àlāáfíà
Peace in Yoruba is àlāáfíà.
While àlāáfíà can mean a state of being free from war, it is a broad term that encompasses general well-being, health and prosperity.
Meaning: state of being free from war (noun)
When do people say it?
The phrase Àlāáfíà ni? is a common way to ask "How are you?" or "Is everything well?" during a greeting. When someone asks Àlāáfíà ni?, a common response is Àlāáfíà ni to indicate that you are doing well.
Did you know?
- The concept of àlāáfíà is deeply tied to the idea of a 'cool' temperament, where emotional calmness is seen as a prerequisite for true peace.
- In some poetic or traditional settings, àlāáfíà is treated as a tangible commodity that one can 'possess' or 'lose' through bad behavior.
- The tone marks on àlāáfíà are crucial because changing the pitch of a syllable can completely change the meaning of the word in the Yoruba language.
Examples in context
- Agbáyé náà ní àlāáfíà.The world has peace.
- A fẹ́ àlāáfíà ní agbègbè wa.We want peace in our community.
- Àlāáfíà ni a ń gbàdúrà fún.It is peace that we pray for.
Example conversation
Olumide and Yejide are talking about the current state of their country.
- OlumideYejide, ṣé o rí i pé àlāáfíà ti padà?Yejide, do you see that peace has returned?
- YejideBẹ́ẹ̀ ni, Olumide, mo rí i.Yes, Olumide, I see it.
- OlumideA ó ní àlāáfíà títí láé.We shall have peace forever.
- YejideÀmín, ohun tí a fẹ́ ni.Amen, that is what we want.
