E kaasan
Good afternoon in Yoruba is E kaasan.
E kaasan is a greeting used during the afternoon hours.
Meaning: greeting said in the afternoon (phrase)
Which one should you use?
The polite form is Ẹ káàsán, while the shortened form Káàsán is used when greeting someone of the same age or younger. The variation Ẹ káàsán o is an alternative phrase used in certain regions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Ẹ káàsán o is an alternative phrase used to say good afternoon in certain regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
The polite form Ẹ káàsán uses the honorific pronoun Ẹ to show respect to the person being greeted.
When do people say it?
When someone greets you, a common way to respond is to say Oò, ẹ káàsán or simply Ẹ káàsán back.
Did you know?
- The root of káàsán comes from the verb kú, which in the context of greetings does not mean 'to die' but is used to acknowledge a specific state or time of day.
- In Yoruba culture, the politeness of Ẹ káàsán is not just about the words, but about the physical act of bowing or lowering one's head slightly while speaking.
- While 'afternoon' is the English focus, the Yoruba word àsán or ọ̀sán refers more broadly to the period of heat and brightness in the day.
Examples in context
- E kaasan, ṣé ẹ kú iṣẹ́?Good afternoon, how is your work going?
- E kaasan, bàbá mi.Good afternoon, my father.
- E kaasan gbogbo yín.Good afternoon to you all.
Example conversation
Tunde walks into a shop where Titi is working.
- TundeE kaasan, Titi.Good afternoon, Titi.
- TitiE kaasan, Tunde. Báwo ni?Good afternoon, Tunde. How are you?
- TundeMo wà dáadáá, ẹ ṣé.I am very well, thank you.
- TitiKí ni ẹ fẹ́ rà lónìí?What would you like to buy today?
