omi
/ō.mĩ̄/
The Yoruba word for water is omi.
omi is the noun used to refer to the inorganic compound H₂O.
Meaning: inorganic compound H₂O (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
The word has 2 syllables and is pronounced /ō.mĩ̄/.
Did you know?
- In Yoruba culture, omi is often associated with the deity Yemoja, the goddess of the sea and motherhood.
- The phrase omi tútù means 'cold water', but it can also be used metaphorically to describe a state of calm or peace.
- The word omi is a cognate with the Igbo word mmiri and the Edo word amẹ, showing a shared linguistic root across several Nigerian languages.
Examples in context
- Omi ni ayé.Water is life.Tatoeba #5978173 by ecorralest101, translation #3861611 by Hybrid
- Mo fẹ́ omi.I want water.
- Ṣé o ní omi?Do you have water?
Example conversation
Tunde and Yejide are sitting in the living room.
- TundeYejide, jọ̀wọ́ fun mi ni omi.Yejide, please give me some water.
- YejideO wa ninu ago naa.It is inside that jug.
- TundeO ṣeun, mo nrilọ́rùn fun omi.Thank you, I am longing for water.
- YejideMu omi naa tán.Drink all the water.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “water” translations and entries omi, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries omi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
