Nínú Ìlú
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Identify common buildings, public services, and forms of transportation using fully marked Yorùbá vocabulary.
- Ask where a place is located using the approved direction-question pattern.
- Give step-by-step directions using affirmative imperatives, the prepositions sí and láti, and sequenced instructions.
- Use the prohibitive má to give a negative instruction and distinguish it from the habitual particle máa.
- Use productive serial verb constructions for motion, direction, and result — including lọ, wá, ká, yí, and gba in approved patterns.
- State origin and destination using láti and sí.
- Recognize common public signs and brief written travel instructions.
- Write a fully marked set of step-by-step directions in Standard Yorùbá orthography.
Communication Scenario
A colleague named Tópé has just arrived at the motor park on the edge of town. She calls you on the phone. She needs to get from the motor park to the local government health clinic, but she does not know the area well. You live nearby and know the route. Your task is to describe the route clearly in Yorùbá — naming landmarks, streets, and turning points — so that Tópé can find the clinic without getting lost.
- Before you open this chapter, write down five expressions in Yorùbá that you already know and could use in a phone conversation: a greeting, a question about location, a command, and two position or movement expressions. Use vocabulary from Chapters 1–10.
- Think about the kinds of places a person might pass through when crossing a town — a market, a school, a filling station, a junction. Which of these do you already know how to say in Yorùbá? List them, then check against the vocabulary in this chapter.
- In English, a typical direction includes several movements joined by "then": "Turn left, then go straight, then pass the church on your right." How might Yorùbá handle this sequence? Think about what you know of serial verb constructions from Chapter 9. Keep your prediction in mind as you study Section 11.5.
Core Vocabulary
Àwọn ilé àti ibi pàtàkì — Buildings and public places
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ilé ìwòsàn | hospital, health clinic | lit. house of healing |
| ilé ẹ̀kọ́ | school | general term; ilé-ìwé also widely used |
| ilé ijọsìn | church | |
| mọ́sálásì | mosque | loanword; verify tone |
| ọjà | market | reviewed from Ch. 9 |
| ilé ìtajà | shop, store | |
| banki | bank | loanword |
| àgọ́ olóṣà | police station | lit. camp of police |
| ọfíìsì | office | loanword |
| ilé-iṣẹ́ ìjọba | government building, local government office | |
| ibi tí a ti ń gbádùn | recreation area, park | formulaic description; also pákì |
| ojúbọ epo | filling station, petrol station | lit. place of oil/fuel |
| ìdúró ọkọ̀ | bus stop, vehicle stop | |
| pákì ọkọ̀ | motor park, transport terminal | |
| àárín gbùngbùn ìlú | town centre, city centre | lit. the middle of the town |
| ọ̀nà | road, path, route, way | essential for directions |
| ìta ọ̀nà | junction, crossroads, intersection | |
| afárá | bridge |
Ọkọ̀ àti gbigbe — Transportation
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ọkọ̀ àgọ́fẹ̀lẹ̀ | bus | also ọkọ̀ àgọ́fẹ̀lẹ̀; verify locally |
| ọkọ̀ kékeré | minibus, shared taxi (small vehicle) | informal; widely understood |
| àlùpùpù | motorcycle | |
| ọkọ̀ okùnrin | motorcycle taxi (okada) | colloquial; receptive only at this stage |
| tákísì | taxi | loanword |
| kẹ̀kẹ́ | bicycle | |
| ọkọ̀ ojú omi | boat, watercraft | lit. vehicle of the water's face |
| ẹsẹ̀ | on foot | used with lọ ní ẹsẹ̀ — to go on foot |
Àwọn ọ̀rọ̀ ìtọ́sọ́nà — Direction and position words
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ọ̀tún | right (direction) | also: right-hand side |
| òsì | left (direction) | |
| ọ̀nà títọ̀ | straight ahead | lit. straight road |
| níwájú | in front of, ahead | |
| lẹ́yìn | behind, after | |
| ní àárín | in the middle of, between | |
| nítòsí | near, close to | |
| jìnnà sí | far from | |
| ní apa ọ̀tún | on the right side | |
| ní apa òsì | on the left side | |
| gòkè | uphill, upward | |
| sọ̀kalẹ̀ | downhill, downward | |
| ìsàlẹ̀ | below, at the bottom | |
| òkè | above, at the top |
Àwọn ọ̀rọ̀ ìgbésẹ̀ àti ọ̀nà — Road and route expressions
| Yorùbá | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| yí padà | turn around, turn back | serial verb: yí + padà |
| yí sí ọ̀tún | turn right | yí + direction marker |
| yí sí òsì | turn left | |
| gba ọ̀nà yìí | take this road, go this way | gba = take a path |
| ìgbà tí o bá dé | when you arrive / when you get there | formulaic conditional; receptive |
| kọjá | pass, go past | |
| dúró | stop, wait | |
| wọ inú | enter, go inside | serial: wọ + inú |
| jáde | exit, come out | |
| rekọjá | cross over (a road, bridge) |
Àwọn àmì àti ìkíyèsí — Common signs and notices
| Yorùbá | English |
|---|---|
| Wọlé | Enter / Come in |
| Jáde | Exit / Go out |
| Dúró | Stop |
| Má gbé | Do not park (here) |
| Má kọjá | Do not cross / No entry |
| Ẹ jọ̀wọ́ dúró níbí | Please wait here |
| Ilé ìwòsàn wà ní apa ọ̀tún. | The clinic is on the right side. |
Sign vocabulary uses the same command and prohibitive forms taught in this chapter. Reading and producing signs is therefore both a vocabulary and a grammar activity.
Pronunciation and Orthography Focus
Focus 1 — Tone in commands and prohibitions: má versus máa
This chapter introduces the prohibitive particle má. It looks almost identical in writing to the habitual/future particle máa that you learned in Chapters 7 and 14. The difference is one syllable and one tone, but the meaning contrast is significant:
- má — one syllable, high tone — do not (negative command)
- máa — two syllables, high-high — habitually / will (habitual or future marker)
Compare these two sentences aloud:
- Má lọ. — Do not go.
- Ó máa ń lọ. — He/she habitually goes.
