Yoruba

noun

Yor·​u·​ba ˈyȯr-ə-bə How to pronounce Yoruba (audio)
plural Yoruba or Yorubas
: a Niger-Congo language of southwestern Nigeria and parts of Benin and Togo
also : a member of any of the Yoruba-speaking peoples of this region
Yoruban noun or adjective

Examples of Yoruba in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But the Benin culture is tied to the Yoruba culture. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2024 Osun is a fertility goddess of the Yoruba people, and in this eerie but beautiful sanctuary stand statues of several gods, or orishas, chief among them Ogun. John Ganz, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024 Or such a system might prove popular among English speakers but not be available in Yoruba, one of Nigeria’s main native languages. Daniel Björkegren, Foreign Affairs, 9 Aug. 2023 The 60″ x 72″ acrylic on canvas memorializes the iconography of twins in Yoruba culture, signifying a powerful presence and a source of protection. Essence, 7 June 2024 The Nigerian singer on her favorite Yoruba dish, late-night jazz club, and beaches around Lagos. Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 June 2023 Upon her return, the car, nicknamed Lumi, was donated to the J Randle Center for Yoruba Culture and History. Ronny Maye, Essence, 19 Apr. 2024 Oyelowo executive producers under his Yoruba Saxon banner. Joe Otterson, Variety, 16 Apr. 2024 Practitioners of Santeria trace historical ties to the Yoruba traditional religion, whose people have been reported to perform a chanting ritual during a solar eclipse. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Yoruba.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Yoruba Yorùbá

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Yoruba was in 1841

Dictionary Entries Near Yoruba

Cite this Entry

“Yoruba.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Yoruba. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.

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