J-P: Yoruba Monosyllabic Words (YORÙBÁ-ENGLISH)

Jj

já (i) to pluck: Ó já ọsàn ‘He plucked oranges’ (ii) to fall: Ó já láti orí igi ‘He fell from the tree’ (iii) to smell: Ó ń já fírí ‘It has a savoury smell’ (iv) to palpitate: Àyà rẹ̀ ń já ‘His heart is palpitating’ (v) to pick: Ó já ẹ̀fọ

́ ‘He picked vegetable leaves’ (vi) to pull off: Ó já a kúrò ‘He pulled it off’ (vii) to bite: Ó já ẹran ‘He bit off some meat’ (viii) to break free: Ewúrẹ́ náà já (okùn) ‘The goat broke free’ (ix) to be too much: Iyọ̀ náà já ọbẹ̀ yìí ‘This soup is too salty’ (x) to issue from somewhere to another place: Mo ti já ojú ọ̀nà ‘I have issued from a path to highway’ (xi) to amount to: Déédé ni wọ́n já sí ‘They amount to the same thing’ (xii) to attack without warning: Ó já lù mí ‘He attacked me without warning‘ (xiii) to drool: Itọ́ ń já lẹnu rẹ̀ ‘He was drooling’ (xiv) to snap: Okùn náà já ‘The rope snapped’ (xv) to fray: Ó já létí ‘It frayed at the edge’ (xvi) to find out: Ó já irọ́ mi ‘He found out my lie’ (xvii) to complete: Ó wẹ odò já ‘He swam across the river’ (xviii) to find out: Irọ́ mi já ‘He found out my lie’

(xix) see through: A já àwọn irọ́ rẹ̀ ‘We saw through his pack of lies’ (xx) find: Lẹ́yìn ọ̀pọ̀ ìrìn nínú igbó, ó já ọ̀nà ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ ‘After a long walk in the forest, he found out the way to the school’ (xxi) get: Ó já sí ọ̀nà ‘He got to the road’ (xxii) sever: Okùn náà já ‘The rope severed’ (xxiii) slit open: Mo fi ọ̀bẹ já lẹ́tà náà ‘I slit open the letter with a knife’ (xxiv) whip: Ó já ṣéènì tí a fi góòlù ṣe kúrò lọ́rùn rẹ̀ ‘He whipped the gold chain off his neck’.

jà (i) to fight: Wọ́n jà ‘They fought’ (ii) quarrel: Wọ́n jà ‘They quarrelled’ (iii) battle: Wọ́n jà fún wákàtí kan ‘They battled for an  hour’.

jàn (i) to hit: Ó jàn mí ní igi ‘He hit me with a stick’. (ii) To throw on the ground: Ó jàn mí mọ́lẹ̀ ‘He threw me down (in a wrestling contest)’.

jẹ́ (i) to be: Ó jẹ́ olùkọ́ ‘He is a teacher’ (ii) to take: Ó jẹ́ ẹ̀jẹ́ ‘He took a vow’ (iii) to allow: Mo jẹ́ kí ó lọ ‘I allowed him to go’ (iv) better: O jẹ́ máa lọ  ‘You better not go’ (v) dare: N kò jẹ́ nà án ‘I dare not beat him’ (vi) to answer/to reply: Ó jẹ́ ìpè mi ‘He answered my call’ (vii) to venture: Ó ha jẹ́ lọ ‘Can he venture to go?’ (ix) may: Bóyá a jẹ́ wá ‘Perhaps he may come’ (x) relay: Ó jẹ́ iṣẹ́ fún un ‘He relayed a message for him’ (xii) are: Olú àti Adé jẹ́ ẹ̀gbọ́n Dàda ọkùnrin ‘Olú and Ade are Dada’s senior brother (xiii) cost: Èló ni ìwé yẹn jẹ́? ‘How much did that book cost?’ (xiv) equal: Ẹẹ́rin àti eéjì jẹ́ ẹẹ́fà ‘Four and two equals six (xv) get: Ó jẹ́ kí sáàtì náà mọ́ ‘He got the shirt clean’ (xvi) is: Ọ̀kan nínú wọn jẹ́ akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ ‘One of them is a student’ (xvii) set: Ìròyìn náà jẹ́ kí n máa ronú ‘The news set me thinking’ (xviii) was: Ó jẹ́ olùkọ́ àgbà ní Ìbàdàn ‘He was a headmaster in Ibadan’ (xx) allow: Mo jẹ́ kí o lọ ‘I allowed him to go’ (xxi) were: Wọ́n jẹ́ olùkọ́ ‘They were teachers’.

jẹ (i) Ó jẹ búrẹ́dì ‘He ate bread’ (ii) to win: Ó jẹ tẹ́tẹ́ ‘He won a lottery’ (iii) to graze: Ẹṣin náà ń jẹ oko ‘The horse is grazing’ (iv) to owe: Ó jẹ mí lówó ‘He owed me some money’ (v) to ascend the throne/to be appointed to a position: Ó jẹ ọba ‘He ascended the throne’, Ó jẹ oyè ‘He became a chief’ (vi) to enjoy: Ó jẹ fàájì’ He felt pleasure’, (vii) to experience something unpleasant: Ó jẹ ẹgba ‘He was whipped’ (viii) afflict: Ìyà jẹ ẹ́ ‘He is afflicted with suffering’ (ix) bite: Ẹ̀fọn jẹ mí ‘The mosquito bit me’ (x) chew: Jẹ ẹran yẹn dáadáa (lẹ́nu) kí o tó gbé e mì ‘Chew that meat well (in the mouth) before you swallow it’ (xi) consume: O kò gbọ́dọ̀ jẹ oúnjẹ lórí títì ‘You must not consume food on the street’ (xii) make: Ó jẹ owó púpọ̀ nínú tẹ́tẹ́’ He made a lot of money in the lottery’ (xiii) enjoy: Ó jẹ iṣẹ́ ọwọ́ rẹ̀ ‘He enjoy the fruit of his labour’ (xiv) wear: Ẹsẹ̀ àwọn bàtà yìí ń jẹ ‘The heels of these shoes are wearing down’.

jẹ̀ ‘to play around’: Ewúrẹ̀  náà ń jẹ̀ kiri ‘The goat is playing around’.

jí (i) to steal: Ó jí mi lówó ‘He stole my money’ (ii) to wake up: Ó jí lórí ibùsùn ‘He woke up from the bed’ (iii) stealth: Ó jí rere ṣe ‘He did good by stealth’ (iv) arise: Mo ń jí ní agogo mẹ́jọ lárààárọ̀ ‘I awaken every morning at 8 o’clock’ (vi) rise: N kì í tètè jí ‘I don’t rise early’ (vii) revive: Wọ́n jí

 ọmọbìnrin náà ‘They revived the girl’ (viii) rob: Ọkùnrin náà jí mi ní àádọ́ta náírà ‘The man robbed me of fifty naira’.

jì ‘to shake’ Ó jì í ‘He shook it’.

jìn (i) to be deep: Ihò náà jìn ‘The hole is deep’ (ii) to be far: Ìbẹ̀ jìn ‘The place is far’ (iii) to trip from the back: Ó jìn mí lẹ́sẹ̀ ‘He tripped me from the back’ (iv) to give: Ó fi gbogbo rẹ̀ jìn mí ‘He gave me everything’ (v) to fall down: Ó jìn sí kòtò ‘He fell into a deep pit: (vi) to undermine one’s reputation: Ó jìn mí lẹ́sẹ̀ ‘He undermines my reputation’ (vii) outlying: Ó pẹ́ wa kí á tó dé àárín ìlú náà nítorí pé oko tí ó jìn ni a ń gbé ‘It took us a long time to get to the centre of the town because we lived on an outlying farm’ (viii) set: Ilé náà jìn sí títì ‘The house is well set back from the road’ (ix) wide: Ìdáhùn rẹ jìn sí ohun tí a ń retí ‘Your answer was wide off the mark’.

