Ní Ọjà
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Ask for the price of a market item using the approved question pattern.
- State prices in Nigerian naira using correctly marked number expressions.
- Request a specific quantity, size, or color of a market good.
- Identify clothing items, containers, and common market goods using fully marked vocabulary.
- Evaluate options and make a simple choice with fẹ́ (want / prefer) and related expressions.
- Complete a courteous purchase exchange from greeting to closing.
- Use direct-object pronouns in controlled market contexts.
- Recognize and use one approved serial verb pattern for taking, giving, or transferring.
- Ask an information question using the ni focus pattern.
- Write a shopping list and a short transactional exchange with full tone marks and underdots.
Communication Scenario
It is Saturday morning. You are at Ọjà Ìbàdàn — a busy open-air market in Ìbàdàn — with a friend who has just arrived from abroad. You want to buy two items: a wrapper of fabric and some tomatoes for the evening meal. Your friend wants to look at clothing. The stall holders speak Yorùbá and some English. Your goal is to ask about the goods, find out prices, request the quantities and sizes you need, and complete the purchase politely.
- Think about what you can already say in Yorùbá: you know colors, numbers, quantity expressions, negation, and polite requests. Write down five sentences you could already use in a market.
- What new things do you need in order to complete a purchase? Make a list in English. By the end of this chapter, every item on that list should have a Yorùbá expression next to it.
- When you shop in any language, what do you say when something is too expensive? What do you say when you want to see a different size or color? Think about the communicative moves — not just the words — that make up a successful transaction.
Core Vocabulary
Àwọn ohun tí a ta ní ọjà — Market goods
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ọjà | market | also: goods, load |
| ohun tí a ta | goods, things for sale | literal: things that are sold |
| epo | oil (palm oil, vegetable oil) | specify type when needed |
| àtàrí | tomato | singular; àwọn àtàrí for several |
| ata | pepper | |
| àgbàdo | corn, maize | |
| ìrísì | rice | loanword, verify tone |
| ẹja | fish | |
| ẹran | meat | |
| ọṣẹ | soap | |
| omi | water | |
| àgbọ̀n | basket | |
| ìkòkò | pot, cooking pot | |
| ìgò | bottle | |
| àpò | bag, sack | |
| aṣọ | cloth, fabric, clothing | general term |
Aṣọ àti ẹwù — Clothing
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| àgbádá | wide-sleeved flowing robe (men's) | formal Yorùbá attire |
| ẹwù | garment, shirt, top | general upper-body garment |
| ẹwù àgba | dress (woman's) | |
| sòkòtò | trousers, trousers | |
| ìró | wrapper (women's cloth wrap) | worn around the waist or body |
| bùbá | blouse (women's Yorùbá top) | worn with ìró |
| fìlà | cap, hat (men's) | |
| bàtà | shoes | singular and plural same form |
| aṣọ-ìpele | headtie (women's head wrap fabric) | |
| káàbà | jacket | loanword from "khaki" + adaptation |
Owó àti iye — Money and quantities
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| owó | money | also means: hand |
| náírà | naira (Nigerian currency) | always verify tone: náírà |
| kọ̀bọ̀ | kobo (1/100 of a naira) | uncommon in everyday market use |
| iye | amount, quantity, price | |
| ìdá ẹ̀jì | half | |
| díẹ̀ | a little, a few, some | |
| púpọ̀ | a lot, many, much | |
| tó | enough | also: until, as far as |
| jù lọ | too (much / many) — exceeds what is acceptable | contrast with púpọ̀ |
| ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ | very many, a great deal | |
| ìwọ̀n | measure, size, weight | |
| kékeré | small (attributive / predicate) | variant of kéré |
| àárọ̀ | morning (time expression) | review from Ch. 1 |
Àwọn gbolohùn ọjà — Market transaction expressions
| Yorùbá | English | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Iye rẹ̀ jẹ́ mélòó? | How much does it cost? / What is the price? | asking the price of one item |
| Ó jẹ́ ___ náírà. | It costs ___ naira. | stating a price |
| Mo fẹ́ ___. | I want ___. | requesting an item |
| Fún mi ní ___. | Give me ___. | direct request to seller |
| Yọ̀ ___. | Take ___ out / Measure out ___. | asking seller to measure a quantity |
| Ó pọ̀ jù. | It is too expensive. / It is too much. | expressing that the price is high |
| Ẹ dín iye rẹ̀ kù. | Please reduce the price. | respectful negotiation request |
| Màá san owó fún yín. | I will pay you. | formulaic closing of agreement |
| Ẹ jẹ́ kí n rí ___. | Let me see ___. | asking to examine an item |
| Ó dára. | Good. / Fine. / That will do. | accepting an offer or outcome |
| Ẹ dúpẹ́. | Thank you. (honorific / to seller) | closing the exchange |
The expressions Màá san owó fún yín and Ẹ jẹ́ kí n rí ___ contain grammar — specifically the future-like particle máa and the suggestion pattern — not yet fully analyzed. Use them as formulaic units for now. Their internal structure will be examined in Chapters 14 and 17.
Àwọn nọ́mbà tó pọ̀ sí — Numbers 100 and above
Chapter 2 introduced 1–20; Chapter 3 extended the range to 100. This chapter adds the numbers needed for everyday prices in Nigerian naira. The following are the approved productive forms for this course. Verify each form before use — Yorùbá number formation has multiple historical patterns, and learners should master these high-frequency forms before exploring traditional vigesimal derivations.
| Numeral | Yorùbá | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | ọgọ́rùn-ún | also heard: igba for 200 |
| 200 | igba | widely used form |
| 300 | ọ̀ọ́dúnrún | |
| 400 | irinwó | |
| 500 | ẹ̀ẹ́dẹ̀gbẹ̀ta | receptive only at this stage; use ọgọ́rùn-ún márùn-ún for productive output |
| 1,000 | ẹgbẹ̀rún | essential for prices |
| 2,000 | ẹgbẹ̀rún méjì | |
| 5,000 | ẹgbẹ̀rún márùn-ún | |
| 10,000 | ẹgbẹ̀rún mẹ́wàá |
Yorùbá has a traditional vigesimal (base-20) numeral system with complex derivations for numbers such as 500, 600, and 700. This course does not require productive mastery of the full traditional system at the beginner level. The forms above are sufficient for common market and shopping transactions. If you encounter traditional forms in natural speech or writing, treat them as receptive material.
