ọmọkùnrin
The Yoruba word for boy is ọmọkùnrin.
ọmọkùnrin is a noun used to refer to a male child.
Meaning: male child (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of ọmọ, meaning child and kùnrin, meaning male.
Which one should you use?
To specify a girl, use ọmọbìnrin, which replaces the male component with the female component.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the word plural, place the plural marker àwọn before the noun, forming àwọn ọmọkùnrin.
Did you know?
- Yoruba is a tonal language, so the marks on ọmọkùnrin are not accents but indicators of pitch that can change the meaning of the word entirely.
- The distinction between ọmọkùnrin and ọmọbìnrin is not just biological, but carries weight in traditional naming ceremonies where the sex of the child dictates specific ritual protocols.
- The root word ọmọ is used in many common Yoruba surnames, often signifying the lineage or 'child of' a specific ancestor.
Examples in context
- Mo fẹ́ kí ọmọkùnrin náà kàwé.I want the boy to study.
- Ọmọkùnrin kan wà ní ilé.There is a boy at home.
Example conversation
Babatunde and Folake are talking about their children.
- FolakeṢé o ní ọmọkùnrin?Do you have a boy?
- BabatundeBẹ́ẹ̀ ni, mo ní ọmọkùnrin kan.Yes, I have one boy.
- FolakeBáwo ni orúkọ rẹ̀?What is his name?
- BabatundeOrúkọ rẹ̀ ni Tunde.His name is Tunde.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “boy” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
