Everything You Need To Learn Yoruba

Everything You Need To Learn Yoruba

Yoruba belongs to the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo language family. It is spoken mainly in Nigeria and Benin, has over 40 million speakers, making it one of the most widely spoken African languages in the world.

Yoruba is a tonal language, which means that the same word may have several meanings depending on its tone. This tends to make the language quite difficult for non-native speakers to pick up.

Yoruba is related to Igbo, Edo, and Fon, though they’re not mutually intelligible with it. It’s written using the Latin alphabet.

The good news is, there are more than enough Yoruba resources available for learners. We’ve listed some of them below.

Yoruba Language Learning Books

A great starting point for any beginner is a Yoruba course/study book. These books are designed to help you pick up the basics of the language, teaching you things like Yoruba phonology, grammar and common vocabulary.

You might also want to get your hands on a Yoruba dictionary. This will be useful for building up your vocabulary and fine-tuning your knowledge of how to use the same words in different contexts.

Having a Yoruba phrasebook close by can also be helpful when traveling to Yoruba-speaking regions. This will give you important travel words and phrases that you can use to get by.

Yoruba-English/ English-Yoruba Dictionary & Phrasebook
Amazon.com
Yoruba-English/ English-Yoruba Dictionary & Phrasebook
Jé K`Á Ka Yorùbá: An Intermediate Course
Amazon.com
Jé K`Á Ka Yorùbá: An Intermediate Course
Colloquial Yoruba: The Complete Course for Beginners
Amazon.com
Colloquial Yoruba: The Complete Course for Beginners
Beginner's Yoruba with Online Audio
Amazon.com
Beginner's Yoruba with Online Audio
The Simple Way To Learn Yoruba
Amazon.com
The Simple Way To Learn Yoruba
Yoruba: A Modern Practical Dictionary
Amazon.com
Yoruba: A Modern Practical Dictionary
Speak Yoruba in 24 Hours
Amazon.com
Speak Yoruba in 24 Hours
Yoruba Language: The Yoruba Phrasebook and Dictionary
Amazon.com
Yoruba Language: The Yoruba Phrasebook and Dictionary

Yoruba Children’s Books

You can ease yourself into native language material by reading children’s books in Yoruba. These easy-to-read Yoruba kids’ books are filled with fun, colorful illustrations and common words, making them perfect for beginners of all ages.

You’ll boost your vocabulary, get comfortable reading and understanding Yoruba, which will in turn make it easier to follow more advanced material down the road.

Òjó Ìjàpá Ṣe ìrànlọ́wọ́: Ojo Ijapa Helps: A Yoruba Children's Book
Amazon.com
Òjó Ìjàpá Ṣe ìrànlọ́wọ́: Ojo Ijapa Helps: A Yoruba Children's Book
Kaaro Tomi (Good Morning Tomi): A Bilingual Yoruba/English Picture Book
Amazon.com
Kaaro Tomi (Good Morning Tomi): A Bilingual Yoruba/English Picture Book
Iresi Wa Nile (There's Rice At Home): Yoruba Children's Book
Amazon.com
Iresi Wa Nile (There's Rice At Home): Yoruba Children's Book
My First Yoruba Alphabets Picture Book with English Translations
Amazon.com
My First Yoruba Alphabets Picture Book with English Translations
Onka 123...: Iwe Yoruba Mi: A Yoruba Children's Book
Amazon.com
Onka 123...: Iwe Yoruba Mi: A Yoruba Children's Book
Ojo Ijapa Mura: Ojo Ijapa Gets Ready: A Yoruba Children's Book
Amazon.com
Ojo Ijapa Mura: Ojo Ijapa Gets Ready: A Yoruba Children's Book
ABD mi Yorùbá: A Yoruba Alphabet Book
Amazon.com
ABD mi Yorùbá: A Yoruba Alphabet Book
Am I small? Ǹjẹ́ mo kéré?: Children's Picture Book English-Yoruba
Amazon.com
Am I small? Ǹjẹ́ mo kéré?: Children's Picture Book English-Yoruba

Yoruba Products

Other ways to boost your language skills is with Yoruba flash cards, designed to teach you the most common, everyday words in a way that you’re more likely to remember them.

And a Yoruba activity table will make an awesome learning gift for kids learning the language.

Yoruba Language Flashcards for Kids and Beginners
Amazon.com
Yoruba Language Flashcards for Kids and Beginners
Yoruba Basics: Yoruba Language Flash Cards for Kids
Amazon.com
Yoruba Basics: Yoruba Language Flash Cards for Kids
Yoruba Language and Heritage Activity Table for Toddlers
Amazon.com
Yoruba Language and Heritage Activity Table for Toddlers