Àwọn àwọ̀ àti ìwọ̀n — Colors and sizes (review and extension)
| Yorùbá | English |
|---|---|
| pupa | red |
| àwọ̀ búlúù | blue (color) |
| àwọ̀ ewé | green (color of leaves) |
| funfun | white |
| dúdú | black, dark |
| àwọ̀ ọsan | orange (color) |
| àwọ̀ àárọ̀ | yellow (color of morning light) |
| tóbi | big, large |
| kékeré | small, little |
| gígùn | long |
| kúkúrú | short (of objects) |
Color expressions in Yorùbá often follow the noun. àwọ̀ (color) can be used before many color terms to make the color-noun relationship explicit. You will see both patterns in natural use: aṣọ pupa and aṣọ àwọ̀ pupa both mean "red cloth."
Pronunciation and Orthography Focus
Focus 1 — Tone in numbers and prices
Numbers in Yorùbá carry specific tone patterns that must be memorized as part of each form. A wrong tone on a number can cause confusion about the amount. Practice the following forms until the tone sequence feels natural:
- ẹgbẹ̀rún — one thousand: low-low-high
- ọgọ́rùn-ún — one hundred: mid-high-low-high
- igba — two hundred: mid-mid
- irinwó — four hundred: mid-mid-high
- ọ̀ọ́dúnrún — three hundred: low-high-high-high
When saying a price, the pattern is typically: number + náírà. Practise these as complete phrases:
- ẹgbẹ̀rún méjì náírà — two thousand naira
- igba náírà — two hundred naira
- ọgọ́rùn-ún àti àádọ́ta náírà — one hundred and fifty naira
Always mark the tone on náírà. The high tones on the first two syllables are essential for distinguishing this word from other similar-sounding words.
Focus 2 — Tone and vowel interaction with object pronouns
Market requests frequently use object pronouns. The most important for this chapter is the third-person singular object form rẹ̀ (low tone) — "it" or "him/her" — which often follows directly after the verb. Practice the following patterns:
- Fún mi ní ẹ̀jọ àtàrí. — Give me eight tomatoes. (mi = first-person object)
- Mo fẹ́ rẹ̀. — I want it. (rẹ̀ = third-person singular object, low tone)
- Ẹ jẹ́ kí n rí i. — Let me see it. (i = reduced object form after some verbs)
Notice that rẹ̀ (object) has low tone, while rẹ (possessive, familiar 2nd person) has mid tone. This contrast matters. When you say Mo fẹ́ rẹ̀, the low tone on the final word identifies "it" as the object you want, not a possessive reference.
Focus 3 — Contractions in high-frequency market questions
In natural Yorùbá market speech, certain question and request patterns are commonly contracted. Learn the full form first, then recognise the contracted version:
- Full: Iye rẹ̀ jẹ́ mélòó? — How much does it cost? (literally: its price is how many?)
- Common spoken alternative: Iye rẹ̀ fún mi ni? — How much for me? (formulaic inquiry)
- Full: Fún mi ní àtàrí mẹ́ta. — Give me three tomatoes.
- Natural spoken: Fún mi àtàrí mẹ́ta. — the ní may be reduced in rapid speech
Do not invent contractions by deleting syllables at random. The contracted forms here are verified patterns from natural market Yorùbá. The full forms are always acceptable and are the baseline for writing.
Focus 4 — Fully marked currency expressions
Write and say each of the following prices aloud. Check that every tone mark and underdot is present before moving on.
- ẹgbẹ̀rún náírà — ₦1,000
- igba náírà — ₦200
- ẹgbẹ̀rún méjì náírà — ₦2,000
- ọgọ́rùn-ún àti àádọ́ta náírà — ₦150
- ẹgbẹ̀rún márùn-ún náírà — ₦5,000
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
9.1 Numerals and noun-qualifier order in the market
Purpose: use numbers, colors, sizes, and quantities in natural noun phrases to describe market goods.
You learned in Chapter 2 that qualifiers follow the noun in Yorùbá noun phrases. Market language builds on this pattern. The general order for expanded noun phrases is:
àwọn (if plural) + noun + possessive or demonstrative + color or quality + numeral or quantifier
- aṣọ pupa méjì noun + color + numeral two red cloths
- àwọn àtàrí mẹ́ta àwọn + noun + numeral three tomatoes
- bàtà dúdú tóbi kan noun + color + size + numeral (one) one large black shoe / a large black shoe
- ìgò omi kékeré méfàá noun + noun-modifier (of water) + size + numeral six small bottles of water
In Yorùbá, the number kan (one) often follows the noun and any other qualifiers, functioning somewhat like an indefinite article in English. Compare:
- ẹwù kan — a garment / one garment
- ẹwù pupa kan — a red garment / one red garment
Numbers greater than one also follow the noun and any color or quality word. Do not put the number before the noun as you would in English.
9.2 Asking and stating prices
Purpose: use the price-question pattern and state a price correctly.
The standard price question uses jẹ́ (to cost, to be priced at) and the question word mélòó (how much/many):
- Iye rẹ̀ jẹ́ mélòó? price/amount of-it costs how-much? How much does it cost? / What is the price?
- Ó jẹ́ ẹgbẹ̀rún méjì náírà. it costs thousand two naira It costs two thousand naira.
- Aṣọ yìí jẹ́ mélòó? cloth this costs how-much? How much does this cloth cost?
- Àwọn àtàrí mẹ́ta jẹ́ igba náírà. tomatoes three cost two-hundred naira Three tomatoes cost two hundred naira.