jó (i) to dance: Ó jó ‘He danced’ (ii) to burn: Iná náà ń jó ‘The fire is burning’ (iii) to sting: Ipín jó o ‘The insect called ipín stug him’ (iv) to suffer a bereavement: Iná jó o ‘He suffered a bareavement’ (v) to solder: Ó jó o pọ̀ ‘He soldered them together’ (vi) to brand: Ó fi irin jó mààlúù rẹ̀ ‘He branded his cows’ (vii) to become scorched: Oúnjẹ yìí ti jó ‘This food has become scorched (viii) to be alight: Àtùpà ń jó ‘The lamp is alight’ (ix) to irritate: Wèrèpè jó o lára ‘The cow-itch irritates his body’ (x) catch fire: Ìwé náà jó ‘The book caught fire’ (xi) in flame: Ilé náà ń jó ‘The house was in flame’ (xii) keep on: Iná náà yóò máa jó fún wákàtí kan ‘The fire wil keep on for one hour’.

jò (i) to leak: Abọ́ náà ń jò ‘The plate is leaking’ (ii) to alight: Iná ń jò ‘A fire is burning’.

jọ (i) to resemble: Ó jọ mí ‘He resembled me’ (ii) together: A jọ lọ ‘We went together’ (iii) to complete joyfully: Ọdún jọ ‘The year is completed joyfully’ (iv) seem: Ó jọ bẹ́ẹ̀ ‘It seems to be the case’ (v) bunch: A jọ wá sí ilé-ẹ̀kọ́/A jìjọ wá sí ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ ‘We came to school in a bunch’ (vi) identical: Ìwé yìí jọ ìyẹn ‘This book is identical to that one’ (vii) joint: Olú àti Adé ni wọ́n jọ ni ilé-iṣẹ́ náà ‘Olú and Ade are the joint owners of the business’ (viii) like: Ó jọ bàbá rẹ̀ ‘He is like his father’.

jọ̀ ‘to sift’: Ó jọ ẹ̀lùbọ́ ‘He sifted the yam flour’.

ju (i) to be worm-eaten: Àgbàdo náà ti ju ‘The maize is worm-eaten’ (ii) to be fray: Aṣọ yìí ju ‘This garment is frayed’.

jù (i) to exceed: Mo ju adé lọ ‘I am older than Adé/I exceed Adé in age’ (ii) to throw: Ó ju òkúta ‘He threw a stone’ (iii) to beckon: Ó ju ọwọ́ sí mi ‘He beckoned to me’ (iv) but: N kò fẹ́ nǹkan mìíràn ju ìwé ‘I want nothing but books’ (v) to wag: Ajá náà ju ìrù ‘The dog wags its tail’ (vi) to clear/to cut: Ó ju igbó ‘He cuts the bush’ (vii) very/much: Ó pẹ́ jù ‘He is very late (viii) to release: Ó jù mí lọ́wọ́ sílẹ̀ ‘He released my hand’ (ix) dump: A ju àwọn báàgì wa sí orí ilẹ̀ ‘We dumped our bags on the floor’ (x) hurl: Ó ju ìwé náà lu ògiri ‘He hurled the book at the wall’ (xi) more: Búrẹ́dì mi ju tiwọn ‘I have more bread than they have’ (xii) most: Àdòdó tí ó dára jù ni ìyẹn ‘That is the most beautiful flower’ (xiii) shoot: Bí káà náà ti forí sọgi, ó ju àwọn tí ó wà nínú rẹ̀ síta ‘As the car hit the tree, the occupants were shot out’ (xiv) sling: Ó ju ìwé rẹ̀ sí orí tábìlì ‘He slung his book on the table’ (xv) than: Olú dàgbà ju Adé ‘Olú is older than Adé’ (xvi) toss: Àwọn ọmọkùnrin náà ju bọ́ọ̀lù sí ara wọn ‘The boys tossed the ball to each other’ (xvii) wave: Ó ju ọwọ́ rẹ̀ láti sọ pé ó dìgbà ‘He waved his hand to say goodbye’ (xviii) surpass: Adé lágbára ju Òjó ‘Adé surpassed Òjó in strength’ (xix) except: N kò fẹ́ nǹkan mìíràn ju owó ‘I want nothing except money.

Kk

ká (i) to fold: Ó ká agboòrùn rẹ̀ ‘He folded his umbrella’ (ii) to bring in: Ó ká aṣọ wọlé ‘He brings in the washing’ (iv) to roll up: Ó ká ẹní ‘He rolled up the mat’ (v) to last: Oúnjẹ yìí yóò ká ọdún ‘This food will last for a year’ (vi) to be within capacity: Ọwọ́ mi ká iṣẹ́ yìí ‘I can manage this work/This work is withing my capacity’ (vii) to curl up: Ó ká rúgúdú ‘He curled himself up’ (viii) to fall out: Eyín rẹ̀ ká ‘His tooth fell out’ (ix) to harvest: Ó ká ọkà bàbà rẹ̀ ‘He harvested his guinea corn’ (x) around: Wọ́n rìn ká fún wákàtí kan ‘They walked around for one hour’ (xi) coil: Wọ́n ká okùn náà  ‘They coil the ropes’ (xii) crouch: Ó ká ti iná ‘He was crouching by the fire’ (xiii) tuck: Ó ká apá sáàtì rẹ̀ sókè ‘He tucked up his shirt sleeves’ (xv) turn up: Ká apá sáàtì rẹ ‘Turn up your shirt sleeves’ (xiv) pluck: Ó ká ọsàn láti orí igi ‘He plucked oranges from the tree’.

kà (i) to read: Ó ka ìwé rẹ̀ ‘He read his book’ (ii) to count: Ó ka ọsàn ‘He counted oranges’ (iii) to confess: Àjẹ́ náà kà ‘The witch confessed to her nefarious deed as a witch’ (v) to prescribe: Ó ka oògùn fún un ‘He prescribed medicine for him’ (v) to put on top of: Ó gbé e ka orí tábìlì ‘He placed it on the table’ (vi) keep: Ṣé o sì ń ka Gíríìkì rẹ? Do you still keep up your Greek?’ (vii) regard: A kà á sí ọ̀kan nínú àwọn akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ wa tí ó mọ̀wé jù ‘We regard him as one of our cleverest  students’ (viii) see: Mo rí pé Gómìnà ń bọ̀ ní ìlú wa ‘I see that the Governor is coming to our town’.

kán (i) to drip: Omi náà ń kán ‘The water is dripping’ (ii) to hit: Ó kán mi ní igi ‘He hit me with a stick’ (iii) to snap: Ó kán igi mi ‘He snapped my stick’ (iv) to be pressed for time: Ojú ń kán an ‘He is pressed for time’ (v) seep: Omi kán jáde láti inú abọ́ náà ‘Water seeped out of the bowl’ (vi) splash: Omi ẹ̀rọ ń kán ‘The tap splashes’ (vii) trickle: Ẹ̀jẹ̀ ń kán láti inú egbò náà ‘Blood trickled from the wound’.

kan (i) turn sour: Ọbẹ̀ náà kan ‘The soup is sour’ (ii) one: Àga kan ‘One chair’ (iii) far and wide: Ohùn rẹ̀ gba gbogbo àdúgbò kan ‘His voice pervaded the whole compound’ (iv) to be desolate: Ilé wọn kan gbínrín ‘Their houses are desolate (They must have suffered a bereavement)’ (v) a: Aga kan ‘A chair’ (vi) some: Àwọn ọmọbìnrin kan ń jó ‘Some girls are dancing’ (vii) sore: Apá tí ẹ̀fọn ti jẹ mí ń kan mí ‘My arm is sore where I was bitten by the mosquito’ (viii) certain: Àwọn tí ó ń mu sìgá kò lè wọ àwọn ọkọ̀ ojú irin kan ‘People who smoke cannot travel in certain trains’ (ix) an: Mo fún un ní ọsàn kan ‘I gave him an orange’.

