ̀tá mi ti tẹ orí gbasọ

33. Pa àtẹ́

       Meaning: (derogatory) to display a behaviour

       Example: aláì lójútì, ó tún ti pàtẹ ìbàjẹ́ rẹ̀.

34. Awọ ò kájú ìlù

       Meaning: Lack or inability to make ends meet

       Example: mo fẹ́ sapá, àmọ́, awọ ò kájú ìlù

35. Dé ara mọ́ awo olóókan

      Meaning: to know one’s limit

      Example: tí o ba dé ara rẹ mọ́ awo olóókan, oò ní di ẹlẹ́tẹ̀ẹ́

36. Awó ya

       Meaning: the secret is unveiled

       Example: kò sí ọ̀rẹ́ mó, awó ti ya

37. Ní àyà

      Meaning: to be brave and courageous

      Example: ọmọdé yìí ní àyà ju àwọn ẹlẹgbẹ́ rẹ̀

38. Fi àyà tìí

      Meaning: to endure/ stand with

      Example: ìyàwó náà fi àyà ti ìsòro ilé ọkọ

39. Ṣe àyà gbàagbà

       Meaning: to be bold and fearless

         Example: ọmọ orí ìrìn ni, ó se àyà gbàa gbà

40. Ayírí

      Meaning: unstable / unreliable person

      Example: ayírí ni ọ̀rẹ́ mi, bópé òun áwá, ó le má wàá

41. Bá ẹkùn ní bùba

       Meaning: to encounter danger unexpectedly

       Example: bí ó se wọlé lái lerò, ó bá ẹkùn ní bùba, àjèjì olóngbò ló rí

42. Bá lójijì

      Meaning: shocked/surprised

      Ọ̀rọ̀ náà bá mi lójiiji.

43. Ba ojú jẹ́

       Meaning: to express displeasure

        Example: ó bojú jẹ́ nítorí mo ní kómá lo seré

44. Baba ní igbẹ́jọ́

       Meaning: godfather or support

        Example: ọkàn rẹ̀ balẹ̀ nítorí ó ní baba nígbẹ́jọ́

45. Bàsèjẹ́

      Meaning: destroyer

      Example: kòda láti dòwò pọ̀ pèlu bàṣèjẹ́

46. Bẹ́ ejò lórí

     Meaning: to provide an immediate solution to a problem

     Example: bí wọ́n ti gbé ọ̀rọ̀ dé ọ̀dọ bàbá, kíá ni ó bẹ́ ejò lórí

47. Bẹ ilẹ̀ wò

      Meaning: to get information in a cunny way

       Example: ó bẹ ilẹ̀ wò títí ó fi mọ òdodo ọ̀rọ̀

48. Bojú bojú

       Meaning: secrecy

       Example: bojú bojú ni ọjà ti ́ó ntà

49. Bònkẹ́lẹ́

     Meaning: secret

     Example: ìgbéyàwó oní bònkẹ́lẹ́ ni wọ́n se.

50. Bọ́ lọ́wọ́

      Meaning: to escape or to lose something

      Example: isẹ́ ti bọ́ lọ́wọ́ rẹ̀

We referenced the works of Chief M.A Fabunmi and Professor Wande Abimbola on Yoruba Idioms.

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Picture of Gbemi Ibrahim

Gbemi Ibrahim

Gbemi has worked as a ghostwriter for well over ten years and counting. She is a pro in business and executive communication. More so, she has a mastery of creative writing and making a polished document out of disorganized thoughts and ideas.

Picture of Gbemi Ibrahim

Gbemi Ibrahim

Gbemi has worked as a ghostwriter for well over ten years and counting. She is a pro in business and executive communication. More so, she has a mastery of creative writing and making a polished document out of disorganized thoughts and ideas.

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