You have already met jẹ́ in the identity pattern Mo jẹ́ olùkọ́ (I am a teacher). In market contexts, jẹ́ also means "to cost" — the price of something is what it "amounts to." The two uses share the same form and tone. Context makes the meaning clear: when followed by a naira amount, jẹ́ expresses cost; when followed by a profession or identity noun, it expresses identity or classification.
9.3 Direct-object pronouns in market requests
Purpose: use first- and third-person object pronouns to complete market requests naturally.
Object pronouns allow you to refer back to an item already mentioned without repeating the full noun. The most important forms for this chapter are:
| Person | Object pronoun | Tone | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st singular (me) | mi | mid | Fún mi ní ___. — Give me ___. |
| 3rd singular (it / him / her) | rẹ̀ | low | Mo fẹ́ rẹ̀. — I want it. |
| 2nd honorific / plural (you) | yín | high | Màá san owó fún yín. — I will pay you. |
- Fún mi ní ìró pupa méjì. Give me two red wrappers.
- Iye rẹ̀ jẹ́ mélòó? Mo fẹ́ rẹ̀. How much does it cost? I want it.
- Màá san owó fún yín lẹ́sẹ̀kẹsẹ̀. I will pay you immediately.
The form mi appears both as a first-person object pronoun (in Fún mi — give me) and as a first-person possessive pronoun (in àpótí mi — my bag). These are the same surface form in Standard Yorùbá, and context disambiguates them. In Fún mi ní aṣọ, mi is the object of the verb fún. In aṣọ mi, mi follows the noun and marks possession. Learners need not worry about a formal distinction — just learn each pattern as a whole expression.
9.4 Commands and polite requests in market contexts
Purpose: make direct requests to a seller using affirmative commands and polite framing.
You learned fixed command forms in Chapter 2. In market settings, commands to sellers take the bare verb form. Because sellers are typically addressed with the honorific or plural ẹ, a polite honorific frame is common:
- Fún mi ní àtàrí mẹ́ta. verb + object-pronoun + ní + item Give me three tomatoes. (direct, neutral)
- Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, fún mi ní àtàrí mẹ́ta. honorific-please + verb + object-pronoun + ní + item Please give me three tomatoes. (polite, respectful)
- Ẹ jẹ́ kí n rí aṣọ yẹn. honorific + let + 1st-person + see + cloth + that Please let me see that cloth. (formulaic — treat as a unit)
- Ẹ dín iye rẹ̀ kù. honorific + reduce + price + remain Please reduce the price. (polite negotiation)
A bare command is not rude in itself — it is a natural request form in Yorùbá market contexts where the relationship is service-oriented. Adding ẹ jọ̀wọ́ (please — honorific) or addressing the seller as ẹ makes the request more courteous and is often heard from shoppers who wish to maintain a respectful relationship. You will not cause offence by using ẹ jọ̀wọ́, and it is always a safe choice.
9.5 Introductory serial verb construction: fún (give) and gbà (take/receive)
Purpose: use one approved serial verb pattern that expresses transfer of goods from seller to buyer.
A serial verb construction is a sequence of two or more verbs that share the same subject (and sometimes the same object) to describe one connected event. The conjunction "and" is not inserted between the verbs in Yorùbá.
The most important serial pattern for the market involves mú (take, pick up) combined with a directional or transfer verb:
English speakers naturally want to insert "and" between two action verbs: take and give. Yorùbá serial verb constructions express this as a single coordinated event rather than two separate linked events. The two verbs share the same subject and describe one flowing action. Inserting àti (and) between mú and fún would produce an unnatural result — it would imply two independent actions rather than one transfer event.
For now, learn mú ___ fún mi and mú ___ wá as complete, unanalyzed productive patterns. The serial verb system will be analyzed and expanded in Chapter 11.
9.6 Information questions with ni focus
Purpose: use approved question patterns with ni to ask about price and identity of market goods.
You have already used the focus particle ni in identity statements. In market questions, it appears in the patterns kí ni ___? (what is ___?) and price questions. These are treated as formulaic productive expressions at this stage:
- Kí ni orúkọ rẹ̀ ní Yorùbá? What is its name in Yorùbá?
- Iye rẹ̀ jẹ́ mélòó? How much does it cost?
- Àwọn ẹwù wọ̀nyí jẹ́ mélòó? How much are these garments?
Yorùbá number formation is staged and must not be generated by analogy from English patterns. The numbers you have learned in this course — including the forms for 100, 200, 1,000, and their combinations — are verified high-frequency forms appropriate to market and everyday use. However, the full traditional Yorùbá numeral system uses a vigesimal (base-20) structure with forms such as ẹgbẹ̀ta (600), ẹgbẹ̀rin (1,600), and complex subtraction patterns for numbers like 19, 39, or 190. These are outside the productive scope of this course. Do not attempt to generate traditional number forms by analogy — look them up and verify the tone and form each time.
Price expressions also vary across setting, generation, and community. Prices in Nigerian naira are standard for transactions in Nigeria, while Beninese and Togolese Yorùbá-speaking communities use different currencies. When practicing market dialogues, use naira amounts unless your scenario specifically calls for another context.
Practice — Noun phrases with quantities, colors, and sizes
Build a natural Yorùbá noun phrase for each description. Write the phrase in full, then translate it.
- One large blue garment
- Five bottles of water (small)
- Three red wrappers
- Two black shoes (large)
- A little oil
Practice — Price questions and answers
Write a price question and a price statement for each item. Use the market vocabulary and number expressions from this chapter.
- A large red wrapper — ₦3,000
- Eight tomatoes — ₦200
- One small pot — ₦1,500
- A bottle of palm oil — ₦500
Practice — Serial verb and request patterns
Rewrite each request using the serial verb pattern mú ___ fún mi or a polite command frame.
- You want the seller to bring you the green cloth.
- You want to receive two red wrappers.
- You want the seller to bring you a little water.
- You want to see the large basket.
Model Dialogue
Read the dialogue carefully. Notice how the buyer greets the seller, asks about the goods, negotiates politely, and completes the purchase. Pay attention to the serial verb patterns, price expressions, and object pronouns. The comprehension questions follow.
