kí ló ṣẹlẹ̀
The Yoruba phrase for "what happened" is kí ló ṣẹlẹ̀.
This phrase is a question used to ask about the cause or details of a past event or current situation.
Which one should you use?
Kílódé? is an informal way to ask 'What happened?'
How does it change in a sentence?
In this question, the pronoun ó (it) is often elided and merged with the particle ni to form ló to facilitate the flow of the question.
Did you know?
- The informal kílódé? is a contraction of kí ló dé, where dé literally means 'to arrive'. It frames the 'happening' as something that has arrived in the present moment.
- When asking kí ló ṣẹlẹ̀?, the tone of the word kí can shift significantly depending on whether you are truly asking a question or expressing shocked disbelief at a sight.
- While kí ló ṣẹlẹ̀? is grammatically standard, using it in a very heated argument can sometimes sound unnecessarily formal or even accusatory, as if you are demanding an official report.
Examples in context
- Kí ló ṣẹlẹ̀ ní ibẹ̀?What happened there?
- Ṣé o mọ kí ló ṣẹlẹ̀?Do you know what happened?
Example conversation
Tunde sees Folake looking upset in the living room.
- TundeFolake, kí ló ṣẹlẹ̀?Folake, what happened?
- FolakeMo sọ fóònù mi nù.I lost my phone.
- TundeṢé o rí i níbi tí o sí i?Did you look where you left it?
- FolakeBẹ́ẹ̀ ni, ṣùgbọ́n mi ò rí i.Yes, but I didn