fún mi
The Yoruba phrase for "give me" is fún mi.
Meaning: expression of preference (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb fún, which means "give" and the pronoun mi, which means "me".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
To be polite or to address an elder, you should add the honorific pronoun Ẹ before the verb, resulting in Ẹ fún mi.
How does it change in a sentence?
When specifying the object being given, the preposition ní is often used after fún mi to link the verb to the noun, forming fún mi ní (something).
Did you know?
- Yoruba is a tonal language, meaning that changing the pitch of fún or mi can completely change the meaning of the words to something unrelated to giving.
- If you use fún mi when addressing a group, it can sound like you are addressing one person, whereas the respectful Ẹ fún mi works for both an elder and a group.
- The verb fún can also be used as a preposition meaning 'for' or 'to' in certain sentence structures, effectively shifting its role from an action to a direction.
Examples in context
- Fún mi ní omi.Give me water.
Example conversation
Olumide and Yejide are eating together.
- OlumideYejide, fún mi ní bread yẹn.Yejide, give me that bread.
- YejideÓ ti tán, Olumide.It is finished, Olumide.
- OlumideÀhán, ṣé nǹkan tí ó kù kò sí?Oh, is there nothing left?
- YejideKò sí mọ́.There is none left.
