Yoruba Pronouns and its Usages (L2)

Vocabulary                      

come – wá

eat – jẹ/jẹun

know – mọ̀

write – kọ; kọ̀wé

read – kà; kàwé

clap – pàtẹ́wọ́

bring – mú….wá

to leave – fi……sílẹ̀

sleep – sùn

The 1st and 2nd Sets of Yoruba Pronouns

         Pronoun                                   Usage

(i)     I – Mo or Èmi                          e.g. I sleep - Mo sùn

(ii)    You - O or Ìwọ                        e.g. You sleep - O sùn

(iii)   He/She/It – Ó or Òun      e.g. He/She/It sleep - Ó   sùn

IV)    They – Wọn or Àwọn          e.g. They sleep - Wọn sùn

(v) We – A or Àwa                 e.g. We sleep - A sùn

(IV)  You (plural) - Ẹ or Ẹ̀yin         e.g. You sleep - Ẹ sùn.

Different Instances of Using Yoruba Pronouns

i    When Laying Emphasis on Person/s.

For instance:        

       I am – Èmi ni

You are - Ìwọ ni.

They are - Àwọn ni

We are - Àwa ni

She/He - Òun ni

You {plural} are - Ẹ̀̀yin ni

It is Meg – Mẹgi ni

ii. Making a Negative Statement.

      I am not or - Èmi kọ́.

You are not or It is not you – Ìwọ kọ́.

They are not or It is not they –  Àwọn kọ́. 

Bonnke is not or It is not Bonnke – Bonnke kọ́.

iii.  Introducing Oneself or a Thing.     

I am Francis - Èmi ni Francis

I am not Gerald - Èmi kọ́ ni Gerald.

    He is not Usman - Òun kọ́ ni Usman

    We are Chinwe and Silvia – Àwa ni Chinwe àti Silvia.

  ETC

In summary, these pronouns have two forms each:

I - Mo or Èmi

You - O or Ìwọ

They - Wọn or Àwọn

We - A or Àwa

He/She/It - Ò or Òun

 You [pl.] = Ẹ, or Ẹ̀yin

Èmi, Ìwọ, Àwọn, Àwa, Òun, Ẹ̀̀yin are also known as Pronominals.

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By Dr Adedamola Israel Olofa