The prohibitive má is always a single high-tone syllable and always precedes a verb directly. It is never followed by ń. Practice the contrast until the two forms feel completely separate.
Focus 2 — Tone across serial verb sequences in directions
Direction giving in Yorùbá involves sequences of two or more verbs describing connected movements. Each verb retains its own tone in the sequence. Do not flatten the sequence into a single uniform pitch or pause heavily between the verbs as if they were separate sentences. The movement should feel continuous. Practice these sequences:
- Lọ títọ̀, wá dé ìta ọ̀nà. — Go straight, and arrive at the junction.
- Yí sí ọ̀tún, gba ọ̀nà náà lọ. — Turn right, take that road (and go).
- Kọjá ilé ẹ̀kọ́, dúró níwájú banki. — Pass the school, stop in front of the bank.
Note that lọ (go) carries mid tone, wá (come) carries high tone, and dé (arrive) carries high tone. Each must be clearly pronounced even in a fast sequence.
Focus 3 — Direction-question intonation
The most common direction question uses the pattern Níbo ni ___ wà? (Where is ___?). The question word níbo carries two high tones (high-high), and the sentence ends with the familiar location verb wà. Practice these question patterns:
- Níbo ni ilé ìwòsàn wà? — Where is the hospital/clinic?
- Níbo ni pákì ọkọ̀ wà? — Where is the motor park?
- Ọ̀nà wo ni mo gbọdọ̀ gbà lọ sí banki? — Which road should I take to the bank? (receptive; contains gbọdọ̀ from Ch. 13 — treat as a formulaic unit here)
The full question Níbo ni ___ wà? is the productive form for this chapter. The shorter colloquial ___ wà níbo? (with the question word at the end) is also heard in natural speech — treat it as a recognized alternative but use the full form in your own production.
Focus 4 — Place names and transportation vocabulary
The following place names and transportation terms contain important phonological features to practice. Say each one aloud and mark the tone pattern (H = high, M = mid, L = low) for each syllable.
- ìdúró ọkọ̀ — bus stop (syllabic nasal at the start; low tone on ìdúró)
- àárín gbùngbùn ìlú — town centre (notice the double vowel àá and nasal consonants)
- ojúbọ epo — filling station (oral vowel o versus underdotted ọ in ojúbọ)
- ìta ọ̀nà — junction (underdotted ọ̀ with low tone in ọ̀nà)
- ilé ìwòsàn — clinic/hospital (ìwòsàn: low-low-high tone)
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
11.1 Asking where a place is: Níbo ni ___ wà?
Purpose: ask for the location of a building, landmark, or transport stop.
You learned wà (to be located, to exist) with the preposition ní in Chapter 6. The direction question combines this with the question word níbo (where) in a focus-like pattern:
- Níbo ni ilé ìwòsàn wà? where + focus-ni + clinic + wà? Where is the clinic?
- Níbo ni ìdúró ọkọ̀ wà? where + focus-ni + bus stop + wà? Where is the bus stop?
- Níbo ni pákì ọkọ̀ wà? Where is the motor park?
The structure Níbo ni ___? is a question pattern you may recognize as related to the focus construction with ni that first appeared in Chapter 1 and has been practiced in formulaic form since then. The word níbo (where) combines ní (at/in) and an interrogative element, and the particle ni follows it to mark the focus of the question. You do not yet need to analyze the full focus system — that is the work of Chapter 19. For now, learn Níbo ni ___ wà? as a complete productive question frame and use it whenever you want to ask where something is located.
11.2 Stating origin and destination: láti and sí
Purpose: say where a journey starts and ends.
Two prepositions mark origin and destination in spatial and movement contexts:
láti — from (marks the starting point)
sí — to, toward (marks the destination or direction of movement)
- Mo ń lọ láti ọjà sí ilé ìwòsàn. I + progressive + go + from + market + to + clinic I am going from the market to the clinic.
- Ọkọ̀ wá láti pákì ọkọ̀. The vehicle came from the motor park.
- Ẹ lọ sí ìdúró ọkọ̀ àkọ́kọ́. Go to the bus stop first. (honorific/plural command)
- Jìnnà ni láti banki sí ojúbọ epo? Is it far from the bank to the filling station?
You will encounter láti again in Chapter 14, where it introduces a purpose clause ("in order to"). In that use, láti precedes a verb. In this chapter, láti functions as a spatial preposition meaning "from" and is followed by a place noun. The two uses share the same form but different grammatical positions: láti ọjà (from the market) is spatial, while láti rí i (in order to see it) is purposive. Context and the following word — noun versus verb — tell you which meaning is intended. Do not let this future knowledge confuse the spatial use you need now.
11.3 Affirmative commands and familiar versus honorific address
Purpose: give direction instructions appropriate to the relationship and formality.
In Chapters 2 and 9, you learned fixed command forms. Chapter 11 makes commands fully productive for giving directions. A Yorùbá affirmative command uses the bare verb form. The choice between familiar and honorific or plural address depends on your relationship with the person:
| Address | Pattern | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Familiar (singular o) | bare verb | Lọ títọ̀. | Go straight. |
| Honorific / plural (ẹ) | ẹ + bare verb | Ẹ lọ títọ̀. | Go straight. (polite / to a group) |
| Polite request (either) | ẹ jọ̀wọ́ + verb | Ẹ jọ̀wọ́ dúró. | Please stop. |
- Kọjá ọjà náà. Pass that market. (familiar)
- Ẹ dúró níwájú ilé ẹ̀kọ́. Stop in front of the school. (honorific)
- Gba ọ̀nà àkọ́kọ́ sí ọ̀tún. Take the first road on the right. (familiar)
- Ẹ wọ inú ọfíìsì náà. Enter that office. (honorific)
11.4 Prohibitive má
Purpose: give a negative instruction — tell someone not to do something.
The prohibitive particle má (high tone, one syllable) precedes the verb directly to create a negative command. It works with both familiar and honorific address:
- Má lọ ọ̀nà yẹn. prohibitive + go + road + that Do not go that way. (familiar)
- Ẹ má kọjá afárá náà. honorific + prohibitive + cross + bridge + that Do not cross that bridge. (honorific)
- Má dúró níbẹ̀. Do not stop there.
