Language/Yoruba/Grammar/Negation

Yoruba Grammar - Negation

Hi Yoruba learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be discussing the basics of negation in the Yoruba language. Negation is an important part of any language, and it is essential to understand how to use it correctly in order to communicate effectively. We will look at the different ways to express negation in Yoruba, as well as some examples of how to use them in context. So let's get started!

Negation in Yoruba

Negation in Yoruba is expressed using a variety of words and phrases. The most common way to express negation is by using the word bẹ́ẹ̀ni (pronounced "beh-eh-nee"), which means "no" or "not". This word can be used alone or combined with other words to form more complex negations. For example, the phrase bẹ́ẹ̀ni l'ọwọ́ (pronounced "beh-eh-nee loh-woh") means "I don't want".

Another way to express negation in Yoruba is by using the word kò (pronounced "koh"). This word is used to negate verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. For example, the phrase kò sí (pronounced "koh see") means "not to be".

Finally, the word kò sílẹ̀ (pronounced "koh see-leh") is used to express a negative command. For example, the phrase kò sílẹ̀ tí ó bá wà (pronounced "koh see-leh tee oh bah wah") means "don't go there".

Examples

Here are some examples of how to use negation in Yoruba:

Yoruba	Pronunciation	English Translation
bẹ́ẹ̀ni	beh-eh-nee	no
bẹ́ẹ̀ni l'ọwọ́	beh-eh-nee loh-woh	I don't want
kò sí	koh see	not to be
kò sílẹ̀ tí ó bá wà	koh see-leh tee oh bah wah	don't go there

Conclusion

Negation is an important part of any language, and it is essential to understand how to use it correctly in order to communicate effectively. We have looked at the different ways to express negation in Yoruba, as well as some examples of how to use them in context. Now that you know the basics of negation in Yoruba, you can start using it in your conversations!

---

➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Related Lessons

• Pronouns
• Conditional Mood
• Gender
• Questions
• Nouns
• Adjectives
• Onka Yoruba (Counting and Numbers in Yoruba)
• Future Tense
• Oro asopo (Conjunctions)