Ipò: Ọjà Ìbàdàn, owúrọ̀ Ọjọ́ Àbámẹ́ta. Adélékè (olùra — buyer) ń wá aṣọ. Àwọn ẹní ta (ọlọ́jà — seller) orúkọ rẹ̀ ni Màmá Títí. Adélékè ò mọ Màmá Títí tẹ́lẹ̀, nítorí náà ó ń lo ìkíni ti ọmọlúwàbí.
Setting: Ìbàdàn market, Wednesday morning. Adélékè (buyer) is looking for cloth. The seller is called Màmá Títí. Adélékè does not know Màmá Títí, so he uses polite address from the start.
(Màmá Títí mú ìró náà fún Adélékè. — Màmá Títí takes the wrapper and gives it to Adélékè.)
- Màmá Títí mú ìró náà fún Adélékè (stage direction) — mú (take) + fún (give): Màmá Títí picks up the wrapper and gives it. Two verbs, one event.
- Mú ìró rẹ lọ — mú (take) + lọ (go): take your wrapper and go. The buyer is told to take the item and depart. Again, no "and" is inserted.
- Ẹ gba (Take it) — a single-verb command in a transfer context; the serial element is implied by the prior offer of money.
Notice how lọ (to go) functions as the second verb in a serial sequence. You will learn more about motion verbs in serial constructions in Chapter 11.
Àwọn ìbéèrè nípa ọ̀rọ̀ àdáhùnṣe — Comprehension questions:
- Kí ni Adélékè fẹ́ rà? (What does Adélékè want to buy?)
- Iye ìró pupa tóbi yẹn jẹ́ mélòó ní àkọ́kọ́? (How much did the large red wrapper cost at first?)
- Kí ni Adélékè sọ nígbà tí ó gbọ́ iye náà? (What did Adélékè say when he heard the price?)
- Àwọn méjì wọn gbà iye mélòó ní ìparí? (What price did the two of them agree on in the end?)
- Find the serial verb construction in the stage direction. Write it out, identify the two verbs, and explain what single event it describes.
- What form of address does Adélékè use throughout — familiar or honorific? Find two examples to support your answer.
Listening
Ask your instructor, a study partner, or a qualified Yorùbá speaker to read the following market exchanges at a natural pace. Listen twice. On the first listen, identify what each buyer wants to buy and what price is mentioned. On the second listen, complete the table below.
If no speaker is available, this is a Listening Script for Independent Use. Read each exchange aloud at a natural pace, then cover it and answer the questions. Machine text-to-speech output must be verified by a qualified Yorùbá speaker before being used as a model.
Ìjíròrò 1:
Àpín A (Olùra): "Ẹ káàsán. Mo fẹ́ rà àtàrí àti ata. Àwọn àtàrí mẹ́fà jẹ́ mélòó?"
Àpín B (Ọlọ́jà): "Àtàrí mẹ́fà jẹ́ ọgọ́rùn-ún àti àádọ́ta náírà. Ata díẹ̀ jẹ́ àádọ́ta náírà."
Àpín A: "Ó dára. Fún mi ní àtàrí mẹ́fà àti ata díẹ̀. Jẹ́ mélòó ní àpapọ̀?"
Àpín B: "Igba náírà ní àpapọ̀."
Àpín A: "Ó dára. Ẹ gba owó yìí. Ẹ ṣé."
Ìjíròrò 2:
Àpín A (Olùra): "Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, àwọn bàtà dúdú wọ̀nyí jẹ́ mélòó?"
Àpín B (Ọlọ́jà): "Bàtà kan jẹ́ ẹgbẹ̀rún mẹ́ta náírà."
Àpín A: "Àá, ó pọ̀ jù. Ẹgbẹ̀rún méjì àti igba náírà bí?"
Àpín B: "Ẹgbẹ̀rún méjì àti ọgọ́rùn-ún márùn-ún. Ó pẹ tán."
Àpín A: "Ó dára. Mo fẹ́ rẹ̀. Màá san owó fún yín."
Ìjíròrò 3:
Àpín A (Olùra): "Ẹ ní ìwé àkọsílẹ̀ bí? Kí ni iye rẹ̀?"
Àpín B (Ọlọ́jà): "Bẹ́ẹ̀ ni, mo ní. Ìwé àkọsílẹ̀ kan jẹ́ ọgọ́rùn-ún náírà."
Àpín A: "Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, fún mi ní méta."
Àpín B: "Ó yá. Àwọn ìwé mẹ́ta jẹ́ ọgọ́rùn-ún mẹ́ta náírà."
| Ìjíròrò | Ohun tí olùra fẹ́ rà (What the buyer wants) | Iye àkọ́kọ́ (First price mentioned) | Iye ìparí (Final price) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
| 2 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
| 3 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
Ìbéèrè àfikún — Bonus questions:
- In Exchange 1, what expression does the buyer use to ask for both items at once? Write the Yorùbá sentence.
- In Exchange 2, did the buyer and seller agree on the buyer's first proposed price, the seller's reduced price, or a different amount? State the final price in Yorùbá words.
- In Exchange 3, what is the total price for three notebooks? Write the answer as a Yorùbá sentence.
Reading
Read the two texts below. The first is a market price notice. The second is a short message. Both use Standard Yorùbá orthography with full tone marks and underdots.
Ìkéde ọjà — Market price notice
ỌJÀ ÀMÁLÁDÉ — ÌBÀDÀN
Àwọn iye ohun tí a ta lónìí:
Àtàrí mẹ́ta ......................... igba náírà
Ata díẹ̀ ................................ àádọ́ta náírà
Ẹja kan (tóbi) .................... ẹgbẹ̀rún náírà
Ìrísì (àpò kékeré) .............. ẹgbẹ̀rún méjì náírà
Epo (ìgò méjì) ................... ẹgbẹ̀rún méjì àti igba náírà
Ọṣẹ kan ............................. ọgọ́rùn-ún àti àádọ́ta náírà
Àwọn iye wọ̀nyí le yí padà. Ẹ béèrè lọ́wọ́ oníṣòwò ṣáájú rírà.