- Ẹ má yí sí òsì ní ìta ọ̀nà yìí. Do not turn left at this junction.
You now know three different negative particles. They are not interchangeable:
- kò — negates an action or predicate in a declarative clause: Ó kò lọ. (He/she did not go.)
- kì í — negates a habitual or general statement: A kì í lọ níbẹ̀. (One does not go there. / We never go there.)
- má — negates a command (prohibitive): Má lọ níbẹ̀. (Do not go there.)
When you want to tell someone not to do something, use má, not kò. Using kò in a command slot produces a declarative statement, not a prohibition.
11.5 Serial verbs of motion, direction, and result
Purpose: describe a connected movement or route using two or more verbs in a single event sequence.
Chapter 9 introduced the serial verb construction with transfer verbs (mú ___ fún mi). This chapter makes serial verbs fully productive for motion and direction. Yorùbá direction-giving commonly uses sequences of verbs with no conjunction between them. The verbs share the same subject and describe one continuous movement.
In many of the direction sequences above, lọ (go) appears at the end of a serial clause where English would use "and continue" or nothing at all. In Yorùbá, lọ at the end of a serial sequence signals continued movement away from the speaker's reference point. Compare:
- Kọjá banki náà. — Pass that bank. (one action, completed at the bank)
- Kọjá banki náà lọ. — Pass that bank and keep going. (movement continues past the bank)
Similarly, wá (come) at the end of a serial sequence signals movement toward the speaker. These directional verbs are an important feature of Yorùbá motion expressions and appear frequently in natural directions.
11.6 Sequencing directions with connectors
Purpose: connect direction steps into a clear, ordered sequence.
When giving multi-step directions, use the following connectors and time-like sequence words to organize the steps. These are reviewed from Chapter 7 and used here in a new context:
| Yorùbá | English equivalent | Position |
|---|---|---|
| àkọ́kọ́ | first | before or after the first command |
| lẹ́yìn náà | after that, then | begins the next step |
| nígbà tí o bá ___ | when you (do)… | introduces a condition; formulaic at this stage |
| tí o bá dé ___ | when/once you arrive at ___ | formulaic; marks arrival before next instruction |
| àárọ̀ọ́ | at the end, finally | introduces the final destination |
| ní ipò àkọ́kọ́ | at the first (junction, etc.) | modifies a landmark |
| ní ipò kejì | at the second (junction, etc.) |
- Àkọ́kọ́, lọ títọ̀ dé ìta ọ̀nà àkọ́kọ́. Lẹ́yìn náà, yí sí ọ̀tún. Tí o bá dé ojúbọ epo, dúró níbẹ̀. First, go straight to the first junction. Then turn right. When you reach the filling station, stop there.
Yorùbá direction-giving uses a sequence of verbs rather than a single complex sentence. Where English might say "Turn left and then go straight until you pass the church," Yorùbá coordinates short verbal clauses: Yí sí òsì. Lọ títọ̀. Kọjá ilé ijọsìn náà lọ. Each clause describes one part of the movement. No conjunction is required between the verbs within a single serial event, but sequence connectors like lẹ́yìn náà (after that) and àkọ́kọ́ (first) link the separate steps of the route. Learners who insert àti (and) inside every serial clause produce unnatural Yorùbá. Save àti for genuinely parallel items — not for the joints in a serial motion sequence.
The prohibitive má differs from the habitual particle máa (Chapters 7 and 14) by exactly one syllable and always precedes a verb without ń. Confusing them produces either an unintended ban on an activity or an unintended description of a habit. Practice the contrast through listening and writing, not only through reading.
Practice — Asking and answering location questions
Write a Níbo ni ___ wà? question for each place, then write a one-sentence answer using a position expression from the vocabulary.
- the market / near the junction
- the filling station / on the right side of the road
- the bus stop / in front of the school
- the motor park / far from the clinic
- the bank / behind the government office
Practice — Commands and prohibitions
Rewrite each instruction twice: once as a familiar command and once as a honorific command. Then write the matching prohibition.
- Go straight.
- Turn left at the junction.
- Stop in front of the clinic.
- Enter the office.
- Pass the market.
Practice — Serial verb direction sequences
Put each set of movements into a single connected Yorùbá direction sequence. Use the correct serial pattern and include lọ or wá where movement continues.
- (go straight) → (arrive at first junction) → (turn right)
- (turn left) → (take that road) → (continue) → (stop in front of the church)
- (cross the bridge) → (pass the school) → (keep going) → (arrive at the bank)
Model Dialogue
Read the dialogue carefully. Notice how Tópé asks for directions politely, how Àlàbá gives step-by-step instructions using serial verbs and sequencing words, and how she uses the prohibitive má to prevent a common wrong turning. Comprehension questions follow.
Ipò: Tópé pè Àlàbá ní fóònù. Tópé ti dé pákì ọkọ̀ ìlú, ṣùgbọ́n ó fẹ́ lọ sí ilé ìwòsàn ìjọba kan ní àárín gbùngbùn ìlú. Àlàbá mọ ìlú náà dáadáa.
Setting: Tópé calls Àlàbá by phone. Tópé has arrived at the town motor park but wants to go to the government clinic in the town centre. Àlàbá knows the town well.
- jáde láti pákì ọkọ̀, lọ sí ọ̀nà ńlá — jáde (exit) + lọ (go): exit the motor park and proceed to the main road. Two verbs, one connected departure.
- gba ọ̀nà náà lọ títọ̀ — gba (take/follow) + lọ (go): take that road and keep going straight. The trailing lọ signals continued motion.
- rekọjá afárá náà, yí sí òsì — rekọjá (cross) + yí (turn): cross the bridge and turn left. Two distinct movements presented as a single instruction unit without an inserted conjunction.
Àwọn ìbéèrè nípa ọ̀rọ̀ àdáhùnṣe — Comprehension questions:
- Tópé wà níbo ní ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ ìjíròrò? (Where is Tópé at the beginning of the dialogue?)
- Kí ni Àlàbá sọ fún Tópé pé kò gbọdọ̀ ṣe ní ìta ọ̀nà àkọ́kọ́? (What does Àlàbá tell Tópé not to do at the first junction?)
