Glossary
Alphabetical glossary of Yorùbá terms used across the corpus, each with diacritics, a literal gloss where one is documented, a plain definition, and the section that treats it fully.
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Alphabetical glossary of Yorùbá terms used across the corpus, each with diacritics, a literal gloss where one is documented, a plain definition, and the section that treats it fully.
The Yorùbá wey dem quote, the proverbs, oríkì, ẹsẹ Ifá, word list headwords, Odù names and citations dey exactly as the corpus record dem, for every language.
Every Yorùbá term wey dey inside this whole work, dem arrange am according to alphabet, with full tone marks, direct meaning where the word origin dey documented, simple definition wey plain, and direction to the section wey treat am well.
How to read an entry. The main word get the diacritics. The phrase inside bracket na the direct meaning, wey dey show wetin the Yorùbá words actually talk before dem polish the meaning. Where dem suggest the origin of word but e never dey confirmed, dem mark am (etymology contested). Where different sources or regions dey use one term differently, dem note am. The name of the section wey dey end of entry na where to go to see the full explanation.
Alphabetisation. Dem arrange the entries by their base letters without checking tone marks, and letters wey get dot underneath dey beside their normal partners, so ẹbọ dey under E and ọ̀run under O. Dem do this one make e easy for reader, no be the kind arrangement wey Yorùbá dictionary go use.
On glosses. Yorùbá na tonal language wey dey join plenty words together, and many words get more than one sensible way wey person fit break dem down. Where meaning dey wey pipu dey repeat well well but e never sure, this glossary talk am instead of presenting common story as fact. Dem treat Yorùbá word origin well inside the language section .
Abẹ́òkúta (under the rock). City wey Ẹ̀gbá refugees under Ṣódẹkẹ́ start around 1830 during the nineteenth-century wars, and na early centre for missionary work and Yorùbá print. History.
àbíkú (one born to die). Pikin wey dem understand say dey born repeatedly to the same mama and dey die as baby each time, wey dey return instead of being new person. Na concept wey get e own naming style, ritual, and poetry, and na subject inside Yorùbá literature. Cosmology, social, language.
àbọ̀rú, àbọ̀yè (may the sacrifice be accepted, may the sacrifice bring life). The greeting wey dem dey exchange with babaláwo, wey dey call on the power of ẹbọ. Ifá.
adé (crown). The beaded crown of Yorùbá ọba, wey the right to wear am na sign of descent from Odùduwà and the town standing. Arts, social.
àdìrẹ. Yorùbá resist-dyed indigo cloth, wey women mostly dey produce, with named patterns and regional styles. Arts.
adóṣù. Person wey dem initiate into òrìṣà cult, wey get special rules wey e dey follow. Òrìṣà.
Agẹmọ. Masquerade tradition wey connect specifically with Ijẹ̀bú. Òrìṣà, arts.
àgbà (elder). Person of standing by age and by conduct; the foundation of the Yorùbá system of respect. Social.
agbádá. The big flowing robe for Yorùbá men formal dressing. Arts, social.
Agùdà. Yorùbá returnees from Brazil and Cuba, mostly Catholic, wey settle for Lagos and other places from the middle of the nineteenth century and shape the architecture, food, and music. History, diaspora.
àjẹ́. Spiritual power wey connect specially with some women, wey both good and bad dey inside instead of just pure evil, and e connect with the mothers, with market authority, and with social control. Dem usually translate am as "witchcraft," but dat one dey carry the European witch-hunt idea come join and e be poor translation. Cosmology, social, foundations.
Àjàlá. The potter of ọ̀run wey dey mould the orí wey pipu dey choose before birth, wey dem describe say sometimes dey careless and dey mould heads wey get defect, wey be the tradition explanation for why destiny dey vary drastically. Cosmology.
àkàrà. Fried bean cake; inside diaspora, Brazilian acarajé. Social, diaspora.
akínkanjú (courage, bravery). One of the virtues wey make up ọmọlúàbí. Cosmology.
àkúnlẹ̀gbà (that which one kneels to receive). One of the three terms for how person dey get destiny, alongside àkúnlẹ̀yàn and àyànmọ́. Cosmology.
àkúnlẹ̀yàn (that which one kneels to choose). The chosen part of destiny. Cosmology.
Aláàfin (owner of the palace). The ruler of Ọ̀yọ́, wey Ọ̀yọ́ Mesì get constitutional power to control, and dem fit force am make e die. History, social.
Aláàrìnjó. The Yorùbá travelling masquerade theatre tradition, ancestor of the twentieth-century Yorùbá professional theatre and film. Arts.
Aládùrà (owners of prayer). The independent Yorùbá churches wey show from the 1920s, built on prayer, prophecy, dreams, and healing inside Yorùbá idiom. History.
Aláké. The ruler of Ake inside Abẹ́òkúta, wey dem make paramount over the Ẹ̀gbá sections under colonial administration. History.
àlùfáà. Muslim cleric; dem also dey use am for Christian clergy. Social, history.
àmàlà. Yam-flour or cassava-flour staple food, characteristic of Ọ̀yọ́ cooking. Social.
ara (body). The physical body, one part of the Yorùbá analysis of wetin make up person. Cosmology.
Arábà. The senior title inside Ifá priesthood of a town. Ifá.
arugbá (calabash carrier). The young woman wey dey carry the sacred calabash inside the Ọ̀ṣun-Ọ̀ṣogbo festival. Òrìṣà.
àṣẹ. The power wey dey make things happen, wey dey inside speech, inside persons, inside objects, and inside the òrìṣà, wey come from Ọlọ́dùmarè. Dem also dey talk am for the end of prayer, wey mean make e be so, wey be the same concept applied to wetin person talk. Dem dey write am as aché inside Cuba and axé inside Brazil. Cosmology, diaspora.
iṣẹ́ àṣekára (thorough, diligent work). One of the ọmọlúàbí virtues. Cosmology.
aṣọ òkè (cloth of the top, or upper cloth). Hand-woven Yorùbá strip cloth, wey dem dey wear for occasions of standing. Arts.