kàn (i) to knock: Ó kan ilẹ̀kùn ‘He knocked the door (ii) to reach: Lẹ́yìn Iléṣà, a kan Ifẹ̀ ‘After Ilesa, we reach Ifẹ̀’ (iii) to go round: Ìròyìn wa kàn ‘The news about us went round (iv) to touch: Ó fi ògún kan àyà ‘He touched his chest with the emble of ogun and swore by it’ (v) one’s turn: Èmi ni ó kàn ‘It is my turn’ (vi) to do something for no good reason: Ó kàn ń gbá a létí ni ‘He is slapping him for no just cause’ (vii) just: Yóò kàn mú un ‘He will just take it’ (viii) affect: Àwọn òfin titun yẹn yóò kàn mí ‘Those new rules will affect me’ (ix) drive: Ó fi hámà kan ìṣó náà wọlẹ̀ ‘He used an hammer to drive in the nail’ (x) border: Nàìjíríà kan Bẹ̀nẹ̀ àti Kamẹrún-ùnnù ‘Nigeria borders Benin and Cameroon’’ (xi) concern: Lẹ́tà yẹn kàn ọ́. Kà á ‘That letter concerns you. Read it’ (xii) hammer: Ó kan ìṣó náà ‘He hamerred the nail’ (xiii) involve: Gbogbo wa ni eré náà kàn ‘We are all involve in the play’ (xiv) nail: Kan pákó náà mọ́ ògiri ‘Nail the plank to the wall (xv) only: Mo kàn ń wo àwọn bàtà náà ni ‘I am only looking at the shoes’ (xvi) turn: Ó kàn ẹ́ láti kàwé ‘It is your turn to read’.

ké (i) to scream: Ó ké ‘He screamed’ (ii) to shout: Ó ké tagbára tagbára ‘He shouted with all his power’ (iii) to call at: Ó ké sí mi ‘He called at me/He called on me’ (iv) wail: Ọmọ náà ké ‘The child was wailing’ (v) whine: Ọmọ náà ń ké ‘The child is whinning’ (vi) squeak: Eku náà ké ó sì sá lọ ‘The rat squeaked and ran away’ (vii) shriek: Ó ké nígbà tí ejò náà ń bọ̀ lọ́dọ̀ rẹ̀ ‘He shrieked as the snake came towards her’ (viii) croak: Ẹyẹ náà ké sókè ‘The bird croaked loudly’ (ix) cry: Ó bẹ̀rẹ̀ sí í ké ‘She started to cry’ (x) squeal: Àwọn ẹlẹ́dẹ̀ náà ń ké ‘The pigs were squealing’.

kẹ́ (i) to pet: Ó kẹ́ mi ‘He pets me’ (ii) to cock: Ó kẹ́ ìbọn ‘He cocked the gun’.

kẹ  to make a tick-tock sound: Aago náà ń ró kẹ, kẹ, kẹ ‘The clock is making a tick-tock sound’.

kẹ̀ (i) to decay: Ẹran náà ti kẹ̀ ‘The meat has decayed’ (ii) to fester: Egbò rẹ̀ ti kẹ̀ ‘His sore has festered’ (iii) to spread: Iná náà ń kẹ̀ ‘The fire is spreading’ (iv) to be husky: Ohùn-un rẹ̀ kẹ̀ ‘He has a husky voice’ (v) not to be straight: Itan rẹ̀ kẹ̀ ‘He is bandy legged’.

kí (i) to greet: Ó kí mi ‘He greeted me (ii) that: Ó ní kí n wá ‘he said that I should come’ (iii) an item used to derive nouns from nouns and noun phrases: Ilé ‘A house’ ---> Ilékílé ‘any house/a bad house’ (iv) what?: Kí ni ‘What is it?’ (v) in order: Wọ́n tètè lọ kí wọ́n lè rí bọ́ọ̀sì wọ̀ ‘They left early in order that they might catch the bus’.

ki ‘to be thick (as of liquid)’: Ọbẹ̀ náà ki ‘The soup is thick’.

kì (i) to recite descriptive names: Ó kì í ‘He recited his descriptive names’ (ii) grab: Ó ki eku náà mọ́lẹ̀ kí ó tó sá lọ ‘He grabbed the rat before it could escape’ (iii) to inspire: Ó kì mí láyà láti mú un ‘He inspired me with the spirit to take it’ (iv) to load: Ó ki ìbọn ‘He loaded the gun’ (v) praise: Ó kì í ‘He praised him’ (vi) ram: Wọ́n ki ilẹ̀ ‘They ram down the soil’ (vii) define: Ìwé atúmọ̀-èdè máa ń ki ọ̀rọ̀ ‘The dictionary defines words’ (viii) jam: Mo ki àwọn aṣọ mi mọ́ inú àpótí kékeré náà ‘I jammed my clothes into the small box’ (ix) thrust: Ó ki ọwọ́ rẹ̀ bọ àpò ‘He thrust his hand into his pocket’.

kín (i) be near to: Ó kín mi ‘He is very near me’ (ii) what? Kín ni ‘What is it? (iii) to scrub: Ó kín mi lẹ́yìn ‘He scrubbed my back’. (iv) support: Ó kín ọ̀rọ̀ mi lẹ́yìn ‘He supported me’.

kó (i) to be over-ripe: Ilá náà ti kó: The okro has been over-ripen’ (ii) to collect: Ó kó ẹrù rẹ̀ ‘He collected his luggage’ (iii) to capture: Ó kó ẹrú ‘He captured slaves’ (iv) to take: Ọkọ̀ náà kó èrò ‘The vehicle takes passangers (v) to steal: Ó kó owó wọn ‘He stole their money’ (vii) to enter: Ó kó sí inú igbó ‘He entered the forest’ (ix) to give: Ó kó owó fún wọn ‘He gave them money’ (x) put: Ó kó wọn sórí tábìlì ‘He put them collectively on the table’ (xi) gather: Ó kó àwọn ìwé rẹ̀ ‘He gathers her books’ (xii) keep: Ó ń kó ẹgbẹ́kẹ́gbẹ́ ‘He keeps bad company’ (xiii) transport: Ọkọ̀ ojú irin ni wọ́n fi kó àwọn ẹrù náà ‘The goods were transported by train’ (xiv) supply: Ilé-iṣẹ́ náà kó bébà fún atẹ̀wé náà ‘The company supplied paper to the printer’ (xv) snap up: Wọ́n tètè kó àwọn bàtà tí kò wọ́n náà ‘The cheaps shoes were quickly snapped up’ (xiv) move: Wọ́n fi ọkọ̀ ẹlẹ́rù kó àwọn jagunjagun ‘Lorries were used to moved the soldiers’ (xvii) get: Kó àwọn òkúta yìí lọ sí inú ilé ‘Get these stones to the house’ (xviii) clear: Wọ́n ti kó àwọn ìwé náà lọ ‘They have cleared the books away’.

kò (i) meet: Ó kò mí lọ́nà ‘He met me on the way’ (ii) not: Olú kò lọ ‘Olu didn’t go’ (iii) to poke fire: Ó ko iná ‘He arranged the burning stick so as to get a good temperature’ (iv) come: A ko ara wa ní ọ̀nà ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ ‘We came across each other on the way to the school’ (v) push: Wọ́n ko iná ‘They pushed the fire together’ (vi) stir: Ó ko iná ‘He stirred the fire’.

kọ́ (i) to build: Ó kọ́ ilé ‘He built a house’ (ii) to learn: Ó kọ́ ẹ̀kọ́ ‘He learns’ (iii) to teach: Ó kọ́ ọ ní ẹ̀kọ́ ‘He teaches him (iv) to hook: Aṣọ rẹ̀ kọ́ igi ‘His cloth got hooked on a tree’ (v) to be first: Èmi ni ó kọ́ ṣe é tán ‘I am the first to complete it’ (vi) not: Ìwọ kọ́ ‘It is not you’ (vii)  to bet: Wọ́n kọ́ ọ ‘They bet’ (viii) study: Mo ń kọ́ àwòrán yíyà ‘I am studying art’ (ix) situate: Wọ́n kọ́ ilé-iṣẹ́ náà sí ẹ̀gbẹ́ ìlú ‘They situated the factory near the town’ (x) rig up: A kọ́ abà kékeré kan sínú ọgbà wa ‘We rigged up a small hut in our garden’ (xi) pitch: Àwọn ọmọkùnrin náà kọ́ tẹ́ǹtì ‘The boys pitches a tent’ (xii) locate: Wọ́n kọ́ ilé náà sí ọjà ‘The house was located in the market’ (xiii) initially: Ó kọ́ fẹ́ rìn lọ sí ìgboro ṣùgbọ́n ó yí ọkàn rẹ̀ padà ‘He initially wanted to walk to the town but changed his mind’ (xiv) instruct: Ó kọ́ mi bí a ti ń lo fóònù ‘He instructed me how to use telephone’ (xv) erect: Ó kọ́ abà tuntun kan sí abúlé ‘He erected a new hut in the village’ (xvi) educate: Àwọn olùkọ́ máa ń kọ́ àwọn akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ ‘The teacher educate pupils’ (xvii) construct: Mo kọ́ ilé ‘I constructed a house’ (xviii) coach: Òun ni ó ń kọ́ àwọn tí ó ń gbá bọ́ọ̀lù fún ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ náà ‘He coaches the school football team’.

