Hotel

1. Mo fẹ́ yálé kan

   moh FEH YAH-leh kahn

   I want to rent a room

   Usage

   Basic phrase for checking into a hotel or guesthouse

   Grammar Note

   "Yálé" is a compound verb meaning "to rent a house/room." "Kan" is an indefinite numeral, equivalent to "a/one" in English.

2. Yàrá mi wà níbí?

   YAH-rah mee WAH NEE-bee

   Is my room here?

   Usage

   Confirming the room location after check-in

   Grammar Note

   "Yàrá" means "room/space." "Wà níbí" is an existential expression "is here." Questions are marked by tone changes or question particles.

3. Omi gbígbóná wà bí?

   OH-mee GBEEg-BOH-nah WAH bee

   Is there hot water?

   Usage

   Checking hotel amenities. "Gbígbóná" is an adjective meaning "hot/burning"

   Grammar Note

   "Gbígbóná" is derived from the verb "gbóná" (to be hot/burning) used as an adjective. "Omi gbígbóná" = "hot water." Yoruba derives adjectives from verbs.

4. Iye owó yàrá fún òru kan jẹ́ mélòó?

   ee-YEH oh-WOH YAH-rah foon OH-roo kahn JEH MEH-loh-oh

   How much is one night's stay?

   Usage

   Asking about room rates. "Òru" means "night" in Yoruba

   Grammar Note

   "Fún òru kan" is a prepositional phrase meaning "for one night." "Fún" is a preposition marking purpose or benefit.

5. Ṣé Wi-Fi wà níbí?

   sheh WAI-fai wah nee-BEE

   Is there Wi-Fi?

   Usage

   Checking for internet availability at the hotel

   Grammar Note

   "Ṣé" opens a yes/no question. "Wà" means "to be/exist" and "níbí" means "here". "Wi-Fi" is used as a loanword.

6. Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, mo fẹ́ ṣe checkout

   eh JOH-oh, moh FEH sheh CHEK-aut

   Please check me out

   Usage

   Requesting check-out at the hotel front desk

   Grammar Note

   "Checkout" is a loanword combined with "ṣe" (to do) to form a verb phrase.

7. Yàrá mi tutù jù

   YAH-rah mee TOO-too JOO

   My room is too cold

   Usage

   Expressing dissatisfaction with room temperature. Used when requesting AC adjustment

   Grammar Note

   "Tutù jù" = "too cold." "Jù" serves both as an intensifier and an "excessiveness" marker depending on context.

8. Mo fẹ́ yàrá pẹ̀lú ibùsùn

   moh FEH YAH-rah PEH-loo ee-BOO-soon

   I want a room with a bed

   Usage

   Specifying room amenities. "Pẹ̀lú" means "with / together with"

   Grammar Note

   "Pẹ̀lú" is a comitative preposition meaning "with/together with." Yoruba prepositions precede nouns and mark accompaniment, means, or cause.

9. Ṣé ibi ìwẹ̀ wà nínú yàrá?

   sheh ee-BEE ee-WEH wah NEE-noo YAH-rah

   Is there a bathroom in the room?

   Usage

   Checking if the room has its own bathroom

   Grammar Note

   "Ibi ìwẹ̀" means "place for bathing." "Nínú" is a locative preposition meaning "inside." The sentence-initial "Ṣé" makes it a yes/no question.

10. Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, dákẹ́

    eh JOH-oh, DAH-keh

    Please be quiet

    Usage

    Used when asking for quiet, e.g., when neighbors are noisy

    Grammar Note

    "Dákẹ́" is the imperative form of the verb "to be quiet/silent." Yoruba imperatives use the bare verb root. "Ẹ jọ̀ọ́" adds politeness.

11. Ìrọ̀rí

    Pillow

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for an extra one

12. Aṣọ ìbora

    Blanket

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for an extra one

13. Ọṣẹ

    Soap

    Usage

    Point at it to ask for a refill

14. Ọṣẹ irun

    Shampoo

    Usage

    Ask for shampoo; literally "hair soap"

15. Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, ẹ nu yàrá mi

    Please clean my room

    Usage

    Ask housekeeping to clean the room

16. Yàrá tí ó dákẹ́

    A quiet room

    Usage

    Ask for a quiet room at check-in

17. Ariwo pọ̀ jù

    It is too noisy

    Usage

    Complain about noise

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