Yoruba slangs contains different formal and informal expressions that are often used in everyday conversations. These slangs can add color, humor, and depth to the language.
Slangs are substitute words that have been widely used in different languages and countries for easy communication and have been widely accepted over time. In Nigeria, most slangs are derived from musical artistes, as part of songs lyrics,and others are simply derived from contextually derived words from Native languages, and that of Yoruba is not too different from this.
There are also many Nigerian slangs derived from Pidgin English, some of which are recently adapted into Oxford dictionary through the concerted efforts of some language experts and academicians in the country. But aside pidgin sources, Yoruba language is also a good contributor to the enrichment of slangs usage in the Nigeria, and even though you may not understand the language, you may still be able to relate with the slangs from that part of the country, especially when you live in popular Yoruba cities like, Lagos and Ibadan.
So, let’s look at 100 Yoruba Slangs in Nigeria and their relative meaning in English.
Also read: 700+ Yoruba Names and Their Meanings
Also read: 200+ Cultural Female Yoruba Names and their Meanings
Top 100 Yoruba Slangs & their English Meaning
| Yoruba Slangs | English Meaning | |
| 1 | Má goor | Don’t Dull |
| 2 | O’poor | This is too much |
| 3 | Bòlò | Imbecile |
| 4 | O sha Pra Pra | Smart & Dope |
| 5 | Mùmú | Fool |
| 6 | Mugun | Scammed fool |
| 7 | Máa lo sùn | Don’t slack or sleep off |
| 8 | Járá | Add little more |
| 9 | Òfégè | Fake |
| 10 | Lóbátán | It’s finished |
| 11 | Ma bóbò mi jo | Don’t deceive me |
| 12 | Ma fóo | Be strong or don’t be weak |
| 13 | Múulè | Being lied to |
| 14 | Gbójú nbè | Forget about it/Ignore |
| 15 | Ehn en | Is that so? Really?? |
| 16 | Fáashì | Walk away |
| 17 | Dòbodé | Compound Fool |
| 18 | Ò’tèy | Fool or Dunce |
| 19 | Gbaayii | Much Respected |
| 20 | Paa won | Intimidate them |
| 21 | Ìkébè | Ass |
| 22 | Kàká | Big Ass |
| 23 | Gbe bodi e | Park well or carry your body |
| 24 | O wa nbe | It’s still intact |
| 25 | Owambe | Partying |
| 26 | Mérùulè | Drop something |
| 27 | Gbajue | Fraudster |
| 28 | Fanimorous | It’s inviting |
| 29 | O ta lénu | Too sophisticated Too Sohisticated or so dope |
| 30 | O ma loud gan | Gonna be massive |
| 31 | Fèsù l’óyàn | Calling for trouble |
| 32 | O sán lórí | Crazily or Insane |
| 33 | O yapa | It’s plenty |
| 34 | O leku | It’s Serious |
| 35 | Alayé | Guy man |
| 36 | O fóká síbè | Well ingrained or embedded |
| 37 | Fiipá | Whining |
| 38 | Jè’gòo | Tricked |
| 39 | O soji | Woke or be invoke |
| 40 | O jáá | To be awake & smart |
| 41 | Sháshé | Engaging in internet fraud |
| 42 | Fórífórí | Intimidate |
| 43 | Gbe’tán | Carry once & for all |
| 44 | Lanà | Old fashioned & rickety |
| 45 | O ta kébé | Alerting/Bouncing |
| 46 | O bólè ko fo | Rugged & Durable |
| 47 | Tanasobe | Small torchlight phone |
| 48 | Gbantueyo | Fake or irrelevant |
| 49 | Agánrán | Brand new |
| 50 | Tokunbo | Fairly used |
| 51 | Oshara | Tear rubber or brand new |
| 52 | O ti jetan | You’re finished or you have finished it |
| 53 | Belengo | Hidden |
| 54 | O gon ti o | It’s huge |
| 55 | Sháyó | Tipsy or drunk |
| 56 | Gbadun/Gbaladun | Enjoy/Enjoyment |
| 57 | O rè e jo or O ré e ni | You’re sick behaviorally |
| 58 | Ò’tuu | Amateur |
| 59 | Oga Ade | This guy |
| 60 | Omo wobe | Street boys or girls |
| 61 | Iyalayaa | Who dares’ (Mother of all mothers) |
| 62 | Laulau | Acting excessively or Overdoing or Carefree |
| 63 | Kilonsele | What’s good? Or what’s happening |
| 64 | Ó yá now | Let’s go or Let’s begin |
| 65 | Ja’a paa | Run away from troubles or danger |
| 66 | Mo fó o | I’m tripped or impressed |
| 67 | Sentimamokan | Take heart |
| 68 | O be speaker | To open up or divulged information or leak secret |
| 69 | Ma teju mi mole | Don’t disrespect me |
| 70 | O ka ti fo | Bursted or Secret now openly known |
| 71 | Isé ti yato | Things have changed for good |
| 72 | Opon ti sun | Upgraded |
| 73 | A ti le po | Together or partnering |
| 74 | Wos wobi | Hey, look here |
| 75 | Igara chicken | Feeling proud or raising feathers like Chicken to brag |
| 76 | Ma nàgèrè | Don’t dull yourself |
| 77 | Maa gbemi mora | Dont whine me |
| 78 | Omo Ele | Hot chick girl (Pretty girl) |
| 79 | Ma wara ro | Don’t be relaxed |
| 80 | È shá ni jó | It’s a small thing or quite insignificant |
| 81 | Yoruba Demon | Fine or cute Yoruba tribeman |
| 82 | Mo gbedi or Mo juru | I throw salute |
| 83 | Bólugi | Rugged |
| 84 | Tá’tán | Give it all relentlessly |
| 85 | E’fiiko or E’fiwee | Studious & brilliant |
| 86 | Òrìjó | Examination Cheats |
| 87 | E ti e ro omi sii | Push to start car (Problematic car) |
| 88 | O’lashé | Passed or have an high score in exam |
| 89 | Gbagbe Oshi | Forget that trash pls |
| 90 | O’nbe – Ò’yà | Being impatient or jumping carelessly |
| 91 | Lepaa | Skinny girl |
| 92 | Òròbò | Fat girl |
| 93 | Ajepako | Born into poor home |
| 94 | Botti | Born into rich home |
| 95 | Whala/Kasala | Trouble |
| 96 | E’rúukú | Dreaded bad street guys |
| 97 | Ibile | Native folks |
| 98 | Palasa | Old/ almost spoilt phone |
| 99 | Yaamu or Boskoro | Fairly used clothes |
| 100 | Jara e | Wake up |
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