kọ (i) to crow: Àkùkọ kọ ‘The cock crows’. This can also be used idiomatically as Àkùkọ kọ lẹ́yìn ọkùnrin ‘The man died’ (ii) to shine: Bàtà náà ń kọ ‘The shoes shine’ (iii) to write: Ó kọ ìwé ‘He writes’ (iv) to cut off palmnut: Ó kọ ọ̀pẹ ‘He cuts palmnut’ (v) to ladle: Ó kọ àmàlà ‘She ladles àmàlà (a type of food)’ (vi) to make yam heaps: Ó kọ ebè ‘He makes yam heaps (vii) to flash: Mọ̀nàmọ́ná kọ ‘The lightning flashed’ (viii) to sing: Ó kọ orin ‘He sang a song’ (ix) to turn: Ó kọ ẹ̀gbẹ́ ọ̀tún sí mi ‘He turns his right side to my direction’ (x) direct: A kọ ojú sí ọ̀nà ilé ‘We directed our steps towards home’ (xi) compose: Músá máa ń kọ orin sí inú ìwé lálaalẹ́ ‘Musa composes songs in books every night’ (xii) glimmer: Iná inú ilé náà ń kọ ní ọ̀ọ́kán’ ‘The light from the house glimmered in the distance’ (xiii) glow: Iná tí ó ń kú lọ náà sì ń kọ nínú igbó dúdú náà ‘The dying fire glows in the dark forest’ (xiv) take: Kọ gbólóhùn náà sílẹ̀ ‘Take down the sentence’.

kọ̀ (i) to refuse: Ó kọ̀ láti lọ ‘He refuses to go’ (ii) reject: A kọ àbá rẹ̀ ‘We rejected his proposal’ (iii) disobey: Ìyá rẹ̀ ní kí ó lọ sùn ṣùgbọ́n ó kọ̀ ó sì lọ ń wo eré ‘Her mother told her to go to bed, but she disobeyed and went to watch the game’ (iv) decline: Ó ní kí n wá sí ilé òun ṣùgbọ́n mo kọ̀ nítorí pé iṣẹ́ pọ̀ lọ́wọ́ mi ‘He asked me to come to his house but I had to decline as I was busy’.

kú (i) to die: Ó kú ‘He died’ (ii) to amount to: Ó kú sí mẹ́rin ‘It amounted to four’ (iii) dead: Ológbò náà kú ‘The cat was dead’ (iv) go out: Iná náà kú ‘The light went out’ (v) perish: Gbogbo igi àgbàdò náà kú ‘The corn plants all perished’.

ku ‘sudenlly’: Ó kàn mí ku ‘It befell me sudenlly’.

kù (i) to remain: Ó ku mẹ́ta ‘It remains three’ (ii) to sieve: Ó ku ẹ̀lùbọ́ ‘He sieves the yam powder (iii) to rumble: Òjò ń kù ‘The sky is rumbling showing that it may rain’ (iv) to blow about (as of dust): Eruku ń kù ‘The dust is blowing about (v) outstanding: Ṣé àwọn iṣẹ́ kù tí a sì máa parí? ‘Are there any outstanding jobs at all to be finished?’ (vi) over: Bí ẹran bá kù, fún ajá ‘if there is any meat (left) over, give it to the dog’ (vii) sift: Ó ku ẹ̀lùbọ́ ‘He sifted the yam flour’ (viii) to: Agogo mẹ́sàn-án ku ìṣẹ́jú mẹ́wàá ‘It is ten minutes to nine’.

kún (i) be full: Ó kún ‘It is full’ (ii) jam: Èrò kún nínú gbọ̀ngàn náà ‘The hall was jammed full of people’ (iii) complete: Eléyìí ló jẹ́ kí ayọ̀ mi kún ‘This completes my happiness’ (iv) stuff: Bẹ́ẹ̀dì náà kún fún òwú ‘The bed was stiffed with cotton’ (v) overgrown: Oko rẹ yóò kún ‘Your garden will become overgrown’ (vi) pack: Èrò kún inú kíláàsì náà ‘People packed the classroom’ (vii) laden: Àpótí kún inú ọkọ̀ náà ‘The lorry was laden with boxes’ (viii) crowd: Ọjà ti kún jù ‘The market is much crowded’.

kun to carve: Ó kun ẹran ‘He carved up the carcass of the animal’.

kùn (i) to paint: Ó kun ilé ‘He painted the house’ (ii) to polish: Ó kun bàtà ‘He polished the shoes (iii) to grunt: Ó kùn ‘he grunted’ (iv) to rumble: Inú rẹ̀ ń kùn ‘His stomach is rumbling’ (v) to race along: Ó kùn lọ ‘He raced along’ (vi) to set fire at: Ó kun ìgbẹ́ ‘He set fire on the bush’ (vii) to powder: Ó kun àtíkè sí ojú ‘He powdered his face’ (viii) to be drowsy: Oorun ń kùn mí ‘I am feeling sleepy’ (ix) twang: Ọrún kùn, ọfà sì súfèé lọ nínú afẹ́fẹ́ ‘The bow twanged and the arrow whistled through the air’ (x) buzz: Àwọn kòkòrò náà ń kun yí yàrá po ‘The insects were buzzing around the room’ (xi) growl: Ajá náà ń kùn sí àwọn àlejò náà ‘The dog growls at the visitors’ (xii) hum: Àwọn oyin náà ń kùn ‘The bees are humming’.

Ll

lá (i) to lick:  Ó lá ọbẹ̀ ‘He licked the soup’ (ii) to dream: Ó lá àlá ‘He dreamt’ (iii) lap: Ajá náà lá omi rẹ̀ ‘The dog laps its water’.

là (i) to break: Ó là á sí méjì ‘He broke it into two’ (ii) to be rich: Ó là ‘He is rich’ (iii) to divide: Ó la ilẹ̀ ‘He divided the land’ (iv) to open: Ó la ọwọ́ rẹ̀ ‘He opens his hand’ (v) to dilute: Ó bu omi là á ‘He diluted it with water’ (vi) to dawn: Ọjọ́ là ‘The day dawned’ (vii) to mediate: Ó là wọ́n ní ìjà ‘He mediated between them: (viii) to save: Ọlọ́run là á ‘God saved him’ (ix) wade: Ó la omi kọjá ‘He waded across the river’ (x) split: A la igi náà ‘We split the wood’ (xi) spring: Mo ti la rákẹ́ẹ̀tì tẹ́níìsì mi ‘I have spring my tennis racket’ (xii) crack: Kọ́ọ̀bù tíì náà ti là ‘The tea-cup is cracked’.

lé (i) to pursue: Ó lé e ‘He pursued him’ (ii) to expel: Wọ́n lé e kúrò ní ilé-ẹ̀kọ́/Wọ́n lé e ní ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ ‘He was expelled from the school’ (iii) on/upon: Mo gbẹ́sẹ̀ lé e ‘I placed my leg on it’ (iv) to swell: Apá mi lé ‘My arms is swollen’ (v) to increase: Aṣọ mi ti lé ọ̀kan sí i ‘My clothes have increased by one’ (vi) to arranged in heaps: Ó lé iṣu ‘He arranged the yams in heaps’ (vii) to be up (as of the new moon): Oṣù lé ‘There is a new moon’ (viii) chase: Olú lé àwọn adìyẹ náà ‘Olú chased the chickens’ (ix) drive: Oògùn yìí lè lé ẹ̀fọn ‘This chemical can drive away mosquitoes’ (x) leading: Olùkọ́ náà ń lé orin ‘The teacher was leading the song’ (xi) pursue: Wọ́n lé e dé ìdí odò ‘They pursued him to the river’.

