ṣé o ti jẹun?
The English phrase "have you eaten?" is translated into Yoruba as ṣé o ti jẹun?
This phrase is a common greeting used to show care for someone's well-being by asking if they have had a meal.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase breaks down into ṣé (a question marker), o (you), ti (a marker for completed action) and jẹun (eat food).
How does it change in a sentence?
To change the phrase from singular to plural or polite, replace the singular pronoun o with the plural/polite pronoun ẹ.
When do people say it?
In Yoruba culture, asking if someone has eaten is a standard way to greet them and express care, often used instead of a simple 'hello'. If someone asks you this, a standard positive response is Mo ti jẹun (I have eaten) and a standard negative response is Emi kò tíì jẹun (I haven't eaten yet).
Did you know?
- Because the phrase is a way to show care, answering 'no' can sometimes lead to the person asking offering you food, making it a more consequential greeting than 'how are you?'
- The word jẹun is actually a combination of the verb jẹ meaning 'to eat' and the noun ohun meaning 'thing'.
- Asking if someone has eaten is so central to Yoruba social etiquette that failing to ask can be perceived as a lack of empathy or coldness.
Examples in context
- Ṣé o ti jẹun?Have you eaten?
- Báwo ni, ṣé o ti jẹun?How are you, have you eaten?
Example conversation
Babatunde and Folake meet in the afternoon.
- FolakeBabatunde, ṣé o ti jẹun?Babatunde, have you eaten?
- BabatundeBẹ́ẹ̀ ni, mo ti jẹun.Yes, I have eaten.
- FolakeKí ni o jẹ?What did you eat?
- BabatundeMo jẹ iyan ati ẹgusi.I ate pounded yam and egusi.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries jẹun, o, CC BY-SA 4.0.
