mà lù ẹ́
The English phrase "I will beat you" is expressed in Yoruba as mà lù ẹ́.
mà lù ẹ́ is used as a statement to threaten someone with physical violence.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of mà, which is a contraction of máa meaning "will" or "shall". lù, meaning "to hit" or "beat". And ẹ́, meaning "you".
How does it change in a sentence?
In this phrase, mà is a shortened form of the auxiliary verb máa used to indicate the future tense.
Did you know?
- If you were to say this to an elder, the lack of honorifics would make the phrase much more offensive than the threat itself.
- In Yoruba culture, the verb lù is also used to describe the act of playing a drum. Depending on the context, saying mà lù could mean you are about to play a rhythm rather than commit an act of violence.
- Yoruba has several specific words for 'beating' depending on the tool used. While lù is general, other terms specify if the beating is done with a cane, a belt or a hand.
Examples in context
- Tí o bá tún ṣe bẹ́ẹ̀, mà lù ẹ́.If you do that again, I will beat you.
Example conversation
Femi and Yejide are arguing over a broken toy.
- FemiYejide, o ba mi ba nǹkan jẹ!Yejide, you broke my thing!
- YejideKì í ṣe ἐmi ló ṣe ẹ́.It wasn't me who did it.
- FemiMọ̀ pé mà lù ẹ́ bí o kò bá sọ òtítọ́.Know that I will beat you if you don't tell the truth.
- YejideMàá sọ fún mọ́mọ́!I will tell mother!
