How to Form Descriptions

How to Form Descriptions in Yorùbá

Introduction

Yorùbá is a very sophisticated language where expressions are formed in diverse ways, using one or more words, and classes of words. Descriptions, for instance, are formed with adjectives and beyond that by incorporating other word classes such as adjectives (ọ̀rọ̀ àpèjúwe), verbs (ọ̀rọ̀ ìṣe), nouns (ọ̀rọ orúkọ), adverbs (, etc. These operations are automatic and natural to native speakers but they are not for non-natives.

• Pure/Simple Adjectives: They cannot start a sentence on their own except they are used in a noun phrase (nominal adjective). They are positioned after who or what you are describing. They are used to make simple sentences and can end sentences. You can also add adverbs behind them.

1. ga (tall) ……………………………. Bólá ga púpò.
2. fẹ̀ (wide) ………………………….. Gbogbo ìyàyáà mi fẹ̀ díè.
3. le (tough) …………………………. Iṣẹ yẹ le gan an ni.
4. mọ́ (clear/smooth) ……………… Mo wẹ̀, ara mi mọ́.
5. dára (good) ……………………….. Oúnjẹ rẹ̀ dára.

• Verbal Adjective: This happens when your using an auxiliary verb “is/are/was/were” with your simple/pure adjective. Together, it appears or sounds like you are doubling the adjective using its first consonant with “í”. They cannot start or end sentences.

1. is/are/was/were i.e gí + ga = gíga
2. fí + fẹ̀ = fífẹ̀
3. lí + le = líle
4. mí + mọ́ = mímọ́
5. dí + dára = dídára or dáradára

• Nominal/Personified Adjectives: They consist of a common noun + Verbal Adjective; they can start or end sentences but you cannot place the person, thing, or pronoun being described directly before or after them.

1. Ọmọ + gíga ………………………. Ọmọ gíga ni Bólá.
2. Ìyàrá + fífẹ̀ ………………………….. Mo fẹ́ràn ìyàrá fífẹ̀.
3. Igi + líle ………………………………. Igi líle ni ko lò.
4. Àdúgbò + mímọ́ ………………….. Wọ́n n ́wá àdúgbò mímọ́.
5. Ẹ̀gbọ́n + dáradára ……………….. Ẹ̀gbọ́n dáradára ni.

• Owner/Ownership Adjectives: You can describe people or things by making them owners of an attribute, using the name of the attribute. But first, you have to add the Ownership verbs “has/have/had” which is written as ní, lá, lọ́, lẹ́, lu . They cannot start sentences, they come after who/what you are describing; but they can end sentences or take adverbs behind them.

1. has/have/had i.e. ni + ìrẹ̀lẹ̀ (humility) = nírẹ̀lẹ̀
2. lá + àánú = làánú
3. lọ́ + ọ̀yàyà = lọ́yàyà
4. lẹ́ + ẹ́ẹ̀kéebú = lẹ́ẹ̀kéebú
5. lu + oko = luko

• Possessive Nominal Adjectives: These are formed by building on Owner adjectives, starting with ownership prefixes such as (Oní, alá, oló, ọlọ́, ẹlẹ́, elé) + Ownership verbs + noun/attribute. Just like Nominal adjectives they can start or end sentences, however, you cannot place the person, thing, pronoun being described directly after them except you add common nouns like (bàbá, ọmọ, ǹkan, ilé, oúnjẹ, etc).

1. ala + làánú = alàánú …………………….. Alàánú ni baba mi /or/ Baba alàánú ni wọn. /or just/ Alàánú ni wọn.
2. ọlọ + lọ́yàyà = ọlọ́yàyà …………………. Ọre mi je ọlọyaya.
3. ẹlẹ + lẹ́ẹ̀kéebú = ẹlẹ́ẹ̀kéebú ………….. Ẹlẹkebu eniyan ni (Bode)).
4. olo + lójo = olójo …………………………… Olójo ni Tópé.
5. ele + lépo = elépo ………………………….. Elépo lọ̀rẹ́ mi.

USING OPPOSITES AND NEGATIVES 

You can also make MORE Yoruba adjectives with OPPOSITE forms of other adjectives. E.g.

1. dára (good) – burú (bad)
2. ga (tall) – kúrú (short)
3. fẹ̀ (large) – kéré (small)
4. dùn (delicious) – korò (bitter)
5. onírẹ̀lẹ̀ (humble) – onígbéraga (proud) or alagidi (sturborn)
6. olówò (rich) – olòsì (poor)

Similarly, you can use NEGATIVE forms of other adjectives in 3 ways.

• kọ́ (ni): This means is/was/are/were not. It often comes after Possessive Nominal Adjectives and before the noun/pronoun it is referring to. It can end a senstence but it cannot start one.

1. Aláànú kọ́ ni Prince. ………………. Price is not helpful (a helper).
2. Olówó kọ́…………………………………..He/she is not rich.
3. Ọlọ́yàyà ènìyàn kọ́ ni………………..He is not an extrovert.
4. Aláta kọ́, ẹlẹ́ran ni. ………………….. It is not a pepper seller but a meat seller.

• kò: This implies just not when it comes before Pure Adjectives. It can also mean does/do/did not have when it comes after Ownership Adjectives. It can start a sentence but cannot end one.

1. Kò ga ………………………………………. He/she/it is not tall.
2. Kò dúdú ………………………………….  He/she/it is not dark in complexion.
3. Kò láànú. ……………………………….. He/she/it does not have mercy = merciless/mean
4. N kò lówó ……………………………… I do not have money.
5. Wọn kò féran onígbéraga………. They do not like the proud.

• kì í: This denotes is/was/are/were not and carries “se” when it is used before Possessive Nominal Adjectives. It can also mean is not or is usually not before Pure Adjectives. It can start a sentence but cannot end one.

1. Kì í se olùrànlọ́wọ́. ………………………… He/she/it is not a helper.
2. Kì í se aláànú (eniyan/nkan). ………. He/she/it is not merciful.
3. N kì í se tálíkà ………………………………. I am not poor/a poor person.
4. Ọmọ dada kì í jalè. ……………………….. A good child does not steal.