Awìṣẹ / Àwíṣẹ Awo Ni Àgbáyé. Title of the world spokesperson for Ifá and Yorùbá religion, wey Wándé Abímbọ́lá dey hold. Ifá.
awo (secret, mystery, the initiated). The secret knowledge of a cult, and by extension the pipu wey hold am. E dey compounded inside babaláwo and ìyáláwo. Ifá, òrìṣà.
Awùjalẹ̀. The ruler of Ijẹ̀bú-Òde. History, social.
ayé (the world). The visible domain of the living, paired with ọ̀run as the two halves of the cosmos. Cosmology.
àyànmọ́ (that which is chosen and affixed, from yàn to choose and mọ́ to fasten). Destiny, wetin dem give pesin before dem born am; for some use, na specifically di part wey pesin no fit change, unlike àkúnlẹ̀yàn and àkúnlẹ̀gbà. Cosmology.
Àyàn. Di òrìṣà of drumming, and di family name part wey drumming families dey carry: Àyànléke, Àyàntúndé, Àyàngalú. Arts, òrìṣà.
Aàrẹ. One senior chieftaincy title; wey join together inside Aàrẹ Ọ̀nà Kakanfò. Social.
àbùkù (blemish, disgrace). Damage to pesin or family reputation, one main concept for Yorùbá ethics about good name. Social, cosmology.
àdìmú. Sacrifice wey no get blood, food or drink wey dem place for òrìṣà. Òrìṣà.
àdúgbò (neighbourhood, quarter). Di area division inside Yorùbá town under di town level. Social.
afẹ́fẹ́ (wind, air). Cosmology.
àfọ̀ṣẹ. Word wey dem believe say dey bring wetin e talk to pass with im own power, one form of incantation. Language, cosmology.
àgbàlagbà (elder, aged person). Social.
agbẹ̀dẹ (forge, smithy). Blacksmith workshop, wey connect with Ògún. Arts, social.
àgbo. Herbal medicine wey dem boil. Social.
Àgbọnnìrègún. One name of Ọ̀rúnmìlà inside di Ifá corpus. Ifá.
ajẹ̀lẹ̀. Resident political agent wey power wey dey rule post go town wey dey under am, especially for di Ìbàdàn system. History.
Ajé. Di òrìṣà wey connect with wealth, especially wealth from trade; e also be di normal word for money or profit. E different from àjẹ́, wey be different word with different tone. Òrìṣà, social.
akápò. Di assistant and apprentice of babaláwo, wey dey carry di bag. Ifá.
akéwì. Poet or pesin wey dey recite, especially rárà and ìjálá. Language, arts.
àkúdàáyá. Pesin wey dem believe say don die and dey live for another place wey people no know am. Cosmology.
Alágbàá. Di leader of egúngún society. Òrìṣà.
alájọbí (the relationship of shared birth). Di tie of blood relation wey dem hold say get power to punish on top itself, so that bad thing wey pesin do inside family go bring consequence through di family tie itself. Social, cosmology.
alárinà. Middleman, especially for marriage negotiation. Social.
aláṣọtẹ́lẹ̀ (one who says the cloth beforehand). Prophet or pesin wey dey tell wetin dey come; di term wey Yorùbá Christian dey use. Language, history.
alùbàríkà. Blessing; from Arabic baraka, wey enter Yorùbá through Islam. Language, social.
Apènà. Senior Ògbóni title, di chief wey dey talk. Social.
apẹ̀tẹ̀bí. Di wife of babaláwo, wey get clear role for Ifá practice. Ifá.
aró. Indigo dye, and by extension di craft of dyeing; aláró, di dyer. Arts.
arọ́kin. Di palace historian and reciter of royal ìtàn for Ọ̀yọ́. History, language.
àtúnwáyé (coming to the world again). Reincarnation inside di family line, di understanding say ancestors dey return inside descendants, wey dey show for names like Babátúndé and Ìyábọ̀. Cosmology, social.
àwòrò. Priest of òrìṣà, for some regional usage. Òrìṣà.
babaláwo (father of the secret; from bàbá father, ní having, awo secret). Di Ifá priest and diviner. UNESCO translate di title as "the priest's father" Ifá.
bàbálórìṣà (father of the òrìṣà). Male priest of òrìṣà cult; babalorixá for Brazil. Òrìṣà, diaspora.
Babalúayé (father of the world). Also Ọbalúayé; di òrìṣà wey connect with smallpox and epidemic sickness, wey dem dey treat with big care and often call with indirect names. See Ṣọ̀pọ̀nnọ́n. Òrìṣà.
Bàṣọ̀run. Di leader of di Ọ̀yọ́ Mesì and di most powerful office for Ọ̀yọ́ after di Aláàfin; di office wey Gaha use force four Aláàfin make dem kill deirself for 1754. History.
bàtá. Double-headed drum ensemble wey connect especially with Ṣàngó, with repertoire wey dey talk Yorùbá through tone. Dem carry am go Cuba, where e be central part of Lucumí practice. Arts, diaspora.
dùndún. Di Yorùbá hourglass tension drum, wey dem dey change di pitch during performance to match speech tones, wey be di base of talking-drum tradition. Arts.
dídì. Di technique of wrapping or tying for àdìrẹ resist dyeing. Arts.
dífá / dáfá (to cast Ifá). To do Ifá divination. Ifá.
ẹbọ (offering, sacrifice). Wetin dem dey give as response to wetin divination prescribe: normally kolanut, palm oil, water, cooked food, cloth or money, sometimes fowl or goat. Di logic na give-and-take, no be appeasement. Cosmology, Ifá, òrìṣà.
ẹdan Ògbóni. Two brass figures wey chain join together, di symbol of Ògbóni membership and authority. Arts, social.
eewọ̀ / èèwọ̀ (taboo, prohibition). Wetin dey forbidden for pesin, lineage, cult or office. Cosmology, social.
