Words That Are Both Yoruba and English

I was just reminiscing on one or two things till this particular thought came on board, how sure are we that these English people did not borrow our language to write theirs? Just thinking aloud though….lolzzz… but really it’s funny and yet interesting to see some English words that are perfectly Yoruba words.

Now let’s check-out this enlisted words that are both English and also Yoruba….

Abbey – yeah! You got it right it’s a short form of writing the Yoruba name Abiodun… but the fun of it is, it’s also an English word meaning a church where group of nuns and monks live.

Ado – ok…let me pour out what’s actually on your mind….Ado Ekiti….lolzzz….well in Yoruba Ado is a small plants that looks like a calabash use in traditional setting as amulet (charms). … But in English language it means immediately!

Ale- Ekale ooo….lolzzz…. oh yeah, ale in Yoruba language means two specific thing, ale could either mean night or it means concubine (lol) but in English language it means something totally different, it means beer.

Ago – in Yoruba, ago means wrist watch or time and sometimes it’s referred to as bell, also it could mean cage in Yoruba. But the funniest and interesting thing is that even in English language, ago also means time BUT in it past tense…hmmmmm

ago

Aye – hmmmmm…. Aye ooo…#mouthsealed#... Anyways aye in yoruba simply means the WORLD, but if you know another thing they call that one, no be for my mouth you go hear say monkey like banana. But in English, it means YES, or ALWAYS! Aye captain, if you’re a fan of sponge bob #winks

Akin – omo akin! Well it’s a Yoruba name given to a male child who is brave. But English language it means SIMILAR

Are – ok, I know many of would have been hearing of this most especially during the Yoruba news, Are Olusegun Obasanjo, Are Muhammadu Buhari, ok are in Yoruba language simply means the PRESIDENT. But in English word, it means present indicative plural and second person singular of be.

Aria – In Yoruba language it simply means celebration, it could also be spelt as ARIYA. But in English word it simply means a song with one voice just like opera.

Awe – it means young man most times when you want to call their attention, and also it’s a short form of a name eg. waleAWE, AWElewa. But in English word, it means a feeling of impressiveness.

Bade – in Yoruba, it’s the short form of a name like BADEjo. In English word, it’s the past tense of Bid.

Bale – hey I don’t mean Gareth Bale o (lolzz) in Yoruba it means two major things depending on the placement of the sound marks, it means the head of a small village after the Oba (king), while the second meaning is the head or the breadwinner of the house. But in English word, it means a large amount of light materials pressed together and tied up.

Banjo – it’s a Yoruba name for a male child AdeBANJO, olaBANJO. But in English word it’s a musical instrument like a guitar.

Bode – this is also a Yoruba name for a male child. In English language it means to be a good/bad sign for somebody/something

Bole – this in Yoruba is what is called oro ise (verb), it means COME DOWN, or ALIGHT. But in English word it means the main stem of a tree (trunk).

Bimbo – this is a unisex name but mostly given to females in the Yorubaland. But in English language, it means a young woman who is sexually attractive but not very intelligent….lolzzz….are you pondering what I’m pondering (in BRAIN’s tone #if you’re a fan of pinky and the brain) but sha, my mouth is sealed! Lolzzz….

Bosun – it’s a Yoruba name given to a male child, short form of olatunBOSUN. But in English language it means an officer on a ship whose job is to take care of the equipment and the people working on the ship.

Dada – Hmmm…. Dada olowo eyo! Dada is simply a name given to child who is born with natural dreadlock. While in English language, it means a movement in art and literature, music and film.

dada

Dare – this is also a Yoruba name given to male child, short form of oluwaDARE. But in English word it means to be brave enough to do something.

Dike – most times Yorubas call it dike-dike, someone that his work is to patch punctured buckets or bowls. In English word it simply means a Ditch.

Dope – its Yoruba family name, eg DOPEmu. While in English language it means a drug like cannabis that enhances performance. Sometimes it is used to refer to something that is great or outstanding.

Dupe – it’s a Yoruba name given to female child which means thank God. It’s short form of moDUPEola. But in English word it means to trick or cheat someone of their belongings.

Desire – ok, this one really caught me…lolzz…in Yoruba, it’s a name given to mostly a female child. But in English, it means a strong wish to do something.

Ere – in Yoruba, it means play or a statue. But in English, it’s a literary word meaning BEFORE.

