mo loye
The English phrase "I understand" is translated into Yoruba as mo loye.
mo loye is used to show that you comprehend the meaning of something.
Which one should you use?
While mo loye specifically refers to the cognitive comprehension of a concept, mo gbọ is often used colloquially to mean "I understand" in the sense of "I hear you" or "I get what you are saying".
Did you know?
- The root word oye can also refer to a 'title' or 'chieftaincy' in Yoruba society. This suggests that 'understanding' is historically viewed as a form of authority or status.
- In many Yoruba social settings, simply saying mo gbọ is considered more polite than the more literal mo loye because it acknowledges the speaker's effort to be heard.
- Because Yoruba is a tonal language, a slight mistake in the pitch of the words in mo loye could change the meaning of the sentence entirely to something unrelated.
Examples in context
- Mo loye ohun tí o sọ.I understand what you said.
- Ẹ jọ̀ọ́, mo loye.Please, I understand.
- Ní báyìí, mo loye ìlànà náà.Now, I understand the process.
Example conversation
Femi is explaining a task to Morenike.
- FemiJọ̀wọ́, ṣe o le ṣe èyí?Please, can you do this?
- MorenikeBeẹ́ ni, mo loye bí a ṣe ń ṣe é.Yes, I understand how to do it.
- FemiÓ dára, óòrún ni ó yẹ kí o parí rẹ̀.Good, it should be finished by noon.
- MorenikeMo loye, Femi.I understand, Femi.
