Shopping

1. Iye rẹ̀ jẹ mélòó?

   ee-YEH reh JEH MEH-loh-oh

   How much does it cost?

   Usage

   The most basic way to ask the price. Widely used at markets and street stalls

   Grammar Note

   "Jẹ mélòó" is a fixed expression for asking price. "Jẹ" here means "equals/is" — a copula for equivalence.

2. Ẹ dín iye rẹ̀ kù

   eh DEEN ee-YEH reh KOO

   Please reduce the price

   Usage

   Haggling phrase. Price negotiation is standard practice at Nigerian markets

   Grammar Note

   "Dín … kù" is a compound verb meaning "to reduce", with the object (iye rẹ̀ = its price) placed between the two parts. "Ẹ dín iye rẹ̀ kù" is a polite haggling phrase.

3. Mo fẹ́ rà èyí

   moh FEH rah eh-YEE

   I want to buy this

   Usage

   Expressing purchase intent. Point at the item while saying "èyí" (this)

   Grammar Note

   "Rà" is the verb "to buy." Often used with "ọjà" (market). Tones on the verb root carry crucial meaning in Yoruba.

4. Ó gbówó jù

   oh gBOH-woh JOO

   It is too expensive

   Usage

   Used when the price is too high. Often opens a price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   "Jù" also means "too much/excessively." "Gbówó jù" = "too expensive." The superlative uses a different word, "jùlọ".

5. Ẹ fún mi ní àpò mìíràn

   eh FOON mee nee AH-poh MEE-ee-ran

   Please give me another bag

   Usage

   Requesting an additional shopping bag. Bags may be charged for at Nigerian markets

   Grammar Note

   "Mìíràn" is an adjective meaning "another/different." Yoruba adjectives are postpositional (placed after the noun).

6. Ọjà wà níbí

   oh-JAH WAH NEE-bee

   The market is here

   Usage

   "Ọjà" is the Yoruba word for market. Nigerian markets are centers of commerce and social life

   Grammar Note

   "Wà" is an existential verb meaning "to be/exist." Combined with "níbí" (here), it expresses location.

7. Mo fẹ́ràn aṣọ Ankara

   moh FEH-rahn ah-SHOH ahn-KAH-rah

   I like Ankara fabric

   Usage

   Ankara is the vibrant African print fabric central to Nigerian fashion and gift culture

   Grammar Note

   "Fẹ́ràn" is the verb "to like". "Aṣọ" means cloth or clothing, so "aṣọ Ankara" is Ankara fabric.

8. Ẹ yí padà rẹ̀

   eh YEE pah-DAH reh

   Please exchange/return it

   Usage

   Requesting an exchange or return of a product

   Grammar Note

   "Yí padà" is a compound verb meaning "change/reverse." "Padà" is a serial verb adding the meaning of "returning/reversing."

9. Ẹ fún mi ní rìsíìtì

   eh FOON mee nee ree-SEE-ee-tee

   Please give me a receipt

   Usage

   Requesting formal proof of purchase. Used in larger shops and official markets

   Grammar Note

   "Ẹ fún mi ní X" is the polite request frame. "Rìsíìtì" (low-high-low-low) borrows English "receipt" and means a receipt.

10. Èyí dára gan an

    eh-YEE DAH-rah GAN an

    This is really good / excellent quality

    Usage

    Complimenting the quality of an item. "Gan an" is an emphatic intensifier

    Grammar Note

    "Gan an" is an emphatic adverbial phrase meaning "truly/really." "Dára gan an" = "genuinely good/excellent quality."

11. Mi ò nílò rìsíìtì

    mee oh NEE-loh ree-SEE-ee-tee

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    Declining a receipt. "Rìsíìtì" is borrowed from English "receipt"

    Grammar Note

    Negation places "ò" after the subject. "Mi ò nílò + noun" means "I do not need …". The tone marks distinguish words and must not be dropped.

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