le (i) to be difficult: Iṣẹ́ yìí le ‘This task is difficult’ (ii) to be strong: Ọtí náà le ‘The liquor is strong’ (iii) to be in good health: Ara mi le ‘I am in good health’ (iv) to be hard: Igi yìí le ‘This tree is hard’ (v) to be cruel: Ọkùnrin yẹn le ‘That man is cruel’ (vi) complicate: Fífi 005 sọ 500 di púpọ̀ le púpọ̀ ‘Multiplying 005 by 500 is very complicated’ (vii) firm: Òkúta náà le ‘The rock is firm’ (ix) harsh: Olùkọ́ náà le jù ‘The teacher is very harsh’ (x) rough: Ọmọ náà le gan-an ‘The child was very rough’ (xi) severe: Olùkọ́ náà ti le jù fún akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ náà ‘The teacher is too severe on the pupil’ (xii) solid: Góòlù máa ń sáábà le ni ‘Gold is usually solid’ (xiii) stern: Bàbá rẹ̀ ti le jù ‘His father is too stern’ (xiv) stiff: Pátákó náà le ‘The board is stiff’ (xv) stiffer: Ìdánwò náà le ju bí mo ti lérò tẹ́lẹ̀ ‘The examination was stiffer than I had expected’ (xvi) strict: Tísà náà le ‘The teacher is very strict’ (xvii) tough: Àwọn sọ́jà gbọ́dọ̀ le ‘The soldiers must be tough’.

lè (i) can/may: Mo lè ṣe é ‘I can do it’ (ii) shall: kò lè di tìrẹ, tèmi ni ‘You shall not have it, it is mine’ (iii) might: Ó ní òun lè wá ‘He said he might come’ (iv) could: A lè ṣeré níbẹ̀ lánàá ṣùgbọ́n ní òní, a kò lè ṣeré níbẹ̀ nítorí pé òjò ń rọ̀, We could play there yesterday but today, we can’t because it is raining’ (vi) capable: Ó lè ṣe dáadáa nínú ìdánwò ‘He is capable of doing well in the examination’.

lẹ́ ‘to be dark’: Alẹ́ lẹ́ ‘It is dark’.

lẹ ‘to be lazy’: Ó lẹ ‘He is lazy’.

lẹ̀ (i) to paste: Ó lẹ ìwé mọ́ ògiri ‘He pasted the paper on the wall’ (ii) to be flexible: Igi yìí lẹ̀ ‘This stick is flexible’ (iii) elastic: Nǹkan tí ó lẹ̀ ni rọ́bà ‘Rubber is an elastic substance’ (iv) glue: Ó lẹ ọwọ́ kọ́ọ̀bù náà mọ́ ara kọ́ọ̀bù náà ‘She glued the handle to the cup’ (v) patch: Fi rọ́bà lẹ táyà náà ‘Patch the tyre with a rubber’ (vi) seal: Lẹ àpò ìwé náà ‘Stuck a stamp on the letter’.

ló ‘to calm down’: Ló fún ẹ̀mí rẹ (slang) ‘Cool for your temper’.

lò (i) to use: Ó lò ó ‘He used it’ (ii) to bend: Ó lò sí apá ọ̀tún ‘It bends to the right’ (iii) to have sexual intercourse with: Ó lò ó (slang) ‘He had sexual intercourse with her’ (iv) to joggle up and down: Igi náà ń lò ‘The tree is joggling up and down’ (v) play: Ó lo fáólíìnì ‘He played a violin’ (vi) spend: Ó lo wákàtí kan nínú ilé ‘He spent one hour at home’ (vii) wear: Màmá máa ń lo yẹtí nígbà gbogbo ‘Mother always wear ear-rings’ (viii) take: Mo lo oògùn náà ‘I took the medicine’ (ix) operate: Ǹjẹ́ o mọ̀ bí a ṣe ń lo ẹ̀rọ yìí? Do you know how to operate this machine?’ (x) handle: Ó kọ́ bí wọ́n ṣe ń lo ọ̀bẹ ‘He learnt how to handle a knife’ (xi) engage: Wọ́n ń lo nọ́ḿbà tẹlifòónù náà ‘The telephone number is engaged’ (xii) consume: Káà náà máa ń lo epo púpọ̀ ‘The car consumes a lot of petrol’.

lọ́ (i) to transplant: Ó lọ́ ẹ̀fọ́ ‘He transplanted the vegetable: (ii) to twist: Ó lọ́ ọ lọ́rùn ‘He twisted his neck’ (iii) to ache: (in the stomach): Inú ń lọ́ mi ‘I have stomach-ache’ (iv) to be warm: Omi náà lọ́ ‘The water is warm’ (v) to pinch: Ó lọ́ mi léèékánná ‘He pinched me’ (vi) set: Lọ́ àwọn àdòdó wẹ́wẹ́ náà ní ẹsẹ̀ bàtà kọ̀ọ̀kan sí ara wọn ‘Set the young flowers at one foot apart’ (vii) lukewarm: Omi náà lọ́ lásán ni ‘The water was only lukewarm’ (viii) wring: Ó lọ́ adìẹ náà lọ́rùn láti pa á ‘He wrung the chicken’s neck to kill it’.

lọ (i) to go: Ó lọ ‘He went’ (ii) advance: Ó ti lọ nínú ìṣirò ‘She had advanced in Arithmetic’ (iii) attend: Mo lọ sí ibi àríyá ọjọ́ ìbí rẹ̀ ‘I attended his birthday party’ (iv) bound: Ifẹ̀ ni mótò náà ń lọ ‘The car is bound for Ifẹ̀ (v) continue: Wọ́n ń kàwé lọ ‘They continue reading’ (vi) depart: Wọ́n lọ sí Ifẹ̀ ‘They departed for Ifẹ’ (vii) far: Ó dára jù mí lọ nínú àwòrán yíyà ‘He is far better than me in drawing’ (viii) head: Bọ́ọ̀sì náà ń lọ sí àárín ìlú ‘The bus is heading towards the centre of the town’ (ix) leave: Ó lọ sí ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ ‘He left for school’ (x) move: Àkókò ń lọ ‘Time moves on’ (xi) motion: O kò gbọ́dọ̀ sọ̀ kalẹ̀ nínú ọkọ̀ tó bá ṣì ń lọ ‘You must not get out of the lorry when it is in motion’ (xii) off: Ó ti lọ sí Lọ́ńdọ́ọ̀nù ‘He is off to London’ (xiii) onwards: Wọ́n ń kánjú lọ láìdúró sinmi ‘They hurried onwards without stopping to rest’ (xiv) proceed: Wọ́n rọra ń lọ ‘They proceeded slowly’ (xv) shoot: Owó ilé ti lọ sókè ‘Rentage have shot up’.

lọ̀ (i) to grind: Ó lọ ata ‘He grinds pepper’ (ii) to seek advise: Ó fi ọ̀rọ̀ náà lọ̀ ‘He sought advice on the matter’ (iii) set: Káfín-ńtà náà lọ ayùn rẹ̀ ‘The carpenter set his saw’ (iv) mill: Ẹ̀rọ titun náà tètè máa ń lọ fúláwà ‘The new machine mills flour very quickly’ (v) file: Ó ń lọ àdá rẹ̀ ‘He is filling his cutlass’ (vii) iron: Mo lọ sáàtì méjì ‘I ironed two shirts’.

lú ‘to mix’: Ó lú wọ́n mọ́ra ‘He mixed them together’.

lu (i) to pierce: Ó lu ìwé náà ‘He pierced the paper’ (ii) perforate: Wọ́n lu bébà náà ‘The paper was perforated’ (iii) leaky: Páànù tí wọ́n fi bo ilé náà lu ‘The roof of the house is leaky’ (iv) pierce: Wọ́n lu etí rẹ̀ ‘She has her ear pierced’ (v) punch: Ó lu ihò méjì sí ara agolo epo náà ‘He punched two holes in the tin of oil’ (vi) tear: Ó lu ihò sí ara aṣọ náà ‘He tore a hole in the dress’.

lù (i) to hit: Ó lù ú ‘He hits him (ii) to get into: Ó lu ìjàngbọ̀n ‘He got into trouble’ (iii) beat: Ó lu ìlù ‘He beats the drum’ (iv) whip: Ó lu ẹṣin náà ‘He whipped the horse’ (v) chime: Agogo náà lu agogo mẹ́ta ‘The clock chimed three o’clock (vi) trash: Ó lu ọmọ náà ‘He trashed the child’ (vii) smack: Ó lù ú ‘He smacked him’ (viii) ring: Agogo lù ‘The bell rang’ (ix) peal: Agogo sọ́ọ̀sì ń lù ‘The church bells were pealing’ (x) lash: Ọkụ̀nrin náà lu mààlúù náà ‘The man lashed the cow’ (ix) knock: Ó fi igi lu ejò náà lórí ‘He knocked the snake on the head with a stick’ (xii) drum: Ó fi ìka ọwọ́ rẹ̀ lu tábìlì ‘He drummed on the table with his finger’.