These prices may change. Ask the trader before buying.
Ìfitónilétí kan — A short message
Bísí,
Mo ń lọ sí ọjà lọ́la. Mo fẹ́ rà epo, àtàrí, àti aṣọ tuntun kan fún ìdílé wa. Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, fún mi ní ẹgbẹ̀rún mẹ́rin náírà. Iye ìgò epo méjì jẹ́ ẹgbẹ̀rún méjì àti igba náírà. Mo fẹ́ aṣọ búlúù tàbí pupa — ìyẹn tó bá dára. Màá padà wá ní òru.
Adùnkẹ́
Àwọn ìbéèrè nípa ọ̀rọ̀ àdáhùnṣe — Comprehension questions:
- Iye àtàrí mẹ́ta jẹ́ mélòó ní ọjà Àmáládé? (How much do three tomatoes cost at Àmáládé Market?)
- Iye ọṣẹ kan jẹ́ mélòó? Kọ ìdáhùn ní Yorùbá. (How much does one soap cost? Write the answer in Yorùbá.)
- Nínú ìfitónilétí náà, kí ni Adùnkẹ́ fẹ́ rà ní ọjà? (In the message, what does Adùnkẹ́ want to buy at the market?)
- Iye owó tí Adùnkẹ́ béèrè fún jẹ́ mélòó? (How much money did Adùnkẹ́ ask for?)
- Àwọ̀ aṣọ wo ni Adùnkẹ́ fẹ́? Ṣe àwọ̀ méjì ṣe yẹ? (What color cloth does Adùnkẹ́ want? Are two colors acceptable?)
- Find one sentence in the message that contains a serial verb construction or an approved serial pattern from this chapter. Write it out and identify the verbs.
Writing Workshop
Chapter 9 has two writing products: a shopping list and a short transactional exchange. Both must use Standard Yorùbá orthography with full tone marks and underdots.
Àpín A — Àkójọ ohun tí a fẹ́ rà (Shopping list)
Write a shopping list for a market visit. Include at least five items. For each item, specify:
- The item name (with any size or color qualifier)
- The quantity
- An estimated price in naira
Use the format: item + quantity + estimated price. Model:
Àtàrí mẹ́fà — igba náírà
Ọṣẹ kan — ọgọ́rùn-ún àti àádọ́ta náírà
Ìró pupa kan (tóbi) — ẹgbẹ̀rún mẹ́ta náírà
Àpín B — Ìjíròrò ọjà (Market exchange)
Write a short market dialogue of 8–12 lines. Your dialogue must include:
- A greeting appropriate to the time of day
- A request for at least two items from your shopping list
- A price question using Iye rẹ̀ jẹ́ mélòó?
- A price statement from the seller
- One polite negotiation move (either accepting or requesting a reduction)
- A closing using a serial pattern (Mú ___ fún mi or Ẹ gba owó) and a farewell
- Plan your scenario. Decide where you are (which market or shop), who the seller is, what you want to buy, and what budget you have. Write these in English or any language.
- Draft the dialogue. Write at least four turns for each speaker. Use the model dialogue in Section 9 as a structural guide, but do not copy its content — use items from your own shopping list.
- Check pronouns and particles. Scan every sentence. Did you use the honorific ẹ when addressing the seller? Did you use mi correctly as the object after fún? Did you use rẹ̀ (low tone) for "it" as an object?
- Apply the editing checklist. Every high and low tone must be marked. Every ẹ, ọ, and ṣ must carry its underdot.
Àtúnṣe àtúnyẹ̀wò — Editing checklist:
- Every number has its correct tone pattern. I did not leave numbers unmarked.
- The word náírà carries its two high tones: náírà.
- Every ẹ, ọ, and ṣ is spelled with an underdot.
- Object pronoun mi appears after fún, not the subject form mo.
- Object pronoun rẹ̀ (for "it") carries a low tone, not a mid tone.
- I used the honorific address form ẹ (or ẹ jọ̀wọ́) when speaking to the seller.
- My serial verb construction has no conjunction between the two verbs.
- Noun qualifiers (color, size, number) appear after the noun, not before it.
- Every sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop or question mark.
Speaking Practice
Àdáwọlé àkọ́kọ́ — Controlled practice: price questions and answers
Working with a partner, take turns playing buyer and seller. The seller names an item and a price; the buyer asks the price question, hears the answer, and decides whether to buy, negotiate, or decline. Use the price-notice items from the Reading section as your inventory, or create your own five-item list.
Required expressions in every exchange:
- A time-appropriate greeting
- At least one price question: Iye rẹ̀ jẹ́ mélòó?
- A price statement with the naira amount
- A response: either Ó dára, mo fẹ́ rẹ̀ or Ó pọ̀ jù
- A closing: payment offer or leave-taking
Iṣẹ́ ìjíròrò — Communicative task: market simulation
Set up three or four "market stalls" in the classroom (or use a picture prompt in solo practice). Each stall has a list of items and prices. Buyers have a budget card in naira and a shopping list. In five minutes, each buyer must complete at least two transactions:
- Greet the seller appropriately.
- Ask about and identify at least two items using vocabulary from this chapter.
- Ask the price and respond to it.
- Use at least one polite request with the serial pattern fún mi ní ___ or mú ___ fún mi.
- Complete the transaction and say farewell.
After the simulation, report to the class in Yorùbá: what did you buy, how much did you spend, and was anything too expensive?
Fún àwọn tí ń kọ́ nìkọ̀ọ̀kan — Solo alternative: recorded market exchange
Record yourself playing both the buyer and the seller in a two- to three-minute market exchange based on the dialogue in this chapter. Play the buyer's role without a script; improvise the seller's responses. Listen back and check:
- Did you pronounce the number words with correct tone?
- Did you use ẹ jọ̀wọ́ or ẹ when speaking to the seller?
- Did you say rẹ̀ (low tone) rather than rẹ (mid tone) when referring to "it" as an object?