Ẹ̀gbá. One of di Yorùbá subgroups, whose refugee population establish Abẹ́òkúta. History.
ẹgbẹ́ (association, society, age-set). Di Yorùbá voluntary association, wey dem arrange by age, work or purpose, and one main institution of town life. Social.
Egúngún (related to egun, bone). Di ancestor masquerade: di ancestors wey dey return inside costume, dance and voice form, under di control of masquerade society, with judicial role for some of im forms. Òrìṣà, arts.
Èkìtì. One Yorùbá subgroup and region for di eastern hills, wey historically be many small kingdoms instead of one single state. History.
Èkìtìparapọ̀ (the Èkìtì joined together). Di confederacy wey dem form against Ìbàdàn for di Sixteen Years War for Kiriji. History.
Ẹlẹ́gbára / Ẹlẹ́gbá (one who has power to seize). One name of Èṣù; Eleguá or Elegguá for Cuba. Òrìṣà, diaspora.
Elérìí ìpín (witness to destiny). Praise title of Ọ̀rúnmìlà, wey dey point to say e dey present when dem dey choose destinies, wey be di base of Ifá claim say e know wetin dem choose. Ifá, cosmology.
ẹ̀mí (breath, spirit). Di life principle, wey connect with Ọlọ́dùmarè as im source, one part of di Yorùbá analysis of wetin make up pesin. Cosmology.
ẹnìyàn (person, human being). Dem dey use am for ethical matter to judge person, so dat to be human being for body and to be proper person full ground no be di same category. Cosmology.
ẹsẹ (leg, foot; here a verse). One single verse inside di Ifá corpus, wey follow one Odù, wey usually dey tell story of case wey happen before: who consult Ifá, wetin dem tell di person make e do, weda e do am, and wetin happen after. UNESCO talk say na around 800 ẹsẹ dey per Odù, but nobody know di total number and e dey increase . Ifá.
Èṣù (also Ẹlẹ́gbára, Ẹlẹ́gbáa, Láàróyè). Di messenger and law enforcer: e dey carry ẹbọ from ayé go ọ̀run, dey stand for junction and door-mouth, dey test and scatter things, dey make sure say give-and-take happen, and na must make e dey before Ifá go fit work. E no be devil; na Bible translators make am be Satan for middle of 19th century. Òrìṣà, foundations.
ètùtù. Ritual sacrifice to beg or correct something, wey some people dey separate from normal ẹbọ. Cosmology, òrìṣà.
ẹwà (beauty, what is fitting, what is well-made). For Yorùbá aesthetics, e no fit separate from moral judgment, just as di proverb talk: ìwà l'ẹwà, character na beauty. Arts, cosmology.
ẹ̀bà. Heavy staple food wey dem make from cassava flour wey dem dey chop with soup. Social.
ebora. Group of powerful spiritual beings wey dey dangerous plenty times, wey some people dey separate from òrìṣà. Òrìṣà, cosmology.
ẹ̀bí. Family people, di extended family. Social.
ẹ̀dá (creature, created thing, a person's constitution). Cosmology.
ẹgbẹ́ àárọ̀ / ẹgbẹ́ ọ̀run (di companions of ọ̀run). Di heaven friends wey dem believe say person leave behind wen dem born am, concept wey connect with àbíkú. Cosmology.
ẹ̀gbọ́n (elder sibling). E dey go together with àbúrò, younger sibling; di two of dem dey guide how Yorùbá dey call and show respect to each other inside di same generation. Social, language.
ẹ̀jẹ̀ (blood). Cosmology, òrìṣà.
ẹkùn ìyàwó. Di bridal lament, type of poetry wey bride dey perform before marriage. Language, arts.
ẹlẹ́gùn (one who is mounted). Person wey òrìṣà dey enter im body during ritual, role wey dem train person for and wey society dey manage. Òrìṣà.
ẹlẹ́yẹ (owner of birds). Way to talk about people wey hold àjẹ́ through corner without calling di direct name. Cosmology.
Ẹ̀ṣà. Type of poetry wey dem dey perform for egúngún. Language, arts.
èsùsù. Rotating savings and credit association, Yorùbá financial institution wey don dey since tey-tey. Social.
ètùtù. Ritual sacrifice to beg spiritual power; see di main entry for up too. Cosmology.
ewé (leaf, herb). Leaves wey dem dey use as medicine and ritual material; to get knowledge about ewé na special work on im own, wey connect with Ọ̀sanyìn. Social, òrìṣà.
fújì. Twentieth-century Yorùbá popular music type wey come out from Muslim ajísàrí and were traditions. Arts.
gángan. Talking drum wey dey inside dùndún family. Arts.
gèlè. Di Yorùbá head-tie for women. Arts, social.
Gẹ̀lẹ̀dé. Masquerade tradition wey dey honour di spiritual power of women, especially di mothers, wey connect with Kétu and western Yorùbá area and wey UNESCO record. Òrìṣà, arts.
gbẹ̀du. Big drum wey dem dey use for palace and Ògbóni contexts. Arts.
Gbénàgbénà (carver). Person wey dey carve wood, professional work with master carvers wey people know well, like Olówè of Ìṣẹ̀ and Bámgbóyè. Arts.
gòjé. Instrument wey get one string wey dem dey play with bow. Arts.
gúdúgúdú. Small kettle drum inside di dùndún ensemble. Arts.
ìbejì (twins). Twins, wey people believe say get special spiritual meaning, with special names wey dem dey give dem (Táíwò and Kẹ́hìndé), rituals, and carved ère ìbejì statues. Yorùbá people dey among di people wey dey born twins pass for di whole world according to record. Social, arts.
ìbọrí (feeding the head). Ritual care for person own orí, wey focus on di person self instead of power wey dey outside. Cosmology.
Ìbàdàn. City wey different-different war refugees form for di 1830s, wey come turn di main Yorùbá military power for nineteenth century, and later become place where dem build di university wey produce di Ìbàdàn school of history. History.
ibò. Small-small objects wey person dey hold for hand during divination to give yes/no answer to di diviner questions, wey dem dey use know exactly which ẹsẹ match di case. Ifá.
