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Yoruba greetings: what to say and when
In Abeokuta, greeting well is home training. Yoruba has a greeting for almost every moment, most starting with “Ẹ kú…”. Use “Ẹ” for elders and anyone you respect; with agemates you can be casual.
| When | Say |
|---|---|
| 7 AM. Mama Bisi is sweeping in front of the compound gate. | Ẹ kú àárọ̀ Good morning |
| 1 PM. The sun is high and Baba Tunde is reading the paper on his veranda. | Ẹ kú ọ̀sán Good afternoon |
| 6 PM. Neighbours are sitting outside, enjoying the evening breeze. | Ẹ kú ìrọ̀lẹ́ Good evening |
| 10 PM. Your landlord is locking the gate and heading to bed. | Ó dàárọ̀ Good night (literally “till morning”) |
| A carpenter at Ita Eko is planing wood, sweating in the workshop. | Ẹ kú iṣẹ́ Well done at work |
| A trader at Kuto Market is calling customers to her tomatoes and pepper. | Ẹ kú ọjà Greetings on your trading (good market) |
| Owambe! The celebrant’s family are hosting, the food and the music never stop. | Ẹ kú ìnáwó Well done for this celebration (literally “for the spending”) |
| You walk into Iya Ade’s parlour. She is seated, resting. | Ẹ kú ìjókòó Greetings to you sitting there |
| An aunty has been standing at the bus stop for a long time, waiting. | Ẹ kú ìdúró Greetings to you standing there (waiting) |
| Your neighbour just came back from a trip to Lagos with his bags. | Ẹ kú àbọ̀ Welcome back |
| You meet an old classmate at Panseke you have not seen in years. | Ẹ kú àtijọ́ Long time no see |
| Your neighbour just had a baby. Mother and child are home safe. | Ẹ kú ewu Congratulations on coming through safely (said to a new mother) |
| Heavy rain is falling. A man runs under the same shop roof as you. | Ẹ kú òjò Greetings in this rain |
| Hot afternoon, no breeze. The mai-shai is fanning himself with a carton. | Ẹ kú ooru Greetings in this heat |
| Harmattan morning, cold and dusty. Everyone is wearing a sweater. | Ẹ kú òtútù Greetings in this cold |
| It is festive season. Your street is full of visitors and new clothes. | Ẹ kú ọdún Happy festive season / compliments of the season |
| Your friend Kemi is celebrating her birthday today. | Ẹ kú ọjọ́ ìbí Happy birthday |
| Your cousin just passed her exams at MAPOLY and got a job offer. | Ẹ kú oríire Congratulations (literally “for good fortune”) |
| A boy trips on the gutter and drops his books. | Pẹ̀lẹ́ o Sorry / take it easy |
| Your agemate Tunde waves from across the road at Kuto. | Báwo ni? How far? / How is it? (casual, for agemates, not elders) |
| It is the fasting month. Alhaji next door is fasting through the day. | Ẹ kú ààwẹ̀ Greetings on your fast |
In the game, 👋🏾 Ẹ kú! Greet the Street brings 5 people a day. Pick the right greeting for ₦500 each and ₦1,500 more when all 5 are right.
Greet the street today