- Did the serial construction sound like one fluent event rather than two separate pauses?
Culture and Communication
Markets occupy a central place in the social and economic life of many Yorùbá-speaking communities. In southwestern Nigeria, large daily markets such as Ọjà Ìbàdàn, Balogun Market in Lagos, and Ọjà Ìgbẹ́kọ̀ serve not only as commercial spaces but as places where people catch up on news, renew social ties, and exchange information. Weekly markets on a four- or eight-day cycle also exist in many towns, coordinating trade across a wider area.
In Benin and Togo, Yorùbá-speaking traders similarly participate in local and regional market systems, though the currency, some vocabulary, and specific market names differ. Do not assume that every market practice in Ìbàdàn applies identically in Cotonou or Lomé.
Price negotiation (ìdójútí iye or ìdíje iye) is common in open-air markets and stalls but is not universal. Fixed-price retail stores, supermarkets, and many urban commercial outlets do not negotiate. Even in open markets, not every seller expects or welcomes negotiation, and the degree of flexibility varies by commodity, relationship, and context.
The key politeness moves in Yorùbá market negotiation are: expressing appreciation for the goods before questioning the price, using respectful address throughout, making a reasonable counter-offer rather than drastically undercutting, and accepting "Ó pẹ tán" (That is final) gracefully if the seller is not willing to reduce further. Avoid characterizing negotiation as a Yorùbá cultural universal or as compulsory behavior in every shopping context.
Addressing a market seller requires attention to age, relationship, and status. A seller who is clearly older than the buyer is typically addressed with the honorific ẹ, often combined with kinship-based address terms such as Màmá, Bàbá, Ìyá, or Ègbón (older sibling). These terms signal respect and also establish a warm relational tone that may ease negotiation.
A seller who appears to be a peer or younger may be addressed with the familiar o, though using the honorific is never inappropriate. Learners who are uncertain about the right register should default to the honorific — it is always safe.
This chapter uses Nigerian naira (náírà) as the currency for price examples, which is standard for transactions in Nigeria. Yorùbá-speaking communities in Benin use the West African CFA franc (fíráńsì), and those in Togo use the same CFA franc under a different central bank. The Yorùbá terms for these currencies differ, and price scales differ dramatically from naira amounts.
If you are using this textbook in a Beninese or Togolese context, your instructor may provide localized price examples. The transactional grammar — questions, requests, serial patterns, and politeness moves — transfers across all three contexts. Only the currency names and amounts need to be adapted.
Common Mistakes
Error: Writing *mẹ́ta àtàrí (three tomatoes) by placing the number before the noun, as in English.
Correction: àtàrí mẹ́ta. In Yorùbá, the numeral follows the noun. The pattern is noun first, qualifier or number after. This applies to all qualifying words, including colors and size adjectives. Think of the noun as announcing the category and the qualifiers as narrowing it down.
Error: Saying or writing *Mo fẹ́ rẹ (mid tone on the final word) when referring to an item as the object of the verb.
Correction: Mo fẹ́ rẹ̀ — the third-person singular object pronoun "it/him/her" carries low tone. Mid-tone rẹ is the familiar second-person possessive ("your"), as in ìwé rẹ (your book). Confusing the two tones produces a different meaning. Practice the minimal pair: rẹ (your) vs. rẹ̀ (it/object) until the distinction is automatic.
Error: Writing *Mú ìró yẹn àti fún mi — inserting àti between the two verbs of a serial construction.
Correction: Mú ìró yẹn fún mi. A serial verb construction in Yorùbá does not require a conjunction between the verbs. The two verbs form a single event sequence. Adding àti disrupts the construction and sounds unnatural. Remember: the absence of "and" is not a grammatical error — it is the correct form.
Error: Writing *naira or *naírà — using the English spelling or omitting the first high tone.
Correction: náírà — both high tones on the first two syllables must be marked. The Yorùbá word for the Nigerian currency is an adapted loanword; in Standard Yorùbá orthography, it carries fully specified tones and the adapted vowel pattern. Do not transfer the English spelling naira into your Yorùbá text.
Error: Writing *Fún mo ní àtàrí mẹ́ta — using the subject pronoun mo instead of the object pronoun mi.
Correction: Fún mi ní àtàrí mẹ́ta. After a verb in a request or command, the object form is required. Subject pronouns (mo, o, ó, a, ẹ, wọ́n) precede the verb; object pronouns (mi, ọ, un/rẹ̀, wa, yín, wọn) follow the verb as its complement. The pattern Fún mi (give me) is one of the most frequent object-pronoun constructions in market language — practise it until it sounds automatic.
Chapter Review
Apá A — Àwọn Ọ̀rọ̀ (Vocabulary)
1. Write the Yorùbá word for each item: tomato, wrapper, cloth, money, basket, soap, shoes, price, oil, garment.
2. Write the correct Yorùbá form for each price: ₦200, ₦1,000, ₦2,000, ₦3,200, ₦5,000, ₦150. Include the word náírà in each answer.
3. Match each expression to its function: Ó pọ̀ jù · Ẹ dín iye rẹ̀ kù · Màá san owó fún yín · Ẹ jẹ́ kí n rí i · Ó pẹ tán. Functions: (a) that price is final, (b) the price is too high, (c) I will pay you, (d) let me see it, (e) please reduce the price.
4. Write the Yorùbá noun phrase for each of the following: (a) three red tomatoes, (b) a large black pot, (c) two small bottles, (d) five white wrappers.
Apá B — Gírámà (Grammar)
1. Write a price question and a price answer for each item: (a) a large wrapper — ₦4,000; (b) six tomatoes — ₦300; (c) a basket — ₦800.
2. Complete each sentence with the correct object pronoun (mi, rẹ̀, or yín):
- Fún ___ ní aṣọ pupa kan. (me)
- Mo fẹ́ ___. Iye rẹ̀ dára. (it)
- Màá san owó fún ___. (you — honorific)
- Mú ẹja náà fún ___. (me)
3. Rewrite the following sentences, removing the error and providing the correct form:
- *Mẹ́ta àtàrí jẹ́ igba náírà.