- Àwọn ilé méló ni Tópé máa ń kọjá ṣáájú kí ó tó dé afárá? (How many buildings does Tópé pass before the bridge?)
- Ilé ìwòsàn ìjọba wà ní apa wo — ọ̀tún tàbí òsì? (Which side is the government clinic on — right or left?)
- Wa gbolohùn àkọ́kọ́ pẹ̀lú má nínú ìjíròrò. Kọ ọ̀ jáde, sọ ìtumọ̀ rẹ̀, kí o sì ṣàlàyé ìyàtọ̀ rẹ̀ sí máa. (Find the first sentence with má in the dialogue. Write it out, give its meaning, and explain the difference from máa.)
- Tópé tún àwọn ìtọ́nisọ̀nà náà sọ fún Àlàbá nígbà tó sọ Mo tún gbọ́. Kí ni àbájáde ìgbésẹ̀ yìí nínú ìbánisọ̀rọ̀? (Tópé repeats the directions back when she says Mo tún gbọ́. What is the purpose of this move in the conversation?)
Listening
Ask your instructor, a study partner, or a qualified Yorùbá speaker to read the following direction exchanges at a natural pace. Listen twice. On the first listen, identify the starting point, the destination, and the key landmark for each exchange. On the second listen, complete the route 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 complete the tasks. Machine text-to-speech output must be checked by a qualified Yorùbá speaker before being used as a pronunciation model.
Ìjíròrò 1:
Àpín A: "Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, ilé ìtajà ńlá wà níbo?"
Àpín B: "Lọ títọ̀ lé ọ̀nà yìí. Tí o bá kọjá ìdúró ọkọ̀ kan, yí sí òsì. Ilé ìtajà náà wà ní apa ọ̀tún, níwájú banki."
Àpín A: "Ó jìnnà?"
Àpín B: "Rárá. O lè lọ ní ẹsẹ̀. Ó nítòsí."
Ìjíròrò 2:
Àpín A: "Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, mo fẹ́ lọ sí mọ́sálásì àkọ́kọ́ ní ìlú yìí. Ẹ mọ ọ̀nà?"
Àpín B: "Mo mọ. Kọjá ilé ẹ̀kọ́ yìí lọ sí ìdúró ọkọ̀. Ní ìdúró ọkọ̀, gba ọkọ̀ kékeré sí àárín gbùngbùn ìlú. Jáde ní ìta ọ̀nà Àmáládé. Mọ́sálásì náà wà nítòsí, ní apa òsì."
Àpín A: "Má gbà ọkọ̀ àgọ́fẹ̀lẹ̀ bí?"
Àpín B: "Rárá, gbà ọkọ̀ kékeré nìkan — ó yára jù."
Ìjíròrò 3:
Àpín A: "Ojúbọ epo tó sún mọ́ jùlọ wà níbo?"
Àpín B: "Yí padà, lọ sí ẹhin — ìwọ tí wá láti ọ̀nà náà ni. Rekọjá afárá kékeré, yí sí ọ̀tún ní ipò àkọ́kọ́. Ojúbọ epo wà níbẹ̀, ní apa òsì ọ̀nà."
Àpín A: "Ó jìnnà gan-an?"
Àpín B: "Bẹ́ẹ̀ kọ. Ó fẹ́rẹ̀ jìnnà díẹ̀."
| Ìjíròrò | Ibi tí a ń bẹ (Starting point) | Ibi tí a fẹ́ lọ (Destination) | Ìtọ́sọ́nà pàtàkì kan (Key direction) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
| 2 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
| 3 | ______ | ______ | ______ |
Ìbéèrè àfikún — Bonus questions:
- In Exchange 1, is the destination far away? What expression is used to say it is not far? Write it in Yorùbá.
- In Exchange 2, the person asking is told to take a specific type of vehicle. What vehicle, and why is it recommended over the alternative?
- In Exchange 3, the asker needs to turn back first. Which serial verb pattern describes turning back? Write the full phrase.
Reading
Read the two texts below. The first is a set of transit notices. The second is a short written set of directions. Both use Standard Yorùbá orthography with full tone marks and underdots.
Àwọn àmì àgbárọ̀ — Transit and public notices
PÁKÌ ỌKỌ̀ ÌBÀDÀN GÀN-AN
Ẹ káabọ̀ sí Pákì Ọkọ̀ Ìbàdàn Gan-an.
Wọlé — ní ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀ ọ̀tún
Jáde — ní ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀ òsì
Má gbé ọkọ̀ níwájú ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀.
Do not park in front of the gate.
Ẹ má kọjá ìlà pupa.
Do not cross the red line.
Ìdúró ọkọ̀ sí Ìkẹ̀jà wà ní apa ọ̀tún.
The stop for vehicles to Ìkẹ̀jà is on the right side.
Ẹ jọ̀wọ́ dúró níbí fún àyẹ̀wò.
Please wait here for inspection.
Àwọn ìtọ́sọ́nà láti ọjà dé ilé ẹ̀kọ́ gíga — Directions from the market to the polytechnic
Ọ̀rẹ́ mi,
Lẹ́yìn tí o bá jáde láti ọjà, lọ sí ọ̀nà ńlá. Ní ọ̀nà ńlá, yí sí ọ̀tún. Lọ títọ̀ tàbí gba ọkọ̀ kékeré tí ń lọ sí àárín gbùngbùn ìlú. Ìdúró ọkọ̀ wà ní ìsàlẹ̀ ọ̀nà, nítòsí ojúbọ epo.
Jáde ní ìdúró ọkọ̀ Àgbọ̀dọ̀. Ní ìta ọ̀nà náà, má yí sí ọ̀tún — gba ọ̀nà tó ń lọ sí òkè. Kọjá ilé ìjọba lọ, rekọjá afárá. Tí o bá rekọjá afárá, o máa ń rí ilé ẹ̀kọ́ gíga ní apa òsì rẹ.
Má rẹ̀rẹ̀ tọ ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀ àkọ́kọ́ — ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀ náà wà fún àwọn oṣiṣẹ́ nìkan. Wọlé ní ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀ kejì.
