Café & Drinks

1. Fún mi ní omi

   Fún mi ní o-mi

   Give me water

   Usage

   The basic phrase to request water

   Grammar Note

   "Fún mi" is "give me" (dative imperative). "Ní" marks the direct object. Add "jọwọ" (please) at the start for politeness: "Jọwọ fún mi ní omi"

2. Mo fẹ́ mu ọtí bíà

   Mo fẹ́ mu ọ-tí bí-à

   I want to drink beer

   Usage

   Used to order beer at a bar or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Mu" is the Yoruba verb for drinking/swallowing. "Ọtí" covers alcoholic drinks generally. "Bíà" (also "bíyà") is beer, borrowed from English

3. Mo fẹ́ mu ẹmu

   Mo fẹ́ mu ẹ-mu

   I want to drink palm wine

   Usage

   Used to order palm wine, a traditional West African alcoholic drink tapped from palm trees

   Grammar Note

   Palm wine ("emu" in Yoruba) is tapped from raffia or oil palms. Fresh palm wine is sweet and mildly alcoholic; it ferments stronger over hours

4. Mo fẹ́ zobo

   Mo fẹ́ zo-bo

   I want zobo (hibiscus drink)

   Usage

   Used to order zobo, Nigeria's popular hibiscus flower drink, similar to bissap

   Grammar Note

   Zobo is beloved nationwide in Nigeria, made from roselle hibiscus, often with ginger, cloves, and pineapple. Rich in vitamin C and served chilled

5. Kọfí dára púpọ̀

   Kọ-fí dá-ra pú-pọ̀

   The coffee is very good

   Usage

   Used to compliment a cup of coffee as very good

   Grammar Note

   "Dára" means good or beautiful in Yoruba. "Dára púpọ̀" (very good) is a versatile compliment for food, drink, and people

6. Kini omi yìí ní?

   Ki-ni o-mi yì-í ní?

   What does this drink contain?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the ingredients of a drink

   Grammar Note

   "Kini" is the contraction of "kí ni" (what is). "Omi" broadly covers water and liquid drinks. "Ohun mímu" (something to drink) is another general term for beverages

7. Fún mi ní tíì

   Fún mi ní tíì

   Give me tea

   Usage

   Used to order tea at a café or home

   Grammar Note

   "Tíì" is the Yoruba loan from English "tea". Do not use "ọmọ", which means "child". Yoruba "àgbọ̀" is a separate traditional bitter herbal drink with medicinal properties

8. Mo fẹ́ ògì

   Mo fẹ́ ò-gì

   I want pap / akamu (corn porridge drink)

   Usage

   Used to order akamu (pap/ogi), the traditional fermented corn porridge drink

   Grammar Note

   "Ògì" (also called akamu or pap) is a traditional fermented corn porridge-drink, popular for breakfast. Usually served warm with evaporated milk and sugar

9. Omi tútù ni mo fẹ́

   O-mi tú-tù ni mo fẹ́

   I want cold water

   Usage

   Used to request cold water, particularly important in Nigeria's hot climate

   Grammar Note

   "Ni mo fẹ́" is a focus construction emphasizing "this is what I want". "Tútù" means cold/cool. "Omi yìnyín" (ice water) is another option in Nigeria

10. Ohun mímu yìí dára gan-an

    O-hun mí-mu yì-í dá-ra gan-an

    This drink is very good

    Usage

    Used to compliment a drink as very delicious

    Grammar Note

    "Ohun mímu" = "ohun" (thing) + "mímu" (drinking) = something for drinking. "Gan-an" is an emphatic adverb meaning truly/really in Yoruba

11. Omi ìgò

    Bottled water

    Usage

    Ask for sealed bottled water rather than tap water

12. Omi gbígbóná

    Hot water

    Usage

    Ask for hot water for formula, medicine, or tea

13. Láìsí yìnyín

    No ice

    Usage

    Ask for a drink without ice when you are unsure about the water

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