- *Mo fẹ́ rẹ àṣọ náà.
- *Mú ìró yẹn àti fún mi.
- *Iye rẹ jẹ́ naira ẹgbẹ̀rún méjì. (two errors: pronoun tone and currency spelling)
4. Write one complete market exchange (buyer and seller) of four lines, using the serial pattern mú ___ fún mi at least once.
Apá C — Ìmọ̀ Ohùn àti Àkọ̀wé (Pronunciation and orthography)
1. The following price expressions are written without tone marks. Restore all required diacritics: egberun meji naira; irinwo naira; ọgọrun marun-un naira; igba ati adota naira.
2. Write one sentence each demonstrating the contrast between: (a) rẹ (possessive, your) and rẹ̀ (object, it); (b) fún (give) and fún in another context you know.
3. Say the following number sequence aloud and write the tone pattern (high = H, mid = M, low = L) for each syllable of ẹgbẹ̀rún mẹ́ta náírà.
Apá D — Kíkọ (Writing)
1. Submit your revised shopping list and market dialogue from the Writing Workshop. Apply the editing checklist before submission.
2. Write a short message (40–50 words) to a friend or family member explaining what you bought at the market today, how much each item cost, and whether any price was too expensive. Use at least one serial pattern.
Apá E — Ìbánisọ̀rọ̀ (Speaking)
1. Without notes, conduct a two-minute market transaction with a partner (or record solo). Buy at least two items from the price-notice reading. Include a greeting, price questions, at least one negotiation move, a serial request, and a farewell.
2. Describe three items in your imaginary market bag to a partner. For each item, state what it is, what color or size it is, how many you have, and what it cost.
Ìfojúsí ẹkọ̀ tẹ́lẹ̀ — Cumulative review check
Before the Performance Task, confirm you can do the following using vocabulary and grammar from Chapters 1–9:
- Use progressive ń and habitual máa ń in sentences about daily market activities.
- Negate a preference or purchase decision using kò.
- Ask about a person's origin using Níbo ni o ti wà? — relevant if you meet someone at the market.
- Use possessive pronouns after noun phrases: àpótí mi, owó rẹ̀.
- Use plural àwọn naturally before market goods.
- Count from 1 to 20 and state prices in naira using the number forms taught in Chapters 3 and 9.
Performance Task
Iṣẹ́ aṣeyọrí — Abala 9
Ìjíròrò ọjà pípé — A complete market transaction
The Chapter 9 Performance Task has two parts. All spoken and written Yorùbá must use full tone marks and underdots.
Part 1 — Oral market exchange (2–3 minutes):
Conduct a complete market transaction with a partner (or record a simulated exchange solo). The transaction must involve at least three items and must include:
- An appropriate greeting for the time of day and the seller relationship.
- Identification of at least three items using vocabulary from this chapter.
- A price question for each item and a price response from the seller.
- At least one polite negotiation move (either accepting the price or requesting a reduction).
- At least one use of an object pronoun (mi or rẹ̀) in a request or response.
- At least one serial verb pattern (mú ___ fún mi or Ẹ gba owó).
- A polite closing and farewell.
Part 2 — Written shopping list and receipt (40–60 words total):
Submit the shopping list from the Writing Workshop (Part A), plus a short written "receipt" — a list of what you actually bought, how many, and the final price you paid. The receipt should include at least three items with quantities and prices, all in fully marked Standard Yorùbá.
Assessment note: The spoken task is evaluated on task completion, comprehensibility, appropriate register with the seller, correct noun-qualifier order, audible number tones, object pronoun accuracy, and natural use of the serial pattern. The written task is evaluated on noun-phrase order, correct tones on numbers and currency, underdot accuracy, and overall organization.
Answer Key
Practice — Noun phrases with quantities, colors, and sizes
- ẹwù búlúù tóbi kan — one large blue garment
- àwọn ìgò omi kékeré márùn-ún — five small bottles of water
- àwọn ìró pupa mẹ́ta — three red wrappers
- àwọn bàtà dúdú tóbi méjì — two large black shoes
- epo díẹ̀ — a little oil
Practice — Price questions and answers
- Q: Iye ìró pupa tóbi jẹ́ mélòó? A: Ó jẹ́ ẹgbẹ̀rún mẹ́ta náírà.
- Q: Àtàrí mẹ́jọ jẹ́ mélòó? A: Àwọn àtàrí mẹ́jọ jẹ́ igba náírà.
- Q: Ìkòkò kékeré kan jẹ́ mélòó? A: Ó jẹ́ ẹgbẹ̀rún àti igba àti àádọ́ta náírà. (Accept reasonable approximations for ₦1,500; full traditional form: ẹgbẹ̀rún àti ọgọ́rùn-ún márùn-ún náírà.)
- Q: Ìgò epo kan jẹ́ mélòó? A: Ó jẹ́ ọgọ́rùn-ún márùn-ún náírà.
Practice — Serial verb and request patterns
- Mú aṣọ ewé fún mi. — Take the green cloth and give it to me. (Bring me the green cloth.)
- Fún mi ní àwọn ìró pupa méjì. or Mú àwọn ìró pupa méjì fún mi.
- Ẹ mú omi díẹ̀ wá. — Bring a little water.
- Ẹ jẹ́ kí n rí àgbọ̀n tóbi náà. — Let me see the large basket. (formulaic unit)
Dialogue — Comprehension
- Adélékè fẹ́ rà aṣọ kan — specifically, a large red wrapper. (He wants to buy a cloth.)
- Ìró pupa tóbi yẹn jẹ́ ẹgbẹ̀rún mẹ́rin náírà ní àkọ́kọ́. (₦4,000 at first.)
- Adélékè sọ: Àá, ó pọ̀ jù! — He said it was too expensive.
- Àwọn méjì wọn gbà ẹgbẹ̀rún mẹ́ta náírà. (They agreed on ₦3,000.)