Ọlọ́rọ̀-pẹlẹ,
Kúnlé
Àwọn ìbéèrè nípa ọ̀rọ̀ àdáhùnṣe — Comprehension questions:
- Níbo ni ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀ wọlé àti ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀ jáde wà ní Pákì Ọkọ̀ Ìbàdàn Gan-an? (Where are the entry and exit gates at Ìbàdàn Motor Park?)
- Kí ni ìtumọ̀ àmì yìí: Ẹ má kọjá ìlà pupa? (What does this sign mean?)
- Nínú ìlọ síwájú sí ilé ẹ̀kọ́ gíga, kí ni kúnlé sọ fún ọ pé kò gbọdọ̀ ṣe ní ìta ọ̀nà Àgbọ̀dọ̀? (In the directions to the polytechnic, what does Kúnlé say not to do at the Àgbọ̀dọ̀ junction?)
- Kí ni ìdí tí Kúnlé fi sọ pé kò gbọdọ̀ lọ sí ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀ àkọ́kọ́? (Why does Kúnlé say not to go to the first gate?)
- Kọ ọ̀rọ̀ mẹ́ta tó ní má nínú àwọn ọ̀rọ̀ méjì. (Write out three sentences containing má from the two texts.)
- Wa ìgbésẹ̀ àkọ́kọ́ tó ní ìrísì àgbékalẹ̀ gbígbádùn ẹ̀ka ọ̀rọ̀ nínú ìlọ sí ilé ẹ̀kọ́ gíga. Kọ ọ̀ jáde, tọ́ka àwọn ọ̀rọ̀-ìṣe méjì. (Find the first step in the polytechnic directions that contains a serial verb construction. Write it out and identify the two verbs.)
Writing Workshop
Chapter 11 has two writing products: a set of step-by-step directions and a short direction message. Both must use Standard Yorùbá orthography with full tone marks and underdots.
Àpín A — Àwọn ìtọ́sọ́nà tó ní ìgbésẹ̀ (Step-by-step directions)
Choose a starting point and a destination in a real or imagined town. Write at least five direction steps in Yorùbá. Each step must:
- Use at least one command (affirmative or prohibitive).
- Name at least two real building or landmark types from this chapter's vocabulary.
- Use at least one serial verb pattern.
- Use sequencing words to connect the steps (àkọ́kọ́, lẹ́yìn náà, etc.).
- State the destination clearly at the end.
Àpín B — Ìfitónilétí ọ̀nà (Direction message)
Write a short message (50–70 words) to a friend or colleague explaining how to get from the motor park to a place of your choice. Use the letter format modeled in the Reading section. Your message must include:
- A greeting and opening line.
- At least three direction steps using serial verb constructions.
- At least one prohibitive má.
- The position of the destination (right, left, in front of, near).
- A closing.
- Plan your route. Sketch the route quickly in any language or as a simple map. Identify the major turning points, landmarks, and any common wrong turn to warn against.
- Draft in steps. Write each step as a short sentence or serial sequence. Do not worry yet about connectors — just get the movement sequence right first.
- Add connectors and warnings. Insert àkọ́kọ́, lẹ́yìn náà, and any prohibitive warnings. Check that má precedes the verb directly and does not carry an extra syllable.
- Apply the editing checklist. Verify every tone mark, underdot, and serial verb construction before submitting.
Àtúnṣe àtúnyẹ̀wò — Editing checklist:
- Every ẹ, ọ, and ṣ carries its underdot: ọ̀nà, not *ọna or *ona.
- High and low tones are marked on every required syllable. Mid tones are left unmarked.
- The prohibitive má is one syllable with a high tone and is followed immediately by a verb.
- I did not insert àti between verbs in a serial construction.
- Commands use the bare verb; the honorific ẹ precedes the verb when the addressee requires it.
- Position words (ní apa ọ̀tún, níwájú, nítòsí) follow the noun they modify.
- Steps are clearly sequenced with àkọ́kọ́, lẹ́yìn náà, or equivalent connectors.
- The destination is clearly named at the end with a location statement.
- Every sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with appropriate punctuation.
Speaking Practice
Àdáwọlé àkọ́kọ́ — Controlled practice: question and answer
Working with a partner, take turns asking and answering location questions. Speaker A asks Níbo ni ___ wà? using a building or place type from this chapter's vocabulary. Speaker B answers with a position expression and a simple direction. Switch roles after five questions each.
Every exchange must include:
- The full question pattern Níbo ni ___ wà?
- A location answer using a position word from the vocabulary (ní apa ọ̀tún, níwájú, nítòsí, etc.)
- One follow-up question: either Ó jìnnà? (Is it far?) or Mo lè lọ ní ẹsẹ̀? (Can I walk?)
Iṣẹ́ pẹ̀lú alábàápàdé — Information-gap directions task
Partner A has a simple map of an imagined town with five buildings marked. Partner B has the same map with the buildings in different positions. Without showing each other the maps, they ask and answer questions until both maps match. Use only Yorùbá. If no partner is available, use two printed maps with different information and read both roles aloud.
- Ask where each building is using Níbo ni ___ wà?
- Answer using serial direction sequences where the route is more than one step.
- Include at least two prohibitive má instructions when relevant.
- Confirm or correct each piece of information before moving to the next.
Fún àwọn tí ń kọ́ nìkọ̀ọ̀kan — Solo alternative: recorded route description
Record yourself giving directions from one real location to another (in your town, neighbourhood, or campus) in two to three minutes of continuous Yorùbá. Describe at least four steps. Listen back and check:
- Did you use serial verb sequences without inserting àti between the verbs?
- Did the prohibitive má sound clearly different from the habitual máa?
- Did you use sequencing words to separate the steps?
- Did you state the final destination clearly with a location expression?
Culture and Communication
In many Yorùbá-speaking communities, asking a stranger for directions typically begins with a greeting before the request itself — to launch directly into a question without an initial greeting can feel abrupt. Even a brief Ẹ káàsán or Ẹ jọ̀wọ́ dákọ (Excuse me, please) before the question is a widely appreciated courtesy. After receiving directions, it is customary to thank the person warmly before continuing on your way.