Mm

ḿ (i) used as a marker of progressive: Mo ḿ bá a lọ ‘I am going with him’ (ii) used as a marker of the habitual:Mo ḿ bá a lọọ̀ lójoojúmọ́ ‘I go with him everyday’.

má ‘not’: Má lọ ‘Don’t go’.

mà ‘used for emphasis’: Ó mà lọ ‘He certainly went there’.

mí (i) to breathe: Ó ń mí ‘He is breathing’ (ii) me: Ó pè mí ‘He calls me’.

mì (i) to swallow: Ó mi oògùn oníkóró ‘He swallowed the pill’ (ii) to shake: Ó ń mi igi náà ‘He is shaking the tree’ (iii) bother: Wàhálà náà kò mì mí ‘The trouble didn’t bother me’ (iv) loose: Eyín Ayọ̀ ń mì ‘Ayọ has a loose tooth’ (v) stir: Ewé Kankan kò mì ‘Not a leaf was stirring’ (vi) swag: Àwọn oníjó náà ń mì bí wọ́n ṣe dúró ‘The dancers swayed as they stood’ (vii) take: Mo mi oògùn oníkóró náà ‘I took the pill’ (viii) wave: Àwọn ewéko náà ń mì nínú atẹ́gùn ‘The plants wave in the wind’ (ix) waver: Ìpinnu rẹ̀ ń mì ‘His resolution is wavering’.

mi ‘me’: Ó rí mi ‘He saw me’.

mo ‘I’: Mo ra iṣu ‘I bought yams’.

mò ‘I’ Mò ń lọ ‘I am going’.

mọ́ (i) to be clean: Ó mọ́ ‘It is clean’ (ii) to paste: Ó fi owó mọ́ ọn níwájú órí ‘He pasted some money on his forehead’ (iii) to be well disposed towards: Inú wa mọ́ sí i ‘We are well disposed towards him’ (iv) day break: Ojú ti mọ́ ‘It is day break’ (v) to be blameless: Ara rẹ̀ mọ́ ‘He is not a suspect (vi) to treat (as of a sore): Ó mọ́ egbò apá rẹ̀ ‘He treats the sore of his arm’ (vii) is ended: Ilẹ̀ ti mọ́ olè náà  ‘The thief has been caught’ (viii) to regret: Ojú rẹ̀ ti mọ́ ‘He has regretted his action’ (ix) to be on one’s side: Ó ku ẹnìkan mọ́ mi ‘There is only one person on my side’ (x) to become: Gìdìgìdì kò mọ́là ‘To work hard does not mean that the worker will be rich’ (xi) onto: wọ́n fò mọ́ ọkọ̀ ojú irin náà ‘They jumped onto the train’ (xii) against: Ó lẹ orí rẹ̀ mọ́ ògiri ‘He hit his head against the wall’ (xiii) anymore: Kò níí wá sí ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ mọ́ ‘He won’t come to school anymore’ (xiv) neat: Kíláàsì wa mọ́ ‘Our classroom is neat’ (xv) tidy: Mo máa ń fẹ́ kí yàrá mọ́ ‘I like rooms to be tidy’ (xiv) to: Ó de ṣẹ́ẹ̀fù náà mọ́ ògiri ‘He fixed the shelf to the wall’.

mọ (i) to build: Ó mọ ilé ‘He built a house’ (ii) to make: Ó mọ ìkòkò ‘He made pottery’ (iii) limits: Bí mo ti mọ nìyí ‘This is my limitation’ (iv) mould: Wọ́n fi amọ̀ mọ orí kan ‘They mould a head out of the clay’.

mọ̀ (i) to know: Ó mọ̀ ọ́n ‘He knows it’ (ii) to appreciate: Ó mọ ara rẹ̀  lágbà ‘He appreciates that he is an elderly person’ (iii) to have sexual intercourse with: Ó mọ ìyàwó rẹ̀ (usage restricted to the bible) ‘He had sexual intercourse with his wife’ (iv) proficient: Ó mọ fọ́tò ó yà ‘She is proficient at taking photographs’ (v) meet: Mà á fẹ́ mọ olùkọ́ rẹ ‘I would like to meet your teacher’ (vi) identify: Mo ti mọ ọkùnrin tí ó kọ ìwé náà – Olú ni ‘I have identified the man who wrote the letter – it is Olú (vii) find: A mọ ọ̀nà débí láìní ìṣòro ‘We found our way here without difficult’ (viii) conscious: Mo mọ̀ pé ó ń wò mí ‘I was conscious that he was looking at me’ (ix) certain: Mo mọ̀ (ó dá mi lójú) pé ó ní kí n wá ‘I am certain he told me to come’ (x) aware: N kò mọ̀ pé òjò ń rọ̀ ‘I was not aware that it was raining’ (xi) absorb: N kò tíì mọ gbogbo òfin wọn ‘I have not absorbed all their rules’.

mú (i) to take: Ó mú un ‘He took it’ (ii) to be sharp: Ọ̀bẹ náà mú ‘The knife is sharp’ (iii) to cause to do something: Ó mú mi wálé ‘He caused my coming home (i.e ‘He brought me home’) (iv) to take effect: Òtútù mú mi ‘I feel too cold (i.e ‘The cold is having an effect on me’ (v) to avenge: Orí mi ti mú un ‘The wrong done to me has been avenged’ (vi) to buy: Èló ni ẹ mú aṣọ yìí? How much did you buy this cloth?’ (vii) to accuse: Ó mú mi lólè ‘He accused me of stealing’ (viii) arrest: Ọlọ́pàá mú olè náà ‘The police arrested the robber’ (ix) feel: Òtútù mú mi ̀’I feel cold’ (x) fix: A ti mú ọjọ́ ìkórè wa ‘We have fixed a date for our harvest’ (xi) get: Mo mú ìwé mi jáde ‘I got out my book’ (xii) hold: Ó mú ìwé dání ‘He was holding a book in his hand’ (xiii) keep: N kò fẹ́ ìwé yẹn, máa mú un ‘I don’t want that book, keep it’ (xiv) lead to: Títì náà mú wa dé ilé Ayọ ‘The road led to Ayo’s house’. (xv) make: Ó mú mi mu omi ‘He made me drink water’ (xvi) pick: Mú fìlà rẹ ‘Pick up your hat’ (xvii) pipe: Ó mú omi (ẹ̀rọ) wọ ilé ‘He piped water into the house’ (xvii) spot: Ó mú ẹni tí ó borí nínú eré ìje náà ‘He spotted the winner of the race’.

mu (i) to drink: Ó mu omi ‘He drank water’ (ii) to smoke: Ó mu sìgá ‘He smokes cigarettes’ (iii) to suck: Ọmọ náà mu ọyàn ìyá rẹ̀ ‘The baby sucks her mother’s breast’ (iv) to damage: Ikán mu igi náà ‘The white ants damaged the tree’ (v) to use (as of powdered tobacco): Ó mu tábà ‘He uses powdered tobacco’ (vi) take: Kọfí lo máa mu àbí tíì? ‘Will you take tea or coffee?’.

mù to be hidden: Ó mù sí abẹ́ igbó ‘He hid under the bush’.

Nn

ń (i) used as a marker of the progressive: Mo ń lọ síbẹ̀ ‘I am going there’, (ii) used as a marker of the habitual: Mo ń lọ sílé-ẹ̀kọ́ lójoojúmọ́ ‘I go to school everyday;.

n ‘I’: N kò lọ ‘I didn’t go’.

