eṣe oluwa
eṣe oluwa is the Yoruba phrase for "thank you lord".
This phrase is an expression used to give thanks to God.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the components where Oluwa means "Lord" or "Master".
Did you know?
- The word Oluwa is built from olù-, a prefix for a doer, and wà, which means 'to be' or 'to exist'. Essentially, the 'Lord' is described as the one who exists.
- In many Yoruba communities, saying eṣe oluwa is often accompanied by a slight bow or a lifting of the hands, as the verbal thanks is seen as incomplete without a physical gesture of submission.
- Because Yoruba is a tonal language, changing the pitch of the word Oluwa can completely alter its meaning, potentially changing the phrase from a prayer to something entirely different.
Example conversation
Folake and Femi are celebrating good news about a family member.
- FolakeAiye n lo daradara, eṣe Oluwa!Life is going well, thank you Lord!
- FemiBeeni, o seun fun ire yen.Yes, He is thanked for that blessing.
- FolakeMo n reti pe nkan rere yio tun wa.I expect that more good things will come.
- FemiAmin, eṣe Oluwa fun gbogbo rẹ.Amen, thank you Lord for all of it.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries oluwa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