ìdílé (lineage, family). Family lineage, di main basic unit for Yorùbá social organisation. Social.
Ifá. Di Yorùbá divination system, im literary corpus, and also Ọ̀rúnmìlà. UNESCO record am for 2005 and 2008 say e dey use "an extensive corpus of texts and mathematical formulas" Ifá.
Ilé-Ifẹ̀. Di city wey tradition talk say na where di Yorùbá world and kingship start from, and where dem see di classical sculptures wey dem make with copper alloy and terracotta. History, arts.
ìgbá (calabash). Di calabash container, and di picture wey dem dey use show how di universe be: two half wey join together, ọ̀run for up and ayé for down, wey meet for di line between dem. Cosmology.
Ìgbàlé. Di sacred forest of di egúngún. Òrìṣà.
ikin. Di sixteen sacred palm nuts wey dem dey use for di older and more formal Ifá divination method. Ifá.
ilé (house, home, compound, lineage, ground, land). One of di words wey heavy pass for di language, wey cover di compound itself, di family inside am, di lineage wey get am, and di land self. Social.
ìmàle. Yorùbá Muslims; di term wey dem dey use for di Muslim community since di time wey Islam spread enter northern Yorùbá towns. History.
ìpín (portion, lot). Person destiny wey God give am; wey dem join together for Elérìí ìpín. Cosmology.
Ìrèmọ̀jé. Funeral poetry of hunters, wey dem dey perform wen hunter die. Language, arts.
ìrókò. Big hardwood tree wey get religious meaning, and di wood wey dem cut from am. Arts, cosmology.
ìrúnmọlẹ̀ / irúnmalẹ̀. For some usage, di original divinities from creation time, different from òrìṣà wey be human being before; di words no be di same across different sources or regions. Òrìṣà.
ìsọmọlórúkọ (giving the child a name). Di naming ceremony, wey dem dey do on a fixed day afta dem born pikin and e dey involve prescribed substances wey each get stated meaning. Social, language.
ìtàn (narrative, account, history). Di narrative genre wey cover wetin English dey divide between history, myth and story, without marking di division. History, language.
ìtẹfá / ìṣẹfá. Initiation into Ifá, wey get different stages. Ifá.
ìtẹríba (respect). One of di ọmọlúàbí virtues. Cosmology, social.
ìwà (character). Person character or moral quality, di central concept for Yorùbá ethics, wey di Ifá corpus hold say e matter pass wealth, sacrifice or destiny. Cosmology.
ìwàpẹ̀lẹ́ / ìwà pẹ̀lẹ́ (gentle character, good character). Di Yorùbá ethical ideal; di subject of Wándé Abímbọ́lá's essay of dat title. Cosmology.
ìwà rere (good character). One of di ọmọlúàbí virtues. Cosmology.
ìwà ìrẹ̀lẹ̀ (humility). One of di ọmọlúàbí virtues. Cosmology.
ìyáàlù (mother drum). Di lead drum of an ensemble, di one wey dey talk. Arts.
Ìyáàmi / Ìyámi (my mother). Title of respect for di mothers, di collective spiritual power of women, wey dem dey approach with plenty care and careful language. Cosmology, òrìṣà.
ìyáláwo / ìyánífá. Di titles for women inside Ifá. Whether women fit take di highest levels of Ifá initiation na wetin people still dey drag well-well, especially as di tradition don grow for Cuba and United States. Ifá.
Ìyálóde. Di senior women title for Yorùbá town, wey carry real authority ontop trade and to represent women inside council; colonial indirect rule break di office because dem deal only with male chiefs. Social, history.
Ìyálọ́jà (mother of the market). Di head of market women, wey get governing authority over di market. Social.
ìyálórìṣà (mother of the òrìṣà). Female priest of an òrìṣà cult; ialorixá or mãe de santo for Brazil. Òrìṣà, diaspora.
ìyẹ̀rosùn. Di fine powder wey dem spread ontop di ọpọ́n Ifá, wey di diviner dey take mark di Odù. Ifá.
ìbúra (oath). To take oath, one central judicial procedure, wey Ògbóni dey administer especially and ontop Ògún iron. Social.
ìdána. Di marriage payment and di ceremony wey dem dey take make am. Social.
ìdọ̀bálẹ̀. Di full prostration wey younger man dey take greet elder; di corresponding form for women na ìkúnlẹ̀, to kneel down. Social.
Ìgálà. People and language wey close well-well to Yorùbá, wey share common ancestor for Proto-Yorùbáoid. History, language.
ìgbàgbọ́ (belief, faith). Di word wey dem dey use for religious faith inside Yorùbá Christian usage; onígbàgbọ́, a Christian. Language, history.
ìgbìn. Di edible land snail, offering wey particularly associate with Ọbàtálá, and di name of a drum type. Òrìṣà, arts.
ìjálá. Di chanted poetry of hunters, associated with Ògún, one major Yorùbá oral genre. Language, arts.
Ìjẹ̀ṣà. One Yorùbá subgroup and kingdom wey centralize for Ilésà. History.
ìlàrí. Royal messengers and officials of di Aláàfin, wey dem know with distinctive shaved head. History, social.
ìlẹ̀kẹ̀ (beads). Beads, wey dey carry òrìṣà affiliation, rank and initiation status, and one major Yorùbá art form. Arts, òrìṣà.
ilé kíkọ́ / ilédì. Di Ògbóni meeting house. Social, arts.
ìmọ̀ (knowledge). Cosmology.
Ìmọ̀lẹ̀. Term wey dem dey use both for primordial divinities and, as homophone, for Islam and Muslims; dem dey separate di two by context and tone. Òrìṣà, history.
ìrànà. Ritual wey dem dey do to open road for di dead. Cosmology, social.