Eke – oh yeah ereke ni shobu. Lolzz…in Yoruba language it simply means cheek. Also it means false witness bearer. But in English language, it means to make a small supply of something either food or money.

Emu – if you are karid then this word shouldn’t occur twice on your mind, oh yeah! In Yoruba it means PALM-WINE. In English language, it’s a large bird that can run fast but cannot fly.

Eye – in Yoruba, of course it means BIRD….dazz all oo…but if you know another thing no be me talk am o. but in English language, of course we know it’s that body organ among the six sense organs we use for seeing.

eye

Ewe – this means INFANTS or LEAF in Yorubaland. But in English language, it means a female sheep.

Fade – it’s a Yoruba name given to a female child, short form of FADEke, FADErera. But in English language, it means to make something less bright.

File – file! When you hear that of course you know the musician…lolzzz… this is a Yoruba verb which means leave it. But in English it’s a small piece of card for keeping loose papers or documents.

Ire – in Yoruba, it means good-tidings. It’s a short form of IREoluwa. But in English language, it means anger.

Jade – in Yoruba language it means to go out or you can use it in an angry mode to tell someone to GET OUT! Also it’s a short form of Yoruba name JADEsola. But in English language, it means a hard stone used for making jewellery.

Joke – this is among the words that has over years caught my eyes, it’s a Yoruba name given to female child, which means to take care of something together. Short form of aJOKE, adeJOKE. But in English language it means something that is said to make people laugh.

Kike – this means to pamper, it’s a name given to a female child in the Yorubaland, it’s short form of KIKElomo. But in English language, it’s an offensive word for Jews.

 

Obey – no need to go deep it’s a name that we all are familiar with, Chief-Commander Ebenezer Obey, well obey is a Yoruba family name,but I don’t think people still give their kids such names though in this 21st century. But in English language, Obey means to do what one is being told.

Obi – in Yoruba, it means kolanut or parent(s). But in English language, it’s a piece of cloth worn by women.

obi

Ode – hahahah! Understand….well I guess this the commonest abusive word in yoruba. In case of those of you who doesn’t know/understand what we are talking about, ode in Yoruba means a moron or stupid person. Also it could mean hunter. But in English literature, it’s a type or form of a poem.

Ole – thief ole carry am go! Well ole in Yoruba means thief. Also it can mean lazy man. But in English, it’s an old form of saying old.

Ore – it has two constant meaning in the Yoruba dialect, first, it could mean grace, second, it coud mean friend. But in English, it means rocks from where metal could be obtained.

Owe – in Yoruba, this simply means proverb. But in English word, it means when you’re indebted to someone.

Rise – in Yoruba its like a verb word which means when you’re well-to-do or when you’ve found a job. But its totally different in English word, it means an increment in the height of a particular thing or person.

Shade – oh yeah! When you see or hear this name, the first place your mind go is Adekunle Gold…lolzzz (abi I lie). Well shade in Yoruba is name given to female child. Short form of folaSHADE. But in English word, it simply means an area that is cool under a particular thing, either a tree or canopy.

Sole – lolzzzz… if you’re a student who school in another state, and you tell me you don’t know sole, hmmmmm….issokay…anyways sole in Yoruba simply means a cheap roadside transport. It could also mean throw it down…. Wait oo…I just remembered another thing they call sole… Lolzzz oh yeah rat-killer! Hahahahah! But in English, Sole means single or one.

Sure – this in Yoruba dialect means to bless someone with prophetic words. But in English language it means something that is definite with certainty.

Sun – this is an action word in Yoruba language, which means to sleep, or it could be used as a form of request when you’re demanding someone you’re sitting down together with to adjust or shift a little bit for you. But in English language, it means something totally different that we all know, the star that shines during the day and gives the earth heat and light.

Wipe – this word in Yoruba is like a verb, it means to say. But in English language, it means to rub something against something to make it clean or smooth.

Were – lolzzz….oh yeah! Don’t say it, I know what’s on your mind. Well this in Yoruba language means mad person! Lolzzz…and it could also mean when you do or achieve something with ease. But in English language, it means something totally different, its second person singular, plural past and past subjunctive of be.

were

After all these….hmmmm….are you sure no be from us this oyinbo people took out some of their words? ….lolzzz… but anyways if there are any others that you know of, you can add! #winks

And HAPPY EASTER to you all once again! At least the long holiday is over now!

Happy resumption back to work! Lolzzz