Massage & Spa

1. Ẹ fọwọ́ pa ara mi

   eh FOH-woh pah AH-rah mee

   Please massage my body

   Usage

   Requesting a massage

   Grammar Note

   "Fọwọ́ pa" means "to rub with the hand (ọwọ́)"; it is used to ask for a massage. "Ara" means "body" and in Yoruba culture refers to both physical and spiritual aspects of self.

2. Ẹ rọra díẹ̀

   eh ROH-rah dee-EH

   Please be gentle

   Usage

   Asking the masseur to be gentler when the pressure is too strong

   Grammar Note

   "Rọra díẹ̀" = "gentle a little." "Díẹ̀" is an adverb meaning "a little" that softens the request, making it polite.

3. Èjìká mi ń dùn mí

   eh-JEE-kah mee n DOON mee

   My shoulder hurts

   Usage

   Indicating where the pain is. Used to direct the masseur to focus on a specific area

   Grammar Note

   "Ń dùn mí" is the progressive marker "ń" + "dùn" (to hurt) + object "mí" (me): Yoruba says the body part hurts *me*. Shoulder is "èjìká"; "àpá" means "scar".

4. Mo fẹ́ kí ó gbóná díẹ̀

   moh FEH kee oh gboh-NAH dee-EH

   Please apply a little heat

   Usage

   Requesting warm compress or heat therapy during massage

   Grammar Note

   "Gbóná" is an adjectival verb expressing temperature. In Yoruba, many adjectives function as stative verbs.

5. Dúró níbẹ̀ fún ìṣẹ́jú díẹ̀

   DOO-roh NEE-beh foon ee-SHEH-joo dee-EH

   Stay there for a few minutes

   Usage

   Instruction from masseur to client during a treatment session

   Grammar Note

   "Ìṣẹ́jú" is the Yoruba word for "minute." "Fún ìṣẹ́jú diẹ̀" is a prepositional phrase meaning "for a few minutes."

6. Orí mi ń dùn mí

   oh-REE mee n DOON mee

   My head aches

   Usage

   Expressing a headache. Used when requesting a head massage

   Grammar Note

   "Orí" means "head" in Yoruba but also refers to one's personal destiny and spiritual guardian — a key concept. "Orí mi ń dùn mí" is a purely physical expression of headache.

7. Ẹ fi òrí pa mí lára

   eh fee OH-ree pah mee LAH-rah

   Please apply shea butter

   Usage

   "Òrí" (low tone) is the Yoruba word for shea butter, traditionally used in West Africa for skincare and massage. Keep the low tone: "orí" with high tone means "head"

   Grammar Note

   "Fi … pa mí lára" means "rub … on my body." "Òrí" is shea butter from the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), traditionally used in Yoruba cooking and skincare.

8. Ìdákẹ́jẹ́ ló wà nínú ara mi

   ee-DAH-keh-JEH loh WAH NEE-noo AH-rah mee

   There is calm in my body / I feel relaxed

   Usage

   Expressing the relaxed feeling after a massage

   Grammar Note

   "Ìdákẹ́jẹ́" is the nominalization of "dákẹ́" (to be quiet/calm). "Nínú ara mi" = "inside my body," marking location.

9. Ẹ tẹ̀ síta díẹ̀

   eh TEH see-TAH dee-EH

   Please press outward a little

   Usage

   Directing the masseur on pressure direction during a session

   Grammar Note

   "Síta" is a directional adverb meaning "outward/outside." "Tẹ̀ síta" = "press outward," a compound verb-adverb expression.

10. Ẹ ṣé, ara mi ti dára

    eh SHEH, AH-rah mee tee DAH-rah

    Thank you, my body feels better now

    Usage

    Expressing thanks and improved wellbeing at the end of a massage session

    Grammar Note

    "Ti dára" is a perfective construction: "ti (already) + dára (good)" = "has become good." It marks a change of state now complete.

Browse all TravelPhrases languages