ìróké. Di tapper wey babaláwo dey use strike di ọpọ́n and call Ifá attention, wey by imself na carved art object. Ifá, arts.
ìrùkẹ̀rẹ̀. Di horsetail fly-whisk wey dem dey carry as sign of authority. Social, arts.
ìsìnkú (burial). Funeral rites, one of di two occasions wey Christian, Muslim and traditional practice dey mostly enter direct conflict. Social.
ìṣẹ̀ṣe (custom, tradition, the source practice). Di term wey practitioners dey use pass now for Yorùbá traditional religion itself, wey dem prefer pass di English labels. Òrìṣà, foundations.
ìtàdógún. Di seventeen-day interval wey dem dey consult Ifá inside di ritual calendar. Ifá, social.
ìtìjú (shame, a sense of shame). Dem treat am as virtue instead of defect: di ability to feel shame na part of good character. Cosmology, social.
ìwàrèfà. Di six senior officers of an Ògbóni lodge. Social.
ìwọ̀n (measure). Language.
Ìyámàpó. One òrìṣà associated with pottery and with women crafts. Òrìṣà, arts.
Jàkúta (one who fights with stones). One older thunder divinity, wey im attributes enter inside Ṣàngó well-well. Òrìṣà.
jùjú. Two distinct uses. As colonial-era English word for African religious objects, wey dem first record around 1860, with di standard but uncertain etymology from French joujou, toy . As di name of a twentieth-century Yorùbá popular music genre. Foundations, arts.
Kabíyèsí (usually analysed as ká bí ì yẹ sí, no one questions him; etymology contested). Di formal salutation to an ọba. Social.
Kakanfò / Aàrẹ Ọ̀nà Kakanfò. Di generalissimo title of Ọ̀yọ́, wey Àfọ̀njá hold at di time of im rebellion for 1817. History.
Kétu. One Yorùbá kingdom for wetin be Benin now, and di name of di Yorùbá-derived nation inside Brazilian Candomblé. History, diaspora.
kólánut / obì. Kola nut, di standard offering, di standard gift of hospitality, and di material for simple form of divination by casting im parts. Social, cosmology.
Lucumí / Lùkùmí. Di Yorùbá-derived tradition for Cuba, and di term wey dem dey use dia for Yorùbá arrivals. Diaspora.
Láàróyè. Praise name of Èṣù, wey dem dey use for salutation. Òrìṣà.
lágídígba. Beads wey dem make with palm-nut shell, associated with particular òrìṣà. Arts.
mágùn (do not climb). One preparation wey dem believe say dey punish adultery, and na di subject of one well-known Yorùbá film. Social.
méjì (two). Double; one Odù wey di two halves of di figure bi di same, like for Èjì Ogbè and Ọ̀yẹ̀kú Méjì. Di sixteen méjì na dem bi di senior Odù. Ifá.
mẹ́rìndínlógún (sixteen; literally four subtracted from twenty). Di sixteen-cowrie divination system, wey simple pass Ifá and wey people dey practice pass am, and di diloggún of Cuba. Ifá, diaspora.
mọ̀gbà. One priestly rank inside di Ṣàngó cult. Òrìṣà.
Mọ̀remí. One person inside Ifẹ̀ tradition wey dem dey remember say save di town from raiders with di sacrifice of her son, and na major subject for Yorùbá drama and monument. History, arts.
Nàgó. Di word wey dem dey use for Yorùbá people and their tradition for Brazil and inside Francophone Atlantic. Diaspora.
nàná. Title of respect for senior woman, wey dem dey use for some òrìṣà. Òrìṣà, diaspora.
ọba (king, ruler). Di sacred ruler of Yorùbá town, wey councils bin dey restrict for history wey fit reject am, remove am or for Ọ̀yọ́ force am make e die, and wey colonial indirect rule make more powerful and make am less accountable. Social, history.
Ọbàtálá (also Ọ̀rìṣà-nlá, the great òrìṣà). For di story wey spread pass, na di òrìṣà wey dem give work to shape human body, wey dem link with white color, cool restraint and good character; Oxalá for Brazil. Òrìṣà.
òbì. Look kola nut.
Odù. Di 256 signs of Ifá, wey each bi binary figure of eight positions and each na di address for one collection of verse; sixteen main Odù wey dey join for pairs to give 256. E still bi di name of one figure for di tradition wey dem link with di Ifá corpus itself. Ifá.
Odùduwà. For di main tradition, di person wey start kingship for Ilé-Ifẹ̀, wey all crowned rulers come from am. No independent date dey; different versions dey clash, and Robin Law don argue say di charter spread over time as political tool. History.
odún (year, festival). Both di year and di annual festival, wey bi di reason why di calendar and di ritual cycle bi di same thing. Social.
Ògbóni (also Òṣùgbó). Di society wey hold judicial and religious authority inside Yorùbá towns, wey dey administer oaths and fit punish rulers; colonial administration and mission Christianity treat am like rival power. Social, history.
Ògún. Di òrìṣà of iron, blacksmith forge, war, hunting and clearing of road, and by extension every work wey dey use metal. Oaths wey dem swear on top iron still carry weight for Yorùbá practice till today. Òrìṣà.
Ògúndá, Ogbè, Ọ̀yẹ̀kú, Ìwòrì, Òdí, Ìrosùn, Ọ̀wọ́nrín, Ọ̀bàrà, Ọ̀kànràn, Ọ̀sá, Ìká, Òtúrúpọ̀n, Òtúrá, Ìrẹtẹ̀, Òṣé, Òfún. Di sixteen main Odù of Ifá, according to how seniority normally arrange dem. Di arrangement for different regions dey different. Ifá.
ojúbọ (place of worship, shrine). Òrìṣà.
Olódù. One senior Ifá title, and for some usage di person wey hold di full Odù. Ifá.
Ọlọ́dùmarè (etymology contested; commonly analysed as containing olú, chief or owner). Di supreme being, source of existence and of àṣẹ, without image, temple, priesthood or sacrifice. Whether di structure wey come out bi monotheism na wetin people dey contest. Cosmology.
