Ọjà Níná (Haggling)
Content Objectives
- Initiate a conversation at the market
- Respond appropriately
- Haggle in Yoruba at the market
Walmart, Target, Costco, etc., are marketplaces where goods and items come with their price tags on, thereby foreclosing any chances of negotiating the price. There are other marketplaces where the consumer can interact with sellers of products and items in physical or mediated spaces. In Nigeria, you will find both instances: a store where price is fixed and open markets where you can haggle. Developing this conversational skill will be useful for navigating your way in the country. But knowing the language of the market, including how to haggle, will introduce you to certain aspects of Yorùbá language and culture. In this lesson, you will learn the vocabulary of the market. At the end, in addition to being able to perform tasks like asking to buy something or asking how much does an item cost, you will be able to haggle. This haggle “know-how” might save you a few bucks!
Ọ̀rọ̀ (Vocabulary)
ọjà “market”
ọlọ́jà “seller”
oníbàárà “buyer”
ìyá ọlọ́jà “female seller”
bàbá ọlọ́jà “male seller”
owó “money”
eélòó? “how much?”
mélòó? “how many?”
iye owó “bill”
ra “buy”
tà “sell”
dín “be less than” (e.g., kò dín ní “[it’s] not less than”)
ṣéńjì “change/balance”
náírà “Naira” (Nigerian currency)
dọ́là “Dollar”
kan “one”
méjì “two”
àpò “bag”
ike “container marking quantity” (bottle/jar)
irú èwo “which one?”
aṣọ “shoes”
Ìwé “book”
Ìrẹ̀sì “rice”
Gààrí “Gaari” (kind of food)
Àmàlà “Amala” (kind of food)
Iṣu “yams”
Ilá “okra”
Àlùbọ́sà “onion”
Àgbàdo “corn”
Owó “money”
ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ “plantain”
ọ̀gẹ̀dẹ̀ wẹ́wẹ́ “bananas”
ọsàn “oranges”
èso “fruits”
ọṣẹ “soap”
ọsẹ ìwẹ̀ “bath soap”
ọṣẹ ìfọbọ́ “dish soap”
ọṣẹ ìfọṣọ “laundry soap”
kẹ̀kẹ́ “bicycle”
òróró “vegetable oil”
aṣọ “cloth”
pẹ́ńsù̀lù “pencil”
aṣọ òtútù “winter jacket”
bàtà “shoes”
tuntun “new”
ẹ̀bùn “gift/present”
Kókó Ọ̀rọ̀ (Keyword/phrase)
Study the following dialogue:
Ìbéèrè (question):
Eélòó ni _____? “how much is _____?”
Ìdáhùn (response):
_____ ni “_____ is twelve naira”
Ìbéèrè (question):
kí lẹ fẹ́ rà? “what would like to buy?”
Ìdáhùn (response):
mo fẹ́ ra _____ “I’d like to buy _____”
Ìbéèrè (question):
“ṣé ó gba _____?” “does it go for ____ / can I pay _____”
Ìdáhùn (response):
“bẹ́ẹ̀ni” / “rárá” “yes” / “no”
e.g.,
oníbàárà:
eélòó ni aṣọ? “how much is the shirt?”
ọlọ́jà:
àádọta naira ni “it is fifty naira”
Note: àádọta naira “fifty naira” but naira mẹ́ta “three naira”
Key point: currency comes after 20, 30, 40, etc. but comes before other numbers.
Activity 1:
Looking at the examples and illustrations above, how would a conversation between a buyer and seller proceed using the items below? (# stands for Naira).
Cloth ($10)
pencil (#15)
Oranges ($3)
Shoes (#44)
Banana ($5)
Bicycle ($70)
Rice (#30)
Onion ($7)
Fruits ($40)
Winter jacket (#30)
Activity 2
The following is a conversation between Bàbá ọlọ́jà (the seller) and Tolú, a young boy. (I would like to two people to volunteer and role play these two characters.)
Tolú: ẹ káàrọ̀ o, bàbá “good morning, baba”
Bàbá ọlọ́jà: káàrọ̀, Tolú, Bawo ni? “Morning, Tolu, how are you?”
Tolú: dáadáa ni. “all is well”
Bàbá ọlọ́jà: màmá rẹ ńkọ́? “how is your mother?”
Tolú: wọ́n wà “she’s fine”
Bàbá ọlọ́jà: kí ni o fẹ́ rà? “what would you like to buy?”
Tolú: mo fẹ́ ra àgbàdo “I’d like to buy corn”
Bàbá ọlọ́jà: àgbàdo mélòó? “how many corn”
Tolú: mẹ́wàá. Eélòó ni? “10. how much is it?”
Bàbá ọlọ́jà: naira márùndínlógún ni “it is #15”
Tolú: ṣe ó gba naira méwàá? Note: ó is 3rd person pronoun (so = àgbàdo) “does it go for #10?”
Bàbá ọlọ́jà: rárá, kò gbà. “no, it doesn’t”
Tolú: sé ó gba naira mẹ́tàlá? “how about #13?”
Bàbá ọlọ́jà: san owó “bring the money”
Tolú: ẹ gbà “take the money”
Bàbá ọlọ́jà: o ṣé “thank you”
Tolú: ẹ sé, ó dàbọ̀ “thank you, good bye!”
Bàbá ọlọ́jà: ó dàbọ̀ o “good bye!”
Scenario:
You found a used iPhone listed on Facebook Marketplace and the seller is open to negotiate the price. In writing, model a dialogue between you and the seller. Haggle the price in at least five lines of Facebook Messenger chats where you both reach an agreeable price.