Looking for practical Fon to Yoruba phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Fon phrase first, then the Yoruba translation (Yoruba) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Yoruba.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Yoruba-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Fon to Yoruba translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Nɔ́
Bawo(bawoh)
Mèdɔ́
O seun(oh shayoon)
Mèdɔ́ agblɔ
E kaaro(eh kah-roh)
Mèdɔ́ ɖe
E kaasan(eh kah-sahn)
Mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe
E kuurole(eh koo-roh-leh)
Mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ
O daaro(oh dah-roh)
Nɔ́ wɛ
A ri e laipe(ah ree eh lie-peh)
Nɔ́ wɛ ɖe
O dabọ(oh dah-boh)
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?
Kí ni orukọ rẹ?(kee nee oh-roo-koh reh)
Mè nɔ́ John
Orukọ mi ni John(oh-roo-koh mee nee John)
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?
Bawo ni?(bawoh nee)
Mèdɔ́ nɔ́
Inu mi dun lati pade e(ee-noo mee doon lah-tee pah-deh eh)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
I gbè yé èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì?
Ṣe o n sọ Gẹ́gẹ́?(Sheh oh n saw Geh-geh)
Mè n'gbè yé Èdè Hindi kè.
Mi ò sọ Hindi dáadáa(Mee oh saw Hindi dah-dah)
Mè n'kó nù.
Mi ò ye mi(Mee oh yeh mee)
S'il vous plaît, gbè yé kè.
Jọwọ sọ ní kíkankíkan(Joh-wah saw nee keen-kay-kahn)
Mè s'kà yé nù?
Ṣe o le sọ é lẹ́ẹ̀kan síi?(Sheh oh leh saw eh leh-eh-kahn see)
Èwé n'kà dɔ́?
Nibo ni baluwe wa?(Nee-boh nee bah-loo-weh wah)
Mè n'kà yé nù àlà nà?
Báwo ni mo ṣe lọ sí àárín ìlú?(Bah-woh nee moh sheh law see ah-ree-nee loo)
Tò n'kà kè.
Yí si apa osi(Yee see ah-pah oh-shee)
Tò n'kà pɔ́.
Yí si apa otun(Yee see ah-pah oh-toon)
Lè n'kà kè.
Lọ taara(Law tah-rah)
Kí n'kà dɔ́?
Elo ni owo ọkọ?(Eh-loh nee oh-woh oh-koh)
Mè s'kà àyé, s'il vous plaît.
Ticket kan, jọwọ(Tee-ket kahn, joh-wah)
Èwé n'kà mɛ́?
Ṣe ó jìnà síbí?(Sheh oh jee-nah see-bee)
Mè n'kà nɔ́.
Mo ti sọnù(Moh tee sohn-oo)
Èwé n'kà nɔ́ SIM?
Nibo ni mo ti le ra kaadi SIM?(Nee-boh nee moh tee leh rah kah-dee SIM)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ɛ
Bẹẹni(e)
Ayi
Rara(ayi)
Mɛ
Bóyá(me)
Mè yé
Mo gba(me ye)
Mè n'yi
Mo kọ(me n'yi)
N'kɔ nɔ
Iyẹn dára(n'ko no)
N'kɔ a kɔ?
Kí ni ìrònú rẹ?(n'ko a ko)
I n'kɔ mɛ?
Ṣé o lè ràn mí lọ́wọ́?(i n'ko me)
Mè n'kɔ mɛ
Mo nílò ìrànlọ́wọ́(me n'ko me)
Tɔ́ nɔ
Dákẹ́ díẹ̀(to no)
Mè nɔ n'kɔ
Mo bínú(me no n'ko)
Ayi n'kɔ
Kò sí ìṣòro(ayi n'ko)
Mè nɔ wé
Ẹ kú àṣeyọrí(me no we)
Mè nɔ tɔ́
Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ibi(me no to)
N'kɔ a wé dɔ
Ṣe ìrìn àjò tó ààbò(n'ko a we do)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
N'ye wé train station?
Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?(Nibo ni ibudo ọkọ oju-irin wa?)
N'ye wé bus stop?
Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?(Nibo ni ibudo bosi wa?)
Ké platform na?
Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?(Ibo ni pẹpẹ naa?)
Ké sa a yé?
Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?(Iwo wo ni o fi n lọ?)
N'ye wé yé na?
Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?(Ṣe eyi ni ọna to tọ?)
Yé na hɛn
O sunmọ ibi yi(Yé na hɛn)
Yé na hɛn gbo
O jinna si ibi yi(Yé na hɛn gbo)
Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?
Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?(Ṣe o le fihan mi lori maapu?)
Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît
Duro nibi, jọwọ(Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît)
Ké sa a yé?
Bawo ni igba wo ni o gba?(Ké sa a yé?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Mè wé na?
Elo ni eyi?(elo ni eyi)
Yè wé bɔ́ nɔ́.
Eyi jẹ́ gbowó púpọ̀(eyi je gbowo pupo)
A wé nɔ́ dɔ́?
Ṣe o ni nkan tó rọrùn?(se o ni nkan to rorun)
Mè wé hɛn nɔ́?
Ṣe mo le sanwo pẹ̀lú kaadi?(se mo le sanwo pelu kaadi)
Mè wé dɔ́ nɔ́ fɔ́.
Mo fẹ́ tábìlì fún méjì(mo fe tabili fun meji)
A wé nɔ́ bɔ́.
Iwe isanwo, jọwọ(iwe isanwo jowo)
Sè wé bɔ́?
Ṣe iṣẹ́ wa nínú?(se ise wa ninu)
Mè wé kɔ́ nɔ́.
Mo jẹ́ onjẹ ẹfọ(mo je onje efo)
Mè wé nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́.
Kò sí onjẹ tó ní ìkà, jọwọ(ko si onje to ni ika jowo)
Yè wé sɔ́.
Eyi dára(eyi dara)
Mè wé nɔ́ mɛ́ nɔ́?
Ṣe mo le ní àtòjọ onjẹ?(se mo le ni atojo onje)
Mè wé nɔ́ gɔ́ nɔ́.
Gilaasi omi, jọwọ(gilaasi omi jowo)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Nɔ̀ nɔ́ wɛ́
Pe iroyin ọlọpa(pe iroyin olopa)
Nɔ̀ nɔ́ àmblans
Pe ambulance(pe ambulance)
Mè hùn wá dɔ́ktɛ́
Mo nilo dokita(mo nilo dokita)
Mè tɔ́ dɔ́
Mo n ni irora(mo n ni irora)
Mè wá nùmɛ́ kɔ́
Mo ni àkúnya sí ẹ̀fọ́(mo ni akunya si efo)
Fɔ́ wɛ́ dɔ́kita nɔ́?
Nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo?(nibo ni ile-iwosan to sunmo)
A hùn nɔ́
O n dun nibi(o n dun nibi)
Mè lɔ́ mɔ́ kɔ́tɔ́
Mo padanu iwe irinna mi(mo padanu iwe irinna mi)
Kɔ́ nɔ́ nɔ́ wɛ́ mɔ́ hɔ́tɛ́l?
Se o le pe hotẹẹli mi?(se o le pe hoteeli mi)
Sè!
I ranlọwọ!(i ranlọwọ)
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Mè wá nɔ́
Inu mi dun lati pade e(Inu mi dun lati pade e)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́
Jẹ ki a ṣe ipade(Me to no ko so)
Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó?
Iwo, wo ni akoko ti o ba mu?(No ko so ko?)
Mè yé sɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ bɔ́
Mo maa fi iroyin ranṣẹ loni(Me ye so no ko bo)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ bɔ́ kɔ́
Se a le ba ara wa sọrọ ni ọla?(Me to no ko bo ko)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ nɔ́
Jọwọ ri faili ti a so mọ́(Me to no ko so no)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́
O seun fun akoko rẹ(Me to no ko no)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́
Mo n reti lati ṣiṣẹ pẹlu rẹ(Me to no ko so)
Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó?
Se o le ṣalaye aaye yẹn?(No ko so ko?)
Mè tɔ́ nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́
Jẹ ki n pada sọrọ si ọ(Me to no ko so)
Nɔ́ kɔ́ sɔ́ kó
Akoko ipari ni Friday(No ko so ko)
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.