Olókun (owner of the sea). Di òrìṣà of di sea and of wealth; e still bi di name of di Ifẹ̀ site Igbo Olókun where dem excavate glass industry. Òrìṣà, history.
Ọlọ́run (owner of the sky, from oní + ọ̀run). Name of di supreme being, and di word wey Yorùbá Christians and Muslims dey use for God. Cosmology.
Olúwo. One senior Ifá title, di head of one body of babaláwo. Ifá.
ọmọlúàbí (commonly analysed as ọmọ tí Olú-ìwà bí, the child begotten by the chief of character; etymology contested). Person wey get complete moral standing, di Yorùbá ethical ideal. Cosmology, social.
onísègùn / oníṣègùn (owner of medicine). Di herbalist and traditional healer, role wey dey different from di role of babaláwo even though di two dey often overlap. Social.
Ọ̀ọ̀ni. Di ruler of Ilé-Ifẹ̀, and by di logic of Ifẹ̀'s standing e bi person of special authority among Yorùbá rulers. History, social.
ọ̀pẹ̀lẹ̀. Di divination chain, eight half-seeds on top cord, wey dem dey throw to produce complete Odù for single throw; di faster one out of di two Ifá methods. Ifá.
ọpọ́n Ifá. Di carved wooden divination tray wey dem dey spread ìyẹ̀rosùn on top and mark di Odù, wey itself bi major genre of Yorùbá sculpture. Ifá, arts.
ọpọlọ pípé (soundness of mind). One of di ọmọlúàbí virtues. Cosmology.
orí (head). Di inner head, person individual destiny and di personal spiritual principle wey dey carry am, wey dey different from orí òde, di physical head. No òrìṣà fit help person against their orí. Cosmology.
orí inú (inner head). Di head wey dey carry destiny instead of di physical one. Cosmology.
oríkì (from orí, head, plus kì, to praise or salute). Praise poetry wey attach to person, lineage, town, òrìṣà or animal, wey deep and full of indirect meaning, wey dem dey perform instead of to just recite, and e bi primary historical source. Language.
òrìṣà. Di powers wey dey stand between Ọlọ́dùmarè and human beings, each get domain, collection of stories, priesthood, festivals and shrines. Orixá for Brazil, oricha for Cuba. Òrìṣà.
orílẹ̀. Di lineage or clan name part wey dey inside oríkì, wey dey identify descent group and place of origin. Language, social.
òrìta (crossroads). Di junction, and one of di main ritual sites, wey dem link with Èṣù. Cosmology, òrìṣà.
ọ̀rọ̀ sísọ (saying the word, competent speech). One of di ọmọlúàbí virtues, and proof say dem dey treat speech as moral capacity instead of just social grace. Cosmology, language.
Orò. One men society wey dey linked to particular sound and judicial functions, wey women must stay inside house during their rituals. Social, òrìṣà.
Ọ̀rúnmìlà. Di òrìṣà of Ifá, wey dey present wen pesin dey choose destiny and therefore fit talk wetin dem choose; Elérìí ìpín. Ifá, òrìṣà.
ọ̀run (the beyond, the sky-domain). Di invisible domain of Ọlọ́dùmarè, di òrìṣà, di ancestors and di ones wey dem never born, wey join body with ayé instead of to dey against am. No be heaven for Christian sense. Cosmology.
ọ̀run àpáàdì (the ọ̀run of potsherds). One negative condition for ọ̀run, wey how e relate with Christian hell and how e develop before missionary come na wetin people dey argue; no be place of eternal suffer-suffer and no be where people wey never convert dey go. Cosmology.
ọ̀run rere (good ọ̀run). Di good condition for ọ̀run. Cosmology.
Ọ̀sanyìn. Di òrìṣà of herbal medicine and of knowledge of leaves. Òrìṣà.
Òṣùgbó. Di name wey dem dey use for eastern and coastal Yorùbá areas for di society wey dem dey call Ògbóni for west. Social.
Ọ̀ṣọ́ọ̀sì. Di òrìṣà of hunting; Oxóssi for Brazil. Òrìṣà.
Ọ̀ṣun. Di òrìṣà of di river for Ọ̀ṣogbo, wey connect with fresh water, fertility, wealth, beauty and di arts; Ochún for Cuba, Oxum for Brazil. Di Ọ̀ṣun Sacred Grove na UNESCO World Heritage Site. Òrìṣà.
òtító / òtítọ́ (truth). One of di ọmọlúàbí virtues. Cosmology.
òwe (proverb). Di Yorùbá proverb corpus, wey dem dey use for argument, judgment, teaching and negotiation as compressed reasoning. Òwe lẹṣin ọ̀rọ̀: proverb na di horse of speech. Language.
Ọ̀wu. One Yorùbá state wey destroy for di war of 1817 to 1822, di first major Yorùbá conflict wey European guns decide. History.
Ọya. Di òrìṣà of wind, storm, river Niger, transformation and di boundary of death; warrior on her own. Òrìṣà.
Ọ̀yọ́. Di dominant Yorùbá empire of di seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, wey dem build on cavalry, with di Aláàfin for head and di Ọ̀yọ́ Mesì as constitutional counterweight. History.
Ọ̀yọ́ Mesì. Di council of seven for Ọ̀yọ́, wey di Bàṣọ̀run dey lead, wey hold di formal power to reject Aláàfin, wey dem go con require make e take im own life. History.
Obalúfọ̀n. One Ifẹ̀ ruler for di tradition, wey art history connect with di copper mask wey carry im name and with di introduction of particular crafts. History, arts.
òbe / ọbẹ̀. Soup or stew; di component wey dem dey chop with starch staple. Social.
òdí. One of di sixteen principal Odù; also, as separate word, di outskirts or di back. Ifá.
Ọdọ́fin. Senior chieftaincy title for many Yorùbá towns. Social.
ọdún (year, annual festival). See odún. Social.
