Language
Ede Yoruba
The Yoruba language is a Niger-Congo language spoken by approximately 50 million people. It is a tonal language rich in proverbs, oral literature, and a rapidly growing written tradition.
Language Entries
Table of Contents
The Tonal System
Yoruba uses three level tones — high, mid, and low — to distinguish meaning. The same sequence of consonants and vowels can mean entirely different things based on tone alone.
Standard Yoruba
The literary standard form of the language, based primarily on the Oyo and Ibadan dialects, used in education, media, and formal contexts.
Yoruba Alphabet & Orthography
The Latin-based writing system with 25 letters, including the special characters unique to Yoruba, and the use of diacritical marks for tone.
Dialects & Variations
From Ekiti to Ijebu, Ondo to Oyo, the major dialectal groups of the Yoruba language family and how they relate to one another.
Grammar & Syntax
The Subject–Verb–Object word order, serial verb constructions, and the fascinating grammatical features of Yoruba.