Direction-givers commonly use landmarks — a well-known market, a mosque or church, a specific junction, a large tree, or even a notable person's house — rather than street names alone. This is not because formal addresses do not exist, but because landmark-based directions are often more practically reliable in communities where not all roads carry clear signage or where a street may be known by multiple names. Learners should be comfortable both using landmark references and asking for them: Àmì wo ni ó wà nítòsí? (What landmark is near it?)
Transportation practices vary considerably across Yorùbá-speaking communities. In Lagos and other major Nigerian cities, the range of options includes BRT buses, shared minibuses (often called danfo), motorcycle taxis (often called okada), and ride-hailing apps. In smaller cities and towns such as Ìbàdàn, Ìlọrin, or Àbéòkúta, shared minibuses and motorcycle taxis remain central to daily movement. In Benin and Togo, collective taxis and mototaxis are common alternatives, sometimes called by French-influenced names in those contexts.
The vocabulary in this chapter provides Standard Yorùbá terms for common vehicle types. In practice, the specific informal names used for these vehicles vary by city and may shift over time. When traveling to a new Yorùbá-speaking area, it is worth asking a local which term is used for which vehicle type rather than assuming one label covers all contexts.
When asking for directions from a passerby who is clearly older than you, using ẹ (honorific) rather than the familiar o is generally the appropriate choice. Similarly, when a person of authority — a security guard, a market warden, or a transport official — gives you instructions, responding with Ó dára (Fine) or Mo gbọ (I understand) acknowledges the instruction respectfully. A curt silence or an immediate counter-question can read as dismissive. These courtesies are not mechanical rules but natural parts of the relational texture of most Yorùbá public interactions.
Some direction-related terms differ between Nigerian, Beninese, and Togolese Yorùbá communities or between urban and rural settings. For example, the term used for a filling station (ojúbọ epo in this textbook) may be replaced colloquially in Lagos with the English-derived filling station or the widely heard petrol station. Motor parks may be called garage in some Nigerian urban areas, drawn from Yorùbá adaptation of the English word. These informal or contact-language terms are noted here for recognition purposes. The productive default for this course remains the Standard Yorùbá vocabulary listed in the vocabulary tables.
Common Mistakes
Error: Writing *Máa lọ ọ̀nà yẹn when you mean "Do not go that way."
Correction: Má lọ ọ̀nà yẹn. — The prohibitive is má, one syllable, high tone. The habitual/future particle is máa, two syllables, high-high. Inserting an extra syllable here turns a prohibition into a statement about habitual activity, which communicates a completely different meaning. Practice the pair Má lọ (Do not go) versus Ó máa ń lọ (He/she habitually goes) until the contrast is automatic.
Error: Writing *Lọ títọ̀ àti yí sí ọ̀tún — inserting àti (and) between the two direction verbs.
Correction: Lọ títọ̀, yí sí ọ̀tún. A serial direction sequence does not need a conjunction between the verbs. The two verbs describe one continuous movement event. àti coordinates parallel nouns or independent clauses — it is not the connector between verbs in a serial construction. If you want to link two separate instruction steps, use lẹ́yìn náà (after that) between the sentences, not àti between the verbs.
Error: Writing *Kò yí sí òsì to mean "Do not turn left."
Correction: Má yí sí òsì. — The particle kò negates a declarative predicate: Ó kò yí sí òsì means "He/she did not turn left" — a statement about what happened. To give a negative instruction — to tell someone not to do something — use the prohibitive má. Using kò in a command context produces a declaration, not a prohibition, and the listener will likely be confused about what you are trying to communicate.
Error: Writing *Sí ọ̀tún alone to mean "Turn right," using the preposition without a verb.
Correction: Yí sí ọ̀tún. — The preposition sí (toward, to) marks a direction or destination but requires a motion verb to precede it. A complete turning instruction requires the verb yí (turn) followed by sí and the direction word. Similarly, lọ sí (go to), wá sí (come to), and kọjá sí (pass to/toward) all need their motion verb. Do not use sí as a standalone direction command.
Error: Writing *ona instead of ọ̀nà, or *ose instead of ẹsẹ̀.
Correction: ọ̀nà (road) requires the underdotted ọ̀ with low tone; ẹsẹ̀ (foot; on foot) requires underdotted ẹ on the first syllable and low tone on the second. Many direction words in this chapter contain ọ or ẹ and must be written with underdots at all times. Check every direction-related word in your written work against the vocabulary tables before submission.
Chapter Review
Apá A — Àwọn Ọ̀rọ̀ (Vocabulary)
1. Write the Yorùbá word or phrase for each of the following: hospital/clinic, filling station, junction, bus stop, motor park, bridge, mosque, school, office, on foot.
2. Translate each direction word or phrase into English: ọ̀tún · òsì · níwájú · lẹ́yìn · ọ̀nà títọ̀ · ní apa ọ̀tún · nítòsí · jìnnà sí · gòkè · sọ̀kalẹ̀.
3. Match each sign notice to its English meaning: Wọlé · Jáde · Dúró · Má gbé · Má kọjá. Meanings: (a) Exit, (b) Do not cross / No entry, (c) Stop, (d) Enter, (e) Do not park.
4. Write a short phrase using each of the following: láti · sí · nítòsí · ní apa òsì.
Apá B — Gírámà (Grammar)
1. Write the location question Níbo ni ___ wà? for each place: (a) the bank; (b) the bus stop; (c) the police station; (d) the town centre.
2. Rewrite each instruction in two ways: first as a familiar command, then as a honorific command. Then write the prohibition using má.
- Go straight.
- Turn right at the junction.
- Enter the building.
- Cross the bridge.
3. Identify and correct the error in each sentence:
- *Máa lọ ọ̀nà yẹn. (meant as a prohibition)
- *Lọ àti yí sí ọ̀tún ní ìta ọ̀nà.
- *Sí banki lọ. (meant as "Go to the bank.")
- *Kò kọjá afárá. (meant as "Do not cross the bridge.")
4. Write a three-step direction sequence from the market to the clinic using at least one serial verb construction, one prohibitive má, and two sequencing words.
Apá C — Ìmọ̀ Ohùn àti Àkọ̀wé (Pronunciation and orthography)
1. The following direction words are written without tone marks or underdots. Restore all required diacritics: ona tito; apa otun; ita ona; ile iwosan; paki oko.