òfin / òfin ilẹ̀. Law, and specifically di law of di land as di ọba in council and Ògbóni dey administer am. Social.
ọfọ̀. Incantation, spoken formula wey dem believe say get power because of di àṣẹ of di words demsef. Language, cosmology.
Ògbóni ẹdan. See ẹdan Ògbóni.
oògùn (medicine, preparation). Prepared substances for healing, protection or effect; di domain of di oníṣègùn and di term wey colonial writing mostly translate as "charm". Social.
òjìji (shadow). Di shadow as part of pesin for some analysis. Cosmology.
Ọjọ́ (day). Di four-day Yorùbá week, Ọjọ́ Awo, Ọjọ́ Ògún, Ọjọ́ Jàkúta and Ọjọ́ Ṣàngó for di traditional calculation, wey dey arrange market and ritual cycles. Social.
Ọlọ́fin. High kingship title, wey dem dey use for Odùduwà and for certain rulers. History, social.
olórí (head, leader; literally owner of a head). Leader; also senior wife. Social.
Olóojà / ọlọ́jà (owner of the market). Ruler title for some towns, wey dey show say di market na di base of di town. Social.
ọmọ (child, offspring, member). Dem combine am across Yorùbá vocabulary: ọmọdé, pikin; ọmọ ìyá, sibling from di same mama. Social, language.
Ọ̀ràngún. Di ruler of Ìlá, one of di crowned rulers for di Odùduwà dispersal traditions. History.
Ọ̀rànmíyàn. Figure for Ifẹ̀ and Ọ̀yọ́ tradition, wey get credit say e found Ọ̀yọ́ and wey connect with Benin for tradition. History.
orogún. Co-wife; di relationship between co-wives for polygynous household, with im own extensive vocabulary and proverb literature. Social.
orúkọ (name). Yorùbá names na sentences and pesin fit analyse dem; orúkọ àmútọ̀runwá, names wey dem bring from ọ̀run and wey circumstances of birth give, dey different from orúkọ àbísọ, names wey dem give for naming ceremony, and ìnagijẹ, nicknames. Language, social.
òsùn. Camwood powder, red, wey dem dey use for ritual and cosmetic purpose; tone make am different from Ọ̀ṣun di òrìṣà. Òrìṣà, arts.
Ọ̀ṣùmàrè. Di rainbow òrìṣà; Oxumaré for Brazil. Òrìṣà.
ọ̀tún and òsì (right and left). Di pair chieftaincy divisions wey dey across Yorùbá title systems. Social.
pákó / pẹpẹ. Di shrine platform or shelf wey dem dey keep òrìṣà objects put. Òrìṣà.
rárà. Chanted praise genre, wey slow and sustained pass oríkì performance for im normal form. Language, arts.
Sàró. Yorùbá people wey dem free from slave ships con settle for Freetown, Sierra Leone, wey many of dem return go Lagos and Abẹ́òkúta from di 1830s con bring Christianity, literacy and capital. History.
Ṣàngó. Di òrìṣà of thunder and lightning, wey tradition talk say na former Aláàfin of Ọ̀yọ́ wey turn god after death; dem connect am with di double-headed axe and with royal authority. Xangô for Brazil, Changó for Cuba. Òrìṣà.
ṣẹ̀kẹ̀rẹ̀. Gourd rattle wey net of beads or shells cover. Arts.
Ṣọ̀pọ̀nnọ́n / Ṣọ̀pọ̀ná. Di òrìṣà wey dem connect with smallpox; see Babalúayé. Colonial administration ban di cult for 1917. Òrìṣà, history.
sùúrù (patience). Virtue wey dem dey frequently mention for di Ifá corpus and for proverb. Cosmology.
sákárà. One Yorùbá Muslim popular music genre. Arts.
sányán. Prestigious beige aṣọ òkè wey dem weave from di silk of wild moth. Arts.
sàráà. Alms or offering for charity; e comot from Arabic sadaqa, wey enter through Islam. Social, language.
ṣáṣá / ṣùkú. Different hairstyle wey get name, wey dey among plenty words for women hair design wey dem dey take as art form. Arts.
Ṣódẹkẹ́. The Ẹ̀gbá leader wey start Abẹ́òkúta around 1830. History.
Ṣóyínká, Wọlé. Yorùbá play writer, poet and essayist, wey win Nobel Prize in Literature for 1986, wey im work draw plenty from Yorùbá cosmology and especially from Ògún. Arts, language.
Táíwò (usually analysed as tọ́ ayé wò, taste the world). The name of the first pikin wey dem born for twins, wey dem believe say the second one send am front. Social, language.
Kẹ́hìndé (the one who comes last). The name of the second pikin wey dem born for twins, wey dem take as the senior. Social, language.
Ìdòwú. The name wey dem dey give pikin wey dem born after twins. Social, language.
Táíyéwò. Another form of Táíwò. Social, language.
tẹfá / ìtẹfá. Ifá initiation; see ìtẹfá. Ifá.
tútù (cool, cold, calm). Coolness as positive spiritual and moral quality, wey dey connected especially with Ọbàtálá and with water; the opposite of heat from vex and trouble. Cosmology, arts.
were / wéré. One Muslim music tradition for early morning during Ramadan, wey later bring out fújì. Arts.
àdámọ̀. Somtin wey dey follow pesin from birth or wey natural. Cosmology.
àgbébọ̀ adìẹ. Hen wey don mature, regular item for ẹbọ. Òrìṣà.
àìkú (deathlessness, long life). One of the regular good tins wey dem dey beg for inside prayer, along with ire, good fortune. Cosmology.
àlàáfíà (peace, well-being). E comot from Arabic āfiya; regular greeting and one of the normal good tins wey dem dey seek. Language, social.
àlọ́. Folktale, different genre from ìtàn, wey include àlọ́ àpamọ̀, riddle, and tortoise story cycle wey center on Ìjàpá. Language.
