Schedule & Booking

1. Àkókò wo ni àpérò náà?

   À-kó-kò wo ni à-pé-rò náà?

   What time is the meeting?

   Usage

   Used to ask what time a meeting or formal gathering is

   Grammar Note

   "Àpérò" is a Yoruba word meaning a meeting or conference. Lagos has a cultural concept of "Lagos time" where meetings may start 30–60 minutes later than scheduled, especially social gatherings

2. Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, àkókò wo ni ẹ ó dé?

   Ẹ jọ-wọ, à-kó-kò wo ni ẹ ó dé?

   Please, what time will you be arriving?

   Usage

   A polite way to ask what time someone will arrive

   Grammar Note

   "Ó" is the future marker ("ẹ ó dé" = you will arrive). "Dé" means to arrive or come. In Nigeria, WhatsApp is the primary channel for schedule confirmations

3. Màá dé ní àárọ̀

   Màá dé ní àá-rọ̀

   I will be arriving in the morning

   Usage

   Used to indicate that you will arrive in the morning

   Grammar Note

   Yoruba time periods: "àárọ̀" (morning), "ọ̀sán" (afternoon/noon), "alẹ́" (evening), "òru" (night/midnight). In Nigeria, time periods are often used instead of exact clock times

4. A máa pàdé ní ọjọ́ Ajé

   A máa pà-dé ní ọ-jọ́ A-jé

   We will meet on Monday

   Usage

   Used to arrange a meeting on a specific day of the week

   Grammar Note

   Yoruba days: Ọjọ́ Àìkú (Sun), Ọjọ́ Ajé (Mon), Ọjọ́ Ìṣẹ́gun (Tue), Ọjọ́rú (Wed), Ọjọ́bọ̀ (Thu), Ọjọ́ Ẹtì (Fri), Ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta (Sat). "Ọjọ́" means day

5. Mo ti pẹ́ díẹ̀ — ẹ má bínú

   Mo ti pẹ́ díẹ̀ — ẹ má bí-nú

   I am a little late — I am sorry

   Usage

   An apology for arriving a little late

   Grammar Note

   "Má bínú" literally "don't be upset" — a common apology. Lagos traffic (locally called "go-slow") is a widely accepted excuse for lateness in the city

6. Ẹ jọ̀wọ́ dúró fún mi ní ìṣẹ́jú mẹ́wàá

   Ẹ jọ-wọ dú-ró fún mi ní ì-ṣẹ́-jú mẹ́-wàá

   Please wait for me for ten minutes

   Usage

   Used to ask someone to wait a short while before you arrive

   Grammar Note

   "Ìṣẹ́jú" means minute. Yoruba numbers 1–10: ọ̀kan, èjì, ẹ̀ta, ẹ̀rin, àrún, ẹ̀fà, èje, ẹ̀jọ, ẹ̀sàn, mẹ́wàá

7. Ṣé a lè yí àkókò padà?

   Ṣé a lè yí à-kó-kò pa-dà?

   Can we change the time?

   Usage

   Used to ask if the scheduled time can be changed

   Grammar Note

   "Yí padà" is a compound verb meaning to turn around/change. "Lè" is a modal indicating ability or possibility. Politely checking is preferred over a direct demand

8. Ìpàdé wa yóò pẹ́ tó ìgbà wo?

   Ì-pà-dé wa yóò pẹ́ tó ì-gbà wo?

   How long will our gathering last?

   Usage

   Used to ask how long a meeting, event or gathering will last

   Grammar Note

   "Ìpàdé" means meeting or gathering. "Pẹ́" means long or to last a long time. Nigerian church services and family gatherings often run much longer than the stated end time

9. Ó ṣeéṣe kí n dé ní ìrọ̀lẹ́

   Ó ṣe-é-ṣe kí n dé ní ì-rọ̀-lẹ́

   It is possible that I will arrive by evening

   Usage

   A polite, non-committal way to indicate an approximate arrival time

   Grammar Note

   "Ó ṣeéṣe" is an idiom for possibility or likelihood. Many Yoruba speakers add "bí Ọlọ́run bá fẹ́" (if God wills it) when discussing future plans, similar to "insha'Allah"

10. Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, ẹ ránṣẹ́ sí mi nígbà tí ẹ bá ń bọ̀

    Ẹ jọ-wọ, ẹ rán-ṣẹ́ sí mi ní-gbà tí ẹ bá ń bọ̀

    Please send me a message when you are on your way

    Usage

    Used to ask someone to notify you when they are heading over

    Grammar Note

    "Ránṣẹ́" means to send a message or envoy. WhatsApp is the dominant messaging platform in Nigeria. Using "ẹ" (plural/respectful you) shows politeness to the person

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