ǹ ‘negator’: N ǹ lọ ‘I didn’t go’.

ná (i) to spend: Ó ná owó rẹ̀ ‘He spend his money’ (ii) to bargain: Ó ná ọjà ‘He bargained for the good’ (iii) to go to market: Ó ń nájà Mọ́kọ́lá ‘She goes to trade at Mọ́kọ́lá market’ (iv) first: Mo gbọ́dọ̀ parí iṣẹ́ yìí ná ‘I must finish this work first’

nà (i) to hit: Ó nà mí ‘He hit me’ (ii) to stretch out: Ó nà án ‘He stretch it out’ (iii) to point to: Ó na ìka sí mi ‘He pointed his finger at me’ (iv) to point out/to raise: Ó na ìka sí òkè ‘He raised his finger up’ (v) defeat: A nà wọ́n lẹ́ẹ̀mẹ́ta ‘We defeat them in three sets’ (vi) beating: Wọ́n nà án ‘He was given a beating’ (vii) cane: Wọ́n na ọmọ náà nítorí pé ó pẹ́ dé ilé-ẹ̀kọ́ ‘The boy was canned for coming late to school;(viii) reach out: Ó na ọwọ́ láti mú ìgò náà ‘He reached his hand out for the bottle’ (ix) smack: Ó nà án ‘He smacked him’ (x) spread: Ẹyẹ náà na ìyẹ́ rẹ̀ ‘The bird spreads its wing’ (xi) strike: Mo fi igi mi nà án ‘I struck him with my stick’ (xii) trash: Ó na ọmọ náà ‘He thrashed the child’ (xiii) turn: Ó na àwọn ọmọ ìka ẹsẹ̀ rẹ̀ síta ‘He turned his toes out’ (xiv) whip: Ó na eṣin náà ‘He whipped the horse’.

ní (i) to have: Ó ní owó ‘He has money’ (ii) to say: Ó ní òun ń bọ̀ ‘He says he is coming’ (iii) to/at: Ó wà ní ilé ‘He is at home’ (iv) to be collective: Ní akọ, ní abo ‘Both male and female’ (v) one after the other: Ó ń kà á ní ení ní èjì ‘He is counting them in ones and twos’ (vi) state: Ó ní òun ti ra ìwé ‘He stated that he had bought the book’ (vii) remark: Ó ní, ‘Ibẹ̀ yẹn ni Olú ń gbé’ ‘That is where Olú lives’, she remarked’ (viii) per: Wọ́n máa ń ṣiṣẹ́ fún wákàtí kan ní ojúmọ́ ‘They used to work for one hour per day’ (ix) observe: Tíṣà náà ní, ‘Kíláàsí yìí dọ̀tí’ ‘This class is dirty’, the teacher observed (x) in: Ó wà ní ọjà ‘He is in the market’ (xii) get: Mo ní ajá ‘I have got a dog’ (xiii) claim: Ó ní òun pa kìnìún ‘He claimed to have killed a lion’ (xiv) acquire: Jọ̀ọ́nù ní ìmọ̀ Yorùbá nípa kíkàwé kárakára ‘John acquired his knowledge of Yorùbá by studying  hard’.

ni (i) to own: Òun ló ni owó ‘He is the one who owns the money’ (ii) to be uncomfortable: Ara ń ni mí ‘I am feeling uncomfortable: (iii) to be: Olú ni ‘It is Olú’ (iv) abbreviation for ‘ẹni’ (Somebody/a person): Bíná bá jóni ‘If fire burns one’ (v) us: Ó rí ni ‘He saw us’ (vi) possess: Gbogbo nǹkan tí ó ní ni ó sọnù ‘He lost all he possessed’ (vii) am: Tísà ni mí ‘I am a teacher’ (viii) are: Òjó àti Adé ni ẹ̀gbọ́n Délé lọ́kùnrin ‘Òjó and Adé are Dele’s senior brothers’ (ix) is: Ọ̀rẹ́ Pítà ni ‘He is Peter’s friend’ (x) was: Olùkọ́ ni mí ‘I was a teacher’.

nú: ‘to augment’ Ó fi iṣẹ́ ọjà títà nú iṣẹ́ tíṣà ‘He augmented his teaching job with trading (because of poor pay).

nù: (i) to clean: Ó nu ara ògiri ‘He clean the wall’ (ii) to get lost: Ó ń wá àgùntàn rẹ̀ tí ó nù ‘He is looking for his lost sheep (iii) ti wipe: Ó nu ojú rẹ̀ nù ‘He wiped his face’ (v) rub: Ó fi aṣọ nu bàtà rẹ̀ ‘She rubbed his shoes with a cloth’ (vi) away: Má ju ìwé rẹ nù. ‘Don’t throw away your book’

Oo

ó (i) it/her/him: Ó so ó ‘He tied it/ him/her’ (ii) Olú rà á “Olú will buy it’ (iii) he: Ó gbé báàgì náà ‘He picked up the bag’ (iv) it: Ó wà ní yàrá mi ‘It is in my room’ (v) shall: N ó wá ‘I shall come’ (vi) she: Ó lọ síbẹ̀ ‘She went there’ (viii) sure Òjò ó rọ̀ lọ́la ‘It is sure to rain tomorrow’.

o (i) it/him/her: Ajá gbó o ‘The dog barked at him/her/it’ (ii) used as a prefix to form nouns from verb phrases: gbó ‘to be old’, ogbó ‘old age’.

ò (i) used for emphasis: Ó lò ó ò ‘He surely used it’ (ii) negator: Olú ò rà á ‘Olú did not buy it’ (iii) used as a prefix to form nouns from verb phrases: ṣeré ‘to play’, ‘òṣèré ‘actor’.

Ọọ

ọ́ (i) it/him/her: Ó gọ̀ ọ́ ‘He deceived it/him/her’ (ii) future maker: Olú ọ́ lọ ‘Olú will go’.

ọ (i) it/him/her: Ó bọ́ ọ ‘He fed it/him/her’ (ii) used as a prefix to form nouns from verb phrases: gbọ́n ‘to be wise’, ọgbọ́n ‘wisdom’.

ọ̀ (i) used for emphasis: Ó fọ̀ ọ́ ọ̀ ‘He surely washed it’ (ii) negator: Olú ọ̀ lọ ‘Olú did not go’ (iii) used as a prefix to form nouns from verb phrases: lẹ ‘to ba lazy’, ọ̀lẹ ‘a lazy person’.

ọ́n ‘it/him/her’: Ó pọ̀n ọ́n ‘She put it/her/him on her       back’.

ọn ‘it/him/her’: Ó pọ́n ọn ‘She wrapped it’.

ọ̀n (i) used for emphasis: Ó pọ́n ọn ọ̀n ‘She surely   wrapped it’ (iii) negator: Wọn ọ̀n lọ ‘They did not      go’.

Pp

pá ‘to be bald’ Ó pá lórí ‘He is bald’.

pa (i) kill: Ó pa ejò náà ‘He killed the snake’ (ii) to relate: Ó pàlọ́ fún mi ‘He told me a riddle’ (iii) to rub: Mo fi epo pa ọwọ́  ‘I rubbed my hand with oil’ (iv) to be hungry: Ebi ń pa á ‘He is hungry’ (v) to be in the rain or in the sun: Òjò ń pa á ‘It is raining on him’ (vi) to be silent: Wọ́ pa rọ́rọ́ ‘There was complete silence’ (vii) to make (noise): Wọ́n ń pa ariwo ‘They are making noise’ (viii) to be drunk: Ọtí ń pa á ‘He is drunk’ (ix) to be wounded: Ó ti fi ara pa ‘He  has been wounded’ (x) to hatch: Adìẹ náà ti pamọ ‘The hen has hatched the chicken’ (xi) to cut open: Ó pa obì ‘He cut open the kolanut’ (xii) to make sales: Ó pa owó díẹ̀ lónìí ‘She makes a little sales today’ (xiii) to fight fiercely: Wọ́n fi ìjà pa ẹẹ́ta ‘They fought fiercely’ (xiv) to heal: Wọ́n pa ọgbẹ́ náà ‘They healed the wound’ (xv) to cut: Wọ́n pa ìgbẹ́ ‘They cut down the forest’ (xvi) to stop: Wọ́n pa ìlù ‘They stopped drumming’ (xvii) to give: Ó pa àṣẹ ‘He gaves an order’ (xix) to shell: Wọ́n pa èkùrọ́ ‘They shelled palmnuts’ (xx) set: Ó pa ariwo ‘He set up a yell’ (xxi) execute: Wọ́n pa ọkùnrin tí ó pa Olú ‘The man who killed Olú was executed’ (xxii) extinguish: Wọ́n pa iná náà ‘They extinguished the fire’ (xxiii) hatch: Adìẹ náà ti pa ọmọ ‘The hen has hatched the chicken’ (xxiv) lash: Òjò pa wá lójú ‘The rain lashes our eyes’ (xxv) massacre: Wọ́n pa àwọn obìnrin àti àwọn ọmọdé inú ìlú náà ‘They massacred the women and children of the town’ (xxvi) murder: Ọkùnrin náà pa ìyàwó rẹ̀ ‘The man murdered his wife’ (xxvii) shot: wọ́n pa sọ́jà náà fún sísá tí ó sá ‘The soldier was shot for desertion’ (xxviii) stamp: Ó pa iná náà ‘He stamped the fire’ (xxix) switch: Pa iná ‘Switch off the light’ (xxx) thresh: Ó pa ọkà ‘He threshed the corn’ (xxxi) turn: Pa iná ‘Turn off the light’ (xxxii) whip: Òjò ń pa fèrèsé náà ‘The rain was whipping the window’.