Àtàrí. The crown of the head, the exact place wey dem dey put ẹbọ for the orí. Cosmology.
bàbá (father) and ìyá (mother). The main family relation words, wey dem dey join together across titles and how dem dey address pesin. Social, language.
Balógun (owner of war; from baba ológun). The title for war chief, the senior military office for most Yorùbá towns. Social, history.
bọ (to feed, to propitiate). The verb behind ẹbọ, ìbọrí and ojúbọ. Cosmology, language.
ẹ̀tọ́. Wetin correct or wetin reach pesin; pesin entitlement. Social.
Igbó Ìgbàlé. The sacred grove where egúngún dey prepare and where dem no dey allow women enter. Òrìṣà.
ìdí. The base or foundation, and for Ifá the seat of an Odù. Ifá.
Ilé Ògbóni. See ilédì.
ìran. Generation, and also spectacle or masquerade display. Social, arts.
ìrè. Good fortune, blessing; the kind of good tins wey divination dey find. Also Irè, the town wey connect with Ògún. Cosmology, òrìṣà.
Ìṣẹ̀yìn, Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́, Ìkirun, Ẹdẹ, Ìwó. Northern Yorùbá towns under Ọ̀yọ́ area, many of dem na early centres of Yorùbá Islam. History.
Ìtàpá. Festival for Ilé-Ifẹ̀ wey dey act the conflict between Ọbàtálá and Odùduwà traditions. Òrìṣà, history.
kìjìpá. Thick cloth wey dem weave with hand. Arts.
Modakẹ́kẹ́. Settlement wey join body with Ilé-Ifẹ̀ wey Ọ̀yọ́ refugees start, and the place where long conflict with Ifẹ̀ happen. History.
mọ́ínmọ́ín. Bean pudding wey dem steam. Social.
òkè (hill, top, upper). Dem join am inside aṣọ òkè. Language.
Olúmọ. The rock for Abẹ́òkúta wey protect the Ẹ̀gbá and give the town im name. History.
ọ̀pá. Staff; ọ̀pá Ọ̀ṣun, the iron staff of the Ifá priest. Ifá, arts.
Ọ̀ràmfẹ̀. Ifẹ̀ divinity wey connect with thunder, wey some accounts talk say na the Ifẹ̀ counterpart of Ṣàngó. Òrìṣà.
òòṣà / òrìṣà. Different forms of the same word. Òrìṣà.
oyè (title, chieftaincy). The title system; ọlọ́yè, pesin wey hold title. Social.
Òyótúnjí. The African Village for South Carolina, wey dem start for 1970, one North American Òrìṣà community wey dem build like Yorùbá town organisation. Diaspora.
ṣaworo. Small metal bells wey dem tie put for costume and for drums. Arts.
ṣẹ̀gi. One kind prestige bead. Arts.
Èjì Ogbè. The senior Odù of Ifá, with the two halves showing the same figure. Ifá.
Ẹ̀gún / egún. The ancestors, and the masquerade; see Egúngún. Òrìṣà.
Èjìogbè, Ọ̀yẹ̀kú Méjì, Ìwòrì Méjì and the other méjì. The sixteen doubled Odù, senior to the 240 combinations. Ifá.
Ìyáláṣẹ (mother who holds àṣẹ). Senior women title for some cults and towns. Òrìṣà, social.
Ọlọ́wọ̀. The ruler of Ọ̀wọ̀. History, social.
Ọṣemawé. The ruler of Ondó. History, social.
Àtàọ́ja. The ruler of Ọ̀ṣogbo. History, social.
Ògògà. The ruler of Ìkẹrẹ́ for Èkìtì. History, social.
Olúbàdàn. The ruler of Ìbàdàn, one office wey colonial administration create inside city wey no get any before. History, social.
Ọlọ́fà. The ruler of Ọ̀fà. History, social.
Candomblé. The Afro-Brazilian religion, wey divide inside into nations, where Ketu na the Yorùbá-derived line, alongside Jeje wey come from Fon and Angola wey come from Kongo. Diaspora.
fetish. From Portuguese feitiço, from Latin facticius, somtin made by art, artificial . Portuguese traders use am for West African religious objects from fifteenth century, e enter the coastal trade pidgin as fetisso and Charles de Brosses make am formal as fétichisme for eighteenth century . E no be Yorùbá category and e no neutral; the verdict dey inside the etymology. Foundations.
Santería (way of the saints). One name for the Lucumí tradition for Cuba, wey people wey dey practice am sometimes no like, as dem prefer Lucumí or Regla de Ocha. Diaspora.
Vodún. The religious system of the Fon and Ewe people of southern Benin, Togo and southeastern Ghana, wey relate with Yorùbá òrìṣà religion through long interaction but still different from am; the word mean spirit or deity for Fon language. Diaspora.
Names of people, names of place, and di names of individual scholars no get explanation here except where dem carry technical term. Di language section dey handle Yorùbá naming, including wetin di common parts of name mean, wey be di file wey pass for wetin readers dey find when dem come here come check dia own name. Words wey belong to specific region and dialect dey appear for di section wey use dem. Terms wey belong to one single òrìṣà cult, and terms wey na only initiates hold dia meaning, dey get mentioned where di corpus mention dem, and we no expand dem pass wetin people already know publicly.
How to read the diacritics and tone marks used throughout this corpus, with worked examples and links to audio resources.
The twenty core Yorùbá concepts in brief, each defined in two sentences with a pointer to where the corpus treats it fully.
Four ordered routes through the corpus with time estimates, for the curious newcomer, the diaspora Yorùbá reconnecting, the reader who came for Ifá as an information system, and the parent teaching children.
Direct answers to the questions readers actually ask, including the uncomfortable ones about human sacrifice, the slave trade, initiation, appropriation and faith.
What Ifá is, how the divination actually works step by step, how the binary structure produces 256 addresses into a memorised corpus, and what is true and false in the claim that it is an ancient computer.
What an òrìṣà is, how the pantheon is organised, who the major figures are, how devotion actually works, and why the demon framing does not describe any of it.