- Stage direction: Màmá Títí mú ìró náà fún Adélékè. — Verbs: mú (take) and fún (give). Single event: Màmá Títí picked up the wrapper and transferred it to Adélékè in one connected action.
- Adélékè uses the honorific form throughout. Examples: Ẹ ní ìró pupa bí? (Do you have a red wrapper? — ẹ = honorific subject) and Ẹ dín iye rẹ̀ kù díẹ̀ (Please reduce the price — ẹ = honorific).
Listening — Comprehension table
- Exchange 1: Buyer wants tomatoes and pepper; first price: ₦150 for six tomatoes + ₦50 for a little pepper; total final price: igba náírà (₦200).
- Exchange 2: Buyer wants black shoes; first price: ẹgbẹ̀rún mẹ́ta náírà (₦3,000); final agreed price: ẹgbẹ̀rún méjì àti ọgọ́rùn-ún márùn-ún náírà (₦2,500 — the seller's reduced offer, not the buyer's initial counter of ₦2,200).
- Exchange 3: Buyer wants notebooks; price per notebook: ọgọ́rùn-ún náírà (₦100); buyer requests three; total: ọgọ́rùn-ún mẹ́ta náírà (₦300).
Bonus: (1) Jẹ́ mélòó ní àpapọ̀? — How much in total? (2) Final price was the seller's reduced offer: ẹgbẹ̀rún méjì àti ọgọ́rùn-ún márùn-ún náírà (₦2,500). (3) Àwọn ìwé mẹ́ta jẹ́ ọgọ́rùn-ún mẹ́ta náírà.
Reading — Comprehension
- Àtàrí mẹ́ta jẹ́ igba náírà ní Ọjà Àmáládé. (₦200.)
- Ọṣẹ kan jẹ́ ọgọ́rùn-ún àti àádọ́ta náírà. (₦150.)
- Adùnkẹ́ fẹ́ rà epo, àtàrí, àti aṣọ tuntun kan. (Oil, tomatoes, and a new cloth.)
- Adùnkẹ́ béèrè fún ẹgbẹ̀rún mẹ́rin náírà. (₦4,000.)
- Adùnkẹ́ fẹ́ aṣọ búlúù tàbí pupa — bẹ́ẹ̀ ni, àwọ̀ méjì ṣe yẹ nítorí ó sọ "tàbí" (or). (Either blue or red is acceptable.)
- Serial pattern: Màá padà wá ní òru — padà (return) and wá (come): "I will come back in the evening." Accept this or any other identified pattern with clear explanation. (Some learners may also note Mo ń lọ sí ọjà — lọ as a motion verb — which will be expanded as serial material in Chapter 11.)
Chapter Review — Apá A
- àtàrí, ìró, aṣọ, owó, àgbọ̀n, ọṣẹ, bàtà, iye, epo, ẹwù
- igba náírà; ẹgbẹ̀rún náírà; ẹgbẹ̀rún méjì náírà; ẹgbẹ̀rún mẹ́ta àti igba náírà; ẹgbẹ̀rún márùn-ún náírà; ọgọ́rùn-ún àti àádọ́ta náírà
- (a) Ó pọ̀ jù — the price is too high; (b) Ẹ dín iye rẹ̀ kù — please reduce the price; (c) Màá san owó fún yín — I will pay you; (d) Ẹ jẹ́ kí n rí i — let me see it; (e) Ó pẹ tán — that price is final.
- (a) àtàrí pupa mẹ́ta; (b) ìkòkò dúdú tóbi kan; (c) àwọn ìgò kékeré méjì; (d) àwọn ìró funfun márùn-ún
Chapter Review — Apá B
- (a) Q: Iye ìró tóbi jẹ́ mélòó? A: Ó jẹ́ ẹgbẹ̀rún mẹ́rin náírà. (b) Q: Àwọn àtàrí mẹ́fà jẹ́ mélòó? A: Àwọn àtàrí mẹ́fà jẹ́ ọgọ́rùn-ún mẹ́ta náírà. (c) Q: Àgbọ̀n jẹ́ mélòó? A: Ó jẹ́ ọgọ́rùn-ún mẹ́jọ náírà. (Accept reasonable expressions for ₦800.)
- Fún mi ní aṣọ pupa kan. — Mo fẹ́ rẹ̀. — Màá san owó fún yín. — Mú ẹja náà fún mi.
- Corrections: (i) Àtàrí mẹ́ta jẹ́ igba náírà. (noun before numeral); (ii) Mo fẹ́ rẹ̀. (low tone on object pronoun, no noun repeated); (iii) Mú ìró yẹn fún mi. (no àti between verbs); (iv) Iye rẹ̀ jẹ́ ẹgbẹ̀rún méjì náírà. (low tone on rẹ̀, correct spelling of náírà).
- Accept any well-formed four-turn exchange with a serial pattern, correct tone marks, and natural register.
Chapter Review — Apá C
- Correct forms: ẹgbẹ̀rún méjì náírà; irinwó náírà; ọgọ́rùn-ún márùn-ún náírà; igba àti àádọ́ta náírà.
- (a) rẹ: e.g., Ìwé rẹ dára. (Your book is good.) — rẹ̀: e.g., Mo fẹ́ rẹ̀. (I want it.) (b) Accept any well-formed sentence with fún in a different context, e.g., Ẹ ṣé fún yín — in many farewell expressions. Note: fún can mean "give" (verb) or mark a beneficiary ("for"). Contextual disambiguation is acceptable.
- Tone pattern for ẹgbẹ̀rún mẹ́ta náírà: L-L-H · H-M · H-H-M (syllables: ẹg-bẹ̀-rún · mẹ́-ta · ná-í-rà). Accept phonetically motivated alternatives; flag for human review if uncertain.
Looking Ahead
Ohun tí o lè ṣe báyìí — What you can do now
You can ask the price of market goods, state quantities and describe items using colors and sizes, make polite requests using object pronouns, complete a purchase with a serial verb pattern, and write a shopping list and transactional exchange in fully marked Standard Yorùbá. You can use the approved number forms for naira prices and recognize when a price is being negotiated or accepted.