Animals

1. Ajá

   Dog

   Usage

   Kept as guard dogs — a bite needs rabies treatment

2. Ológbò

   Cat

   Usage

   Common in homes and markets

3. Ẹyẹ

   Bird

   Usage

   Birds in general, and a fixture of proverbs

4. Ẹja

   Fish

   Usage

   Smoked fish is a market and kitchen staple

5. Ẹṣin

   Horse

   Usage

   Seen in royal processions and festivals — ṣ with the dot is a different sound from s

6. Kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́

   Donkey

   Usage

   Used in trade with the north, though less common in Yorubaland than horses

7. Màlúù

   Cow

   Usage

   Herders move cattle along the roads — cars stop and wait

8. Àgùntàn

   Sheep

   Usage

   Wanders freely through towns, and food for celebrations

9. Ewúrẹ́

   Goat

   Usage

   The commonest livestock, and a fixture of dish names

10. Adìẹ

    Chicken

    Usage

    The same word is used for the meat

11. Pẹ́pẹ́yẹ

    Duck

    Usage

    Kept in riverside villages

12. Ẹlẹ́dẹ̀

    Pig

    Usage

    Pork is widely eaten in Yorubaland

13. Ọ̀bọ

    Monkey

    Usage

    Do not approach with food — they will take your bag

14. Kìnnìún

    Lion

    Usage

    Not seen in the wild, but common in names and titles

15. Ẹkùn

    Leopard

    Usage

    Also a royal title — and a word for talking with park guides

16. Erin

    Elephant

    Usage

    A byword for size in proverbs

17. Ejò

    Snake

    Usage

    Watch out in grass and farmland — go straight to hospital if bitten

18. Aláǹgbá

    Lizard

    Usage

    Orange-headed agamas are everywhere on walls and rocks, and harmless

19. Ọ̀nì

    Crocodile

    Usage

    In rivers and lagoons — always ask locals before swimming

20. Ìjàpá

    Tortoise

    Usage

    The hero of Yoruba folk tales — the cunning trickster of countless stories

21. Ọ̀pọ̀lọ́

    Frog

    Usage

    Noisy at night in the rainy season

22. Eku

    Rat / mouse

    Usage

    Grounds for asking to change rooms at a cheap guesthouse

23. Àdán

    Bat

    Usage

    Great flocks fly at dusk — do not handle them

24. Ehoro

    Hare / rabbit

    Usage

    Common in open country, and a folk-tale character

25. Ìgbín

    Snail

    Usage

    The giant African land snail — a prized Yoruba delicacy, sold live in the markets

26. Ẹ̀fọn

    Mosquito

    Usage

    Carries malaria — a net and repellent are essential. With different tones, "ẹfọ̀n" means buffalo

27. Eṣinṣin

    Fly

    Usage

    Useful when asking for a cover over food

28. Èèrà

    Ant

    Usage

    Do not leave food out in your room

29. Oyin

    Bee / honey

    Usage

    Yoruba uses one word for bee and honey, and it doubles as a metaphor for sweetness

30. Aláǹtakùn

    Spider

    Usage

    Mostly harmless, but they web up corners

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