bawo
In Yoruba, the English phrase "hi" is translated as bawo.
bawo is used as a friendly, informal greeting.
Meaning: friendly, informal greeting (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word bawo literally means "how".
When do people say it?
A common response to the greeting bawo is dada ni, which means "I am fine" or "it is well".
Did you know?
- Yoruba is a tonal language, so the way you pronounce the vowels in bawo can change the meaning of the word entirely. Getting the pitch wrong might transform your 'hi' into something else.
- While bawo is a common way to say 'hi', using it with an elder or a stranger without adding honorifics can be seen as disrespectful. In Yoruba culture, seniority dictates the level of formality in your greeting.
- The greeting bawo is actually a shortened version of a question about how things are happening to you. It derives from the combination of bá meaning 'to happen' and èwo meaning 'which'.
Examples in context
- Bawo ni?Hi, how are you?
Example conversation
Femi and Morenike meet at a market.
- FemiBawo, Morenike!Hi, Morenike!
- MorenikeBawo, Femi!Hi, Femi!
- FemiBawo ni nkan?How are things?
- MorenikeOhun gbogbo wa da.Everything is fine.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bawo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
