mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ
informal
In Yoruba, "I love you" is expressed as mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ. Wiktionary also lists mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ yín.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Yoruba | Note |
|---|---|
| mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ | informal |
| mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ yín | honorific, plural |
This phrase is used as an affirmation of romantic feeling.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ literally means "I have love for you". The component mo means "I", nífẹ̀ẹ́ means "have love" and rẹ means "you" (singular/informal).
Which one should you use?
mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ is the informal version used for romantic partners, close friends or people younger than you. In contrast, mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ yín is used when addressing an elder, a person of higher status or a group of people.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ is the informal form. mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ yín is the honorific form used for formal situations or to show respect.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express love to more than one person or to show respect to a single person, the pronoun rẹ (singular/informal) is replaced by yín.
Did you know?
- Because Yoruba is a tonal language, the phrase mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ is spoken as a melody. If the melody is wrong, a native speaker might not recognize it as a declaration of love.
- The word ífẹ̀ẹ́ is derived from the root verb fẹ́, which can also mean 'to want' or 'to desire'. In Yoruba, the line between romantic love and a strong desire for something is linguistically blurred.
- In Yoruba culture, expressing love through words like mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ is often considered secondary to showing affection through 'food and service'.
Examples in context
- Mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ gan-an.I love you very much.
- Mọ̀ rẹ pé mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ.Know that I love you.
Example conversation
A couple is saying goodbye before work.
- FolakeBabatunde, mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ.Babatunde, I love you.
- BabatundeMo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ náà, Folake.I love you too, Folake.
- FolakeÓ dàbọ̀, olùfẹ́ mi.Goodbye, my lover.
- BabatundeÓ dàbọ̀, mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹ.Goodbye, I love you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
