Language/Yoruba/Grammar/Negation
Hi Yoruba learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about negation in Yoruba grammar. Negation is an important part of any language, and in Yoruba, it is no different. In this lesson, we will look at how to form negative sentences in Yoruba, as well as some common negative words that you can use.
Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Future Tense, Adjectives, Onka Yoruba (Counting and Numbers in Yoruba) & 0 to A1 Course.
Basic Negation[edit | edit source]
To form a negative sentence in Yoruba, you simply put the word "kò" (pronounced "kaw") in front of the verb. For example, "Mo rí ẹ̀rù" means "I see a tree," but "Mo kò rí ẹ̀rù" means "I don't see a tree." Here, "kò" is the negation word.
Another example: "O núsẹ̀" means "He/She is listening," but "O kò núsẹ̀" means "He/She is not listening." Here also, "kò" is the negation word.
It is important to note that "kò" is the negation word for present tense, but there are other negation words for other tenses as well, which we will discuss later.
Let's see a few more examples:
Yoruba | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Mo rí orúnmìlà | mo ri orunmila | I see Orunmila |
Mo kò rí orúnmìlà | Mo ko ri orunmila | I don't see Orunmila |
O fẹ́ ẹ̀wà | O fe ewa | He/She likes food |
O kò fẹ́ ẹ̀wà | O ko fe ewa | He/She doesn't like food |
Mo rí òrìṣà | Mo ri orisha | I see a deity |
Mo kò rí òrìṣà | Mo ko ri orisha | I don't see a deity |
As you can see, negation in Yoruba is pretty straightforward.
Negation Word for the Future Tense[edit | edit source]
In the future tense, the negation word is "mà" (pronounced "ma"). For example, "Mo má ṣe ọ̀fẹ́" means "I will love," but "Mo kò má ṣe ọ̀fẹ́" means "I will not love."
Here are a few more examples:
Yoruba | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Mo má ń lọ | Mo ma n lo | I will go |
Mo kò má ń lọ | Mo ko ma n lo | I will not go |
O má rí ìdílé rẹ̀ | O ma ri idiile re | He/She will see his/her house |
O kò má rí ìdílé rẹ̀ | O ko ma ri idiile re | He/She will not see his/her house |
Negation Word for the Past Tense[edit | edit source]
In the past tense, the negation word is "kí". For example, "Mo ti bí ìṣẹ́gun" means "I have been to work," but "Mo kí bí ìṣẹ́gun" means "I have not been to work."
Here are a few more examples:
Yoruba | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
Mo ti ṣèdúró | Mo ti seduro | I have stood up |
Mo kí ṣèdúró | Mo ki seduro | I have not stood up |
O ti bí alákìísa | O ti bi alakisa | He/She has been a lawyer |
O kí bí alákìísa | O ki bi alakisa | He/She has not been a lawyer |
Common Negative Words[edit | edit source]
In addition to "kò," "mà," and "kí," there are other negative words that you can use in Yoruba. Here are a few:
- Bẹ̀ẹ̀ni - not yet
- Kònííbì - none, nothing
- Kò sí - there is not
- Kò - not
- Àbáyá - never
- Ti kò bá tán - not yet
Here is an example dialogue so you can see these negative words in context:
- Person 1: Bẹ̀ẹ̀ni ó ti ṣèdúró o. (You haven't stood up yet.)
- Person 2: Kònííbì náà. (Nothing yet.)
- Person 1: Kò sí dúró kárákárá? (There is no stand at all?)
- Person 2: Kò sí. (There is none.)
- Person 1: Ọ̀tún wà láì múra, o kò ṣe orúnmìlà. (It's in the morning, you haven't seen Orunmila.)
- Person 2: Àbáyá. (Never.)
- Person 1: O ti ru ọwọ́, ti kò bá tán lọ́wọ́. (You have washed your hand, but not yet your face.)
- Person 2: Kò sí tán, nítorí ti àfọ́léká ló fi àtòlè kó. (Not yet, because Afọléká used up the towel.)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations, you have learned an important part of Yoruba grammar - negation! Remember to use the appropriate negation word depending on the tense of the verb you are using. To improve your Yoruba Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Sources[edit | edit source]
- (PDF) Yoruba sentential negative markers
- (PDF) Yoruba Sentential Negative Markers | Taofeeq Adebayo ...
Congratulations on finishing this lesson! Explore these related pages to keep learning: Pronouns, Nouns, Basic Sentence Structure & Conditional Mood.
Videos[edit | edit source]
Changing sentences to its negative forms in Yoruba language ...[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Gender
- Onka Yoruba (Counting and Numbers in Yoruba)
- Adjectives
- Future Tense
- How to Use Be
- Pronouns
- Questions
- Oro asopo (Conjunctions)
- Conditional Mood