2. Write the tone pattern (H = high, M = mid, L = low) for each syllable of: ọ̀nà títọ̀ · ilé ìwòsàn · pákì ọkọ̀ · yí sí ọ̀tún.
3. Write two minimal-pair sentences demonstrating the contrast between má (prohibitive) and máa (habitual). Label which is which.
Apá D — Kíkọ (Writing)
1. Submit your revised direction steps and direction message from the Writing Workshop. Apply the editing checklist before submission.
2. Write a short public notice (3–4 lines) for an imagined building or transport stop. Include at least two prohibitive instructions and one affirmative instruction. Use the fully marked transit notices from the Reading section as a model.
Apá E — Ìbánisọ̀rọ̀ (Speaking)
1. Without notes, give directions from a starting point of your choice to a destination of your choice. Your account must be two to three minutes long and must include: a greeting and opening, at least four direction steps, at least one prohibitive warning, at least two serial verb constructions, and a clear statement of the destination.
2. Working with a partner or practicing solo, perform the scenario from the Communication Scenario: one person plays Tópé arriving at the motor park; the other plays the person giving directions by phone. Vary the destination from the model dialogue.
Ìfojúsí ẹkọ̀ tẹ́lẹ̀ — Cumulative review check
Before the Performance Task, confirm you can do the following using vocabulary and grammar from Chapters 1–11:
- Use wà ní to say where a person or place is located — a skill first taught in Chapter 6 and now applied to town locations.
- Use progressive ń to describe an ongoing journey: Mo ń lọ sí ilé ìwòsàn báyìí.
- Use kò to negate a declarative statement about movement or location — and distinguish this clearly from the prohibitive má.
- Use fún mi ní and mú ___ fún mi from Chapter 9 — these transfer patterns are part of the serial verb system now being expanded.
- Ask a basic information question using kí ni and níbo ni.
- Address a stranger or elder with the honorific ẹ in a command or request.
Performance Task
Iṣẹ́ aṣeyọrí — Abala 11
Ìtọ́sọ́nà ọ̀nà pípé — A complete route explanation
The Chapter 11 Performance Task has two parts. All spoken and written Yorùbá must use full tone marks and underdots.
Part 1 — Oral directions (2–3 minutes):
Plan and explain a route from one location to another involving at least two landmarks, one mode of transportation, and a final destination. Your explanation must include:
- An appropriate opening (greeting or phone-style opening if the task is a phone call).
- The starting point stated with láti ___ and the destination with sí ___.
- At least four direction steps in sequence, using àkọ́kọ́, lẹ́yìn náà, and other connectors.
- At least two serial verb constructions for motion or direction.
- At least one prohibitive instruction using má.
- A clear final statement of where the destination is located (ní apa ọ̀tún, nítòsí ___, etc.).
- A polite closing.
Part 2 — Written direction message (50–70 words):
Write a message to a friend explaining the same route (or a different one of your choice). Your message must include at least three direction steps, one prohibitive instruction, one serial verb construction, and one statement of the destination's location. Use fully marked Standard Yorùbá throughout.
Assessment note: The spoken task is evaluated on task completion, comprehensibility, correct use of serial verb sequences, clear distinction of má from máa, appropriate honorific or familiar address, and intelligible tone production. The written task is evaluated on direction accuracy, serial verb construction, prohibitive use, orthographic completeness (underdots and tone marks), and overall clarity.
Answer Key
Practice — Asking and answering location questions
- Q: Níbo ni ọjà wà? A: Ọjà wà nítòsí ìta ọ̀nà.
- Q: Níbo ni ojúbọ epo wà? A: Ojúbọ epo wà ní apa ọ̀tún ọ̀nà.
- Q: Níbo ni ìdúró ọkọ̀ wà? A: Ìdúró ọkọ̀ wà níwájú ilé ẹ̀kọ́.
- Q: Níbo ni pákì ọkọ̀ wà? A: Pákì ọkọ̀ jìnnà sí ilé ìwòsàn.
- Q: Níbo ni banki wà? A: Banki wà lẹ́yìn ilé-iṣẹ́ ìjọba.
Practice — Commands and prohibitions
- Familiar: Lọ títọ̀. — Honorific: Ẹ lọ títọ̀. — Prohibition: Má lọ sẹ̀gbẹ̀. (Do not go to the side.) Accept any contextually plausible prohibitive pairing.
- Familiar: Yí sí òsì ní ìta ọ̀nà. — Honorific: Ẹ yí sí òsì ní ìta ọ̀nà. — Prohibition: Má yí sí ọ̀tún ní ìta ọ̀nà yìí.
- Familiar: Dúró níwájú ilé ìwòsàn. — Honorific: Ẹ dúró níwájú ilé ìwòsàn. — Prohibition: Má lọ kọjá ilé ìwòsàn.
- Familiar: Wọ inú ọfíìsì. — Honorific: Ẹ wọ inú ọfíìsì. — Prohibition: Má wọ ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀ àkọ́kọ́.
- Familiar: Kọjá ọjà náà. — Honorific: Ẹ kọjá ọjà náà. — Prohibition: Má dúró ní ọjà.
Practice — Serial verb direction sequences
- Lọ títọ̀ dé ìta ọ̀nà àkọ́kọ́, yí sí ọ̀tún.
- Yí sí òsì, gba ọ̀nà náà lọ títọ̀, dúró níwájú ilé ijọsìn.
- Rekọjá afárá, kọjá ilé ẹ̀kọ́ lọ, dé banki.
Dialogue — Comprehension
- Tópé wà ní pákì ọkọ̀. (Tópé is at the motor park.)
- Àlàbá sọ fún Tópé pé kò gbọdọ̀ yí sí òsì: Má yí sí òsì — yí sí ọ̀tún nìkan. (Àlàbá tells Tópé not to turn left.)
- Tópé kọjá ilé méjì: ojúbọ epo àti ilé ẹ̀kọ́. (Two buildings: a filling station and a school.)
- Ilé ìwòsàn ìjọba wà ní apa ọ̀tún. (The clinic is on the right side.)
