Flirting

1. O rẹwà gan-an

   oh REH-wah gahn-ahn

   Your appearance is very beautiful

   Usage

   A polite compliment about appearance. "Gan-an" adds emphasis meaning "very much"

   Grammar Note

   "O rẹwà" means "you are beautiful": subject pronoun + stative verb. "Gan-an" follows to intensify it ("very").

2. Mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ

   moh NEE-feh-eh reh

   I love you / I like you

   Usage

   Expressing affection or love. Used for both romantic interest and deep love

   Grammar Note

   "Nífẹ̀ẹ́" is the verb "to love/like." Yoruba SVO order: "Mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ" = "I love/like you."

3. Ẹ jẹ́ kí a lọ jẹun papọ̀

   eh JEH kee ah loh jeh-OON pah-POH

   Let us go eat together

   Usage

   A polite invitation for a date. Inviting someone to share a meal is a key social gesture in Nigeria

   Grammar Note

   "Papọ̀" is an adverb meaning "together." "Ẹ jẹ́ kí a" is the cohortative "let us..." used for suggestions and invitations.

4. Orúkọ rẹ dára

   oh-ROO-koh reh DAH-rah

   Your name is beautiful

   Usage

   A conversation opener that compliments the person's name

   Grammar Note

   Yoruba names often carry deep meanings, e.g., "Ọlọ́wọ̀" (one who has wealth) or "Adéwálé" (the crown came home). Complimenting a name opens conversation.

5. Ojú rẹ ṣogbọ́n

   oh-JOO reh SHOHG-bohn

   Your eyes are captivating / expressive

   Usage

   Complimenting the eyes. In Yoruba culture "ojú" (eyes) represents emotion, intelligence, and the soul

   Grammar Note

   "Ojú" is a key polysemous word in Yoruba: eye, face, front. "Ṣogbọ́n" means "wise/intelligent" — applied to eyes it becomes a compliment about their expressiveness.

6. Ẹ gbà ìfẹ́ mi bí?

   eh GBAH ee-FEH mee bee

   Will you accept my feelings?

   Usage

   Checking the other person's feelings after expressing romantic interest

   Grammar Note

   "Ìfẹ́ mi" means "my love/affection." "Gbà" is the verb "to accept/receive." "Bí?" at the end forms the question.

7. Ìfẹ́ rẹ tóbi

   ee-FEH reh TOH-bee

   Your love/charm is great

   Usage

   Expressing admiration for someone's charm or the depth of their love

   Grammar Note

   "Tóbi" is an adjective meaning "great/big," placed after the noun. "Ìfẹ́" means "love."

8. Àárọ̀ tí mo jí, mo máa ń ronú nípa rẹ

   AH-ah-roh tee moh JEE, moh mah n roh-NOO nee-PAH reh

   When I wake in the morning, I think of you

   Usage

   A poetic expression of deep affection in the Yoruba romantic tradition

   Grammar Note

   "Tí mo jí" is a temporal relative clause meaning "when I wake up." Yoruba time clauses use "tí (when) + subject + verb."

9. Wà papọ̀ pẹ̀lú mi

   WAH pah-POH PEH-loo mee

   Be with me / Stay with me

   Usage

   Expressing a desire for companionship or relationship. "Papọ̀ pẹ̀lú mi" = "together with me"

   Grammar Note

   "Wà" is the existential verb "to be/exist." Used as an imperative, it means "be/stay." "Papọ̀" + "pẹ̀lú mi" doubly emphasizes togetherness.

10. Ẹwà rẹ jẹ́ ìgbádùn

    EH-wah reh JEH ee-GBAH-doon

    Your beauty is a delight

    Usage

    A poetic expression of beauty. "Ẹwà" is an important concept word for beauty in Yoruba

    Grammar Note

    "Ìgbádùn" derives from "gbà" (receive) + "dùn" (sweet/pleasant) = "joy/pleasure." Yoruba sensory word "dùn" (sweet) extends to emotional pleasantness.

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