Ẹ kú rọ̀lẹ́
Ẹ kú rọ̀lẹ́ is the Yoruba way to say "good evening".
This phrase is used as a greeting during the evening period.
Meaning: greeting said in the evening (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Ẹ kú rọ̀lẹ́ literally translates to "You greet the settling down of the day", acknowledging the arrival of the evening.
How does it change in a sentence?
The prefix Ẹ makes the greeting respectful and suitable for elders, superiors or a group of people. To make the greeting informal for peers or younger people, you can remove the honorific prefix and say Kú rọ̀lẹ́.
When do people say it?
When someone greets you with Ẹ kú rọ̀lẹ́, the standard response is to repeat the same phrase back to them.
Did you know?
- The use of the plural prefix Ẹ for a single person is a linguistic feature called 'honorific plural', similar to the formal 'vous' in French.
- The word rọ̀lẹ́ comes from a verb meaning 'to settle' or 'to descend', reflecting the Yoruba view of the evening as the time when the sun and the world calm down.
- The greeting Kú is used in dozens of Yoruba expressions to acknowledge a person's specific state or activity, such as Ẹ kú iṣẹ́ for someone working or Ẹ kú ọmọ for a new parent.
Examples in context
- Ẹ kú rọ̀lẹ́ sí gbogbo ẹyin èèyàn.Good evening to everyone.
- Ẹ kú rọ̀lẹ́, ṣé ẹ ti jẹun?Good evening, have you eaten?
Example conversation
Titi arrives home and greets Olumide.
- TitiẸ kú rọ̀lẹ́, Olumide.Good evening, Olumide.
- OlumideẸ kú rọ̀lẹ́, Titi.Good evening, Titi.
- TitiṢé ọjọ́ yìí lọ dáadáa?Did your day go well?
- OlumideÓ lọ dáadáa, oṣé.It went well, thank you.