pé (i) to assemble: Wọ́n pé ‘They assemble’ (ii) to say: Ó pé òun ń bọ̀ ‘He says he is coming (iii) that: Ó rò pé òun á wá ‘He thinks that he will come’ (iv) to be accurate: Ó pé ‘It is correct’; Ogún ọdún ti pé ‘It is already twenty years’ (v) to be rewarding: Iṣẹ́ mi pé ‘My work is rewarding’ (vi) pay: Ọ̀ṣìn àgùntàn pé ‘Sheep farming pays’ (vii) state: Ó pé òun ti ra ìwé náà ‘He stated that he had bought the book’ (viii) collect: Àwọn èrò ti pé láti wo eré náà ‘A crowd of people had collected to watch the play’.

pè (i) to call: Wọ́n pè é ‘They called him’ (ii) address: Rańdà ni a máa ń pe àbúrò wa ọkùnrin ‘We addressed our junior brother as Randa’ (iii) dictate: Tíṣà náà pe àwọn ọ̀rọ̀ kan fún àwọn akẹ́kọ̀ọ́ láti kọ ‘The teacher dictated some words for the students to write’ (iv) invite: Ó pè wá sí ìpàdé náà  ‘He invited us to the meeting’ (v) pronounce: Ó ṣi orúkọ mi pè ‘He pronounced my name wrongly’ (vi) ring: Mo pe Olú (lórí fóònù) ‘I rang Olú’ (viii) summon: Ó pe mínísítà rẹ̀ ‘He summoned his minister’.

pẹ́ (i) to be late: Ó pẹ́ ‘He was late’ (ii) to avoid: Ó pẹ́ ẹ sílẹ̀ ‘He avoided it’ (iii) to last: Kò lè pẹ́ ‘It cannot last’ (iv) tardy: Ó pẹ́ kí ó tó wá ran àwọn ọmọ náà lọ́wọ́ ‘He was tardy offering help to the children’ (v) most: Ó pẹ́ tán, yóò gbà ọ́ ní wákàtí kan láti dé Ìbàdàn láti Ifẹ̀ ‘At the very most, it will take you an hour to get to Ìbàdàn from Ifẹ̀’ (vi) long: Ṣé o máa pẹ́? ‘Will you be long?’.

pín (i) to divide: Ó pín in sí méjì ‘He divided it into two’ (ii) distribute: Ó pín ìwé fún wọn ‘He distributed the books among them’ (iii) group: Wọ́n pín wọn yí olùkọ́ wọn ká ‘They grouped them round their teacher’ (iv) share out: Pín ọgọ́rùn-ún náìrà fún ènìyàn márùn-ún ‘Share out N100 among five people’ (v) split: A pín iṣẹ́ náà  ní àárín ara wa’ We splited up the work between us’.

pin to stop/to come to an end: Ọ̀nà náà pin ‘The road got to an end’.

pó a type of sound: Enu mi ró po ‘My mouth makes the sound ‘pó’.

po run: Ògiri náà yí abúlé náà po ‘The wall runs round the village’.

pò (i) to mix: Ó bu mílíìkì sínú tíì, ó po méjèèjì pọ̀ ‘He pour some milk into the tea and mixed the two together’ (ii) beat: Ó po ẹyin nínú mílíìkì ‘She beats eggs in the milk’ (iii) brew: Ó po tíì ‘He brewed tea’ (iv) stir: Ó po tíì rẹ̀ ‘He stirred his tea’.

pọ́ (i) to inflate: Ó pọ́ táyà kẹ̀kẹ́ ‘He inflated the bicycle’s tyre’ (ii) to squeeze: Ó pọ́ wọlé ‘He squeezed himself into the house’ (iii) wriggle: Ó pọ́ kọjá nínú ọgbà tí wọ́n fi okùn dì ‘He wriggled through the thick hedge’ (iv) pump: Pọ́ táyà náà ‘Pump the tyre’

pọ̀ (i) many: Àwọn ènìyàn náà pọ̀ ‘The people are many’ (ii) to vomit: Ó pọ̀ sílẹ̀ ‘He vomited on the ground’ (iii) to be cheap: Iṣu pọ̀ lọ́jà ‘Yams are cheap in the market’ (iv) abundant: Àgbàdo pọ̀ ní ọdún tí ó kọjá ‘Maize was abundant last year’ (v) cheaper: Kẹ̀kẹ́ pọ̀ ju káà lọ ‘A bicycle was cheaper than a car’ (vi) common: Ọ̀pẹ́ pọ̀ ní Nàìjíríà ‘Palm trees are common in Nigeria’ (vii) excessive: Iye tí o pe àga yẹn pọ̀, n kò lè san owó tí ó tó ìyẹn ‘The price of that chair is excessive, I can’t pay that much’ (viii) heavy: Òjò náà pọ̀ púpọ̀ ‘The rain was very heavy’ (ix) mount up: Ìnáwó wa ń pọ̀ sí i ‘Our expenses are mounting up’ (x) plenty: Koríko pọ̀ ní ìlú wa ‘The grass is plentiful in our town’ (xi) spit: Ọmọ náà pọ gbogbo oúnjẹ rẹ̀ sí orí tábìlì ‘The baby spat his food all over the table’ (xii) together: Mo lẹ àwọn bébà méjèèjì pọ̀ ‘I stuck the two paper together’.

pọ́n (i) to flatter: Ó pọ́n ọn ‘He flattered him’ (ii) to be red: Ó pọ́n ‘It is red’ (iii) to sharpen: Ó pọ́n ọn ‘He sharpened it’ (iv) to wrap: Ó pọ́n ọn léwé ‘He used leaves to wrap it’ (v) to climb: Ó pọ́n igi ‘He climbed the tree’ (vi) to be dirty: Aṣọ náà pọ́n ‘The cloth is dirty’ (vii) to be poor: Ojú ń pọ́n ọn ‘He is poor’ (viii) ripe: Àwọn máńgò náà ń pọ́n ‘The mangoes were ripening’ (ix) modify: Ó fi ọ̀rọ̀-àpọ́nlé pọ́n ọ̀rọ̀-ìṣe  ‘He modified a verb with an adverb’ (x) file: Ó pọ́n àdá náà ‘He is filing the cutlass’.

pọn (i) to brew: Ó pọn ọtí ‘He brewed beer’ (ii) to draw: Ó pọn omi láti inú odò ‘He drew water from a stream’ (iii) distil: Wọ́n pọn ọtí ‘They distilled alcoholic drinks’ (iv) fetch: Ó pọn péèlì omi kan láti inú odò ‘He fetched a bucket of water from the river’ (v) fill: Ó pọn omi sí inú péèlì náà ‘He filled the bucket with water’ (vi) pump: Ó pọn omi sínú dúrọ́ọ̀mù ‘She pumped water into the drum’.

pọ̀n (i) to mount: Ó pọ̀n sí i lẹ́yìn ‘He mounted on his back’ (ii) to proceed: Wọ́n mú ọ̀nà pọ̀n ‘They continue on their journey’.