Language/Yoruba/Grammar/Negation

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.

Basic Negation

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

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

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

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

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

• Yoruba Language
• Yoruba Grammar
• Yoruba Orthography