Language/Yoruba/Grammar/Nouns

Yoruba Grammar - Nouns

Hi Yoruba learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on Yoruba Grammar - Nouns. Nouns are one of the most important parts of speech in any language. In Yoruba, just like in English, nouns are used to identify people, places, things, and ideas. Nouns are also used to describe quantities and qualities. They play a critical role in constructing sentences and in communicating effectively in Yoruba. By learning the basics of Yoruba nouns, your ability to communicate in Yoruba will be enhanced.

What are Nouns?

In linguistics, a noun is a word that refers to a person, place, thing, or idea. In Yoruba, nouns may refer to living things, non-living things, plants, animals, or abstract concepts. Nouns may also describe a group of things with a common characteristic or function. For example, "ọmọ" refers to "child," and "ilé" refers to "house."

Nouns in Yoruba have genders, or classes, which are determined by both semantic and grammatical criteria. There are three grammatical genders in Yoruba: masculine, feminine, and neuter. The grammatical gender of a noun influences the form of the article, adjective, and verb associated with it.

Masculine Nouns

Masculine nouns in Yoruba are referred to as "ọkùnrin" in Yoruba. These nouns may refer to male beings or objects, and nouns that are not inherently masculine but are grammatically classified as such. Some examples of masculine nouns in Yoruba are:

Yoruba	Pronunciation	English
ọkùnrin	oh-KOON-rin	man
ààwọ nomọ	ah-WOH noh-moh	boy
ọlọ́jẹ	oh-LOH-jay	cook
ò̩tún	oh-TOON	east
alabàláṣẹ	ah-la-BAH-lah-sheh	tailor

Feminine Nouns

Feminine nouns in Yoruba are referred to as "obìnrin" in Yoruba. These nouns may refer to female beings or objects, and nouns that are not inherently feminine but are grammatically classified as such. Some examples of feminine nouns in Yoruba are:

Yoruba	Pronunciation	English
obìnrin	oh-BEE-nrin	woman
ìyáàgbà	ee-yah-AHG-bah	grandmother
ò̩nà	oh-NAH	road
alákétì	ah-LAH-keh-tee	female tailor
Ọmọ obìnrin	oh-MOH oh-bee-nrin	daughter

Neuter Nouns

Neuter or "not-declined" nouns in Yoruba do not have a grammatical gender assignment. These nouns refer to inanimate objects, and other words that do not have any masculine or feminine characteristics. Some examples of neuter nouns in Yoruba are:

Yoruba	Pronunciation	English
ilé	ee-LEH	house
ẹnu	EH-noo	mouth
ọkùnrin ẹni	oh-koohn-REEN eh-nee	person's husband
iyá	ee-YAH	mother
ẹṣu	eh-shoo	wrath

Plural Nouns

To form a plural noun in Yoruba, simply add the suffix "wọn" or "nla" depending on the noun being modified. For example:

• A singular form like "abọ" meaning "spear" would change to "abọn" meaning "spears" in the plural form.
• A singular form like "ọkọ" meaning "husband" would change into "ọkọ̀ nla" meaning "husbands" in the plural form.

Possessive Nouns

In Yoruba, when a noun "possesses" another noun, it is important to add the appropriate "linking" particle between the two nouns. For instance, instead of saying "my mother," you would say "ọmọ mi" which directly translates to "child of me" in English. This same pattern can be applied to any possession relationship. For example:

• "Car of the woman"= "ọkọ́ obìnrin"

Dialogue

• Person 1: "Bàbà mi ń ṣe irinṣẹ́" (My father works as an engineer)
• Person 2: "Báwo ni ilé rẹ̀ ati iṣẹ́ yẹn?" (What is his home address and place of employment?)

Conclusion

In conclusion, Yoruba grammar - nouns play a significant role in constructing sentences and in communicating effectively in Yoruba. They help us to identify people, places and things, describe quantities and qualities as well as express the possession relationship between objects. Understanding the basics of Yoruba nouns is fundamental to any learner of Yoruba. To improve your Yoruba Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Yoruba grammar page on Wikipedia
• Yoruba language page on Wikipedia
• Noun page on Wikipedia