Adeolu Ademoyo

100 Yoruba Verbs

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100 YORUBA VERBS

1. K-To read-used with the object being read.

2. Kw-to study-used without the object of study.

3. L-to go.

4. L s-to go to

5. Jk-to sit down.

6. Dd-to stand up.

7. J-to eat-used with the food being eaten.

8. Jun-to eat food-used without the food being eaten.

9. Y-to be full /or satisRied after eating

10. M-to drink.

11. Mm-to drink water.

12. Wl-enter.

13. Jd-go out/ can also be an imperative-get out.

14. M-to know.

15. R-to think

16. R p-to think that

17. Rn- to meditate/to think /reRlect deeply including introspection etc.

18. Gbgb-to forget.

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19. Rnt-To remember.

20. Krn-To sing

21. F-want.

22. F-to marry or a process of dating. For example Mo n f Iyab = I

am dating Iyab

23. Frn-to like.

24. Nif-to be in love.

25. Gbyw-marry-This is serial verb that breaks into two in use when
the female being talked about is mentioned in the sentence. For ex-
ample (i) Mo gbeyawo lanaa = I married yesterday (ii) Mo gbe
Ngozi niyawo = I married Ngozi.

26. Rnlw-assist/help-Another example of a serial verb that breaks into

two in a sentence. For example: Mo ran mama mi lw=I helped
my mother.

27. pjw-to describe.

28. ly-To explain.

29. pr-Illustrate-

30. tn-correct.

31. ywo-examine

32. wd-research.

33. Fn pr-For example.

34. P-To pronounce.

35. S-To say.

36. Sfn-To tell.

37. Sr-To talk.

38. Rrnn-To laugh.

39. Rrnn ms-to smile.

40. y m-I understand it.

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41. K y m-I do not understand it.

42. r/r-play(general).

43. Sr-To run.

44. Rn-To walk.

45. Gb-to hit.

46. Gb bl-to play ball.

47. Sn-to sleep.

48. J-to wake up.

49. J-To steal-used when the stolen object is present.

50. Jl-To steal-used when the stolen object is not present in the sen-
tence.

51. J-to fight.

52. Jb-to be guilty

53. Gb-take/receive-when someone is giving something out to another.

The person giving it out can stretch out his/her hand and say Gb.

54. Gb -Got it right.

55. M-Pick.

56. F-wash.

57. Fyn-brush the teeth.

58. F-to wash clothe.

59. F-To wash clothe.

60. Fb-to wash the dishes.

61. Fb-to wash the dishes.

62. W-to bathe.

63. Gbal-to sweep the floor/to vacuum the floor.

64. S-to cook.

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65. Dn-to fry.

66. Pn-to divide.

67. B-to dish something out in this context food- Bu ounj-Dish Food.

68. D-to pour something-For example water-D omi =Pour water.

69. D-again to divide.

70. G-to cut.

71. F-to pull.

72. T-to sell.

73. R-to buy.

74. Snw-to pay money.

75. Sn-To pay.

76. N gbe-to be living somewhere.

77. Gb-To carry.

78. r mi y- I am ill/sick.

79. Mo n r- I am sick/ill.

80. tt n mu mi-I am feeling/catching cold.

81. r n mu mi-I am hot/I am feeling hot/heat.

82. j n r-Rain is falling.

83. D- arrive.

84. W-come (an imperative).

85. W b-Come here.

86. W-locative verb- for something to be /to exist/to be located some-

where.

87. Sn-shift.

88. M-to breathe.

89. R-to see.

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90. W-to watch/look.

91. K-to greet.

92. Br-To ask.

93. Br lw- ask someone X./ask from X.

94. Dhn-answer.

95. Dalhn-answer him/her- a serial verb that breaks into two in use . This
depends on the sentence. For example Da y lhn =Answer Ay.

96. lt n_Is it true?

97. Lt ni-It is true.

98. B ni-Yes.

99. B k-No , not true.

100.dp/ O -Thanks.

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