wá
The Yoruba verb for "come" is wá.
wá is used to express the action of arriving or appearing.
Meaning: to arrive, to appear (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb wá is used in its base form when giving the imperative command "come!"
Did you know?
- In Yoruba culture, the verb wá is often used in a ritual sense to describe the appearance of a deity or ancestral spirit during a ceremony.
- Yoruba uses specific ideophones, or sound-words, alongside wá to describe the manner of coming, such as arriving suddenly or sneaking up.
- When inviting someone to 'come' in a formal setting, it is customary to use a plural or honorific form even if only one person is being addressed.
Examples in context
- Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, ẹ wá sọ̀rọ̀ pẹ̀lú mi.Please, come and speak with me.
- Ìgbà wo ni wọ́n máa wá?When will they arrive?
Example conversation
Morenike is waiting for Olumide to visit her house.
- MorenikeOlumide, tí o ti wá?Olumide, have you arrived?
- OlumideBẹ́ẹ̀ ni, mo wá.Yes, I have arrived.
- MorenikeJọ̀ọ́, wá sínú ilé.Please, come inside the house.
- OlumideMo ń wá nísinsìnyí.I am coming now.
