ajá
The English word dog is translated into Yoruba as ajá.
The word refers to the animal known as a dog.
Meaning: animal (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
ajá is a noun.
Did you know?
- In many Yoruba-speaking contexts, calling someone an ajá is a severe insult, implying they are a lowly or shameless person.
- While an English speaker might call a pet a 'good boy', a Yoruba speaker might use the word ọmọ meaning 'child' to show affection for a beloved dog.
- In Yoruba, the word ajá is a tonal word where the pitch can change the meaning. A slight shift in tone from the word for 'dog' can turn it into a completely different word.
Examples in context
- Mo rí ajá kan ní ojú tìtì.I saw a dog on the road.
Example conversation
Babatunde and Yejide are standing in their garden.
- YejideṢé o rí ajá náà?Did you see the dog?
- BabatundeBẹ́ẹ̀ ni, ó wà lẹ́nu igbó.Yes, it is in the forest.
- YejideKí ni ajá náà ń ṣe?What is the dog doing?
- BabatundeÓ ń sáré lọ.It is running away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dog” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