- First sentence with má: Ní ìta ọ̀nà yẹn, má yí sí òsì. — Meaning: Do not turn left at that junction. The prohibitive má is one syllable, high tone, directly before the verb yí. It differs from habitual máa, which is two syllables and precedes the progressive marker ń. Accept any of the three má sentences in the dialogue with a correct explanation.
- Tópé repeats the directions back (Mo tún gbọ́ — I heard / Let me repeat) to confirm she has understood correctly. This communication repair strategy helps prevent errors and signals attentive listening.
Listening — Comprehension table
- Exchange 1: Starting point: not specified (on the road); Destination: large shop (ilé ìtajà ńlá); Key direction: pass the bus stop and turn left; destination on the right in front of a bank.
- Exchange 2: Starting point: current street; Destination: the first mosque in town (mọ́sálásì àkọ́kọ́); Key direction: pass the school, go to the bus stop, take a minibus to the town centre, exit at Àmáládé junction; mosque on the left.
- Exchange 3: Starting point: current position; Destination: nearest filling station (ojúbọ epo); Key direction: turn back (yí padà), cross the bridge, turn right at the first junction; filling station on the left.
Bonus: (1) Rárá. O lè lọ ní ẹsẹ̀. Ó nítòsí. — Not far; can walk; it is nearby. (2) Take a minibus (ọkọ̀ kékeré), recommended because it is faster (ó yára jù). (3) Yí padà — turn around/turn back (serial: yí + padà).
Reading — Comprehension
- Ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀ wọlé wà ní apa ọ̀tún; ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀ jáde wà ní apa òsì. (Entry gate on the right; exit gate on the left.)
- Do not cross the red line. / No entry beyond the red line.
- Kúnlé sọ fún un pé kò gbọdọ̀ yí sí ọ̀tún ní ìta ọ̀nà Àgbọ̀dọ̀. (He says not to turn right at the Àgbọ̀dọ̀ junction — take the road going uphill instead.)
- Ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀ àkọ́kọ́ wà fún àwọn oṣiṣẹ́ nìkan. (The first gate is for staff only.)
- Three sentences with má: (from notices) Má gbé ọkọ̀ níwájú ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀. / Ẹ má kọjá ìlà pupa. (from directions letter) Má yí sí ọ̀tún ní ìta ọ̀nà náà and Má rẹ̀rẹ̀ tọ ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀ àkọ́kọ́. Any three of these are acceptable.
- First serial construction in the polytechnic directions: jáde láti ọjà, lọ sí ọ̀nà ńlá — jáde (exit) and lọ (go): exit the market and go to the main road.
Chapter Review — Apá A
- ilé ìwòsàn; ojúbọ epo; ìta ọ̀nà; ìdúró ọkọ̀; pákì ọkọ̀; afárá; mọ́sálásì; ilé ẹ̀kọ́; ọfíìsì; ẹsẹ̀ (or: lọ ní ẹsẹ̀)
- right; left; in front of / ahead; behind / after; straight ahead; on the right side; near; far from; uphill; downhill
- (a) Exit → Jáde; (b) No entry / Do not cross → Má kọjá; (c) Stop → Dúró; (d) Enter → Wọlé; (e) Do not park → Má gbé
- Accept any natural, well-formed phrase using each word; examples: Mo wá láti ọjà. / Lọ sí ilé ìwòsàn. / Banki wà nítòsí. / Ìdúró ọkọ̀ wà ní apa òsì.
Chapter Review — Apá B
- (a) Níbo ni banki wà? (b) Níbo ni ìdúró ọkọ̀ wà? (c) Níbo ni àgọ́ olóṣà wà? (d) Níbo ni àárín gbùngbùn ìlú wà?
- Go straight: Familiar: Lọ títọ̀. Honorific: Ẹ lọ títọ̀. Prohibition: Má yí padà. — Turn right: Familiar: Yí sí ọ̀tún ní ìta ọ̀nà. Honorific: Ẹ yí sí ọ̀tún ní ìta ọ̀nà. Prohibition: Má yí sí òsì ní ìta ọ̀nà yìí. — Enter: Familiar: Wọ inú ilé náà. Honorific: Ẹ wọ inú ilé náà. Prohibition: Má wọ ẹnu-bọ̀dọ̀ àkọ́kọ́. — Cross the bridge: Familiar: Rekọjá afárá náà. Honorific: Ẹ rekọjá afárá náà. Prohibition: Má rekọjá afárá yẹn.
- Corrections: (i) Má lọ ọ̀nà yẹn. — máa is habitual/future; the prohibitive is má (one syllable). (ii) Lọ, yí sí ọ̀tún ní ìta ọ̀nà. — Remove àti from inside the serial sequence. (iii) Lọ sí banki. — The preposition sí requires a motion verb (lọ) to precede it. (iv) Má kọjá afárá. — kò negates a declarative; the prohibitive má gives a negative instruction.
- Accept any three-step sequence that correctly uses a serial verb, a prohibitive, two sequencing words, and names a plausible landmark route. Example: Àkọ́kọ́, jáde láti ọjà, lọ sí ọ̀nà ńlá. Lẹ́yìn náà, yí sí ọ̀tún. Má dúró ní banki — kọjá lọ. Ilé ìwòsàn wà nítòsí, ní apa òsì.
Chapter Review — Apá C
- Correct forms: ọ̀nà títọ̀; ní apa ọ̀tún; ìta ọ̀nà; ilé ìwòsàn; pákì ọkọ̀.
- Tone patterns (accept phonetically motivated alternatives; flag for human review): ọ̀nà títọ̀ = L-M · H-L; ilé ìwòsàn = H-M · L-L-H; pákì ọkọ̀ = H-L · M-L; yí sí ọ̀tún = H · H · L-H.
- Example pair: Prohibitive: Má lọ ọ̀nà yẹn. (Do not go that way.) — Habitual: Ó máa ń lọ ọ̀nà yẹn. (He/she habitually goes that way.) Label each clearly.
Looking Ahead
Ohun tí o lè ṣe báyìí — What you can do now
You can ask where a building or transport stop is located, give step-by-step directions using serial verbs of motion and direction, use the prohibitive má to warn against a wrong turning, state the origin and destination of a journey with láti and sí, and write a fully marked set of directions or a direction message in Standard Yorùbá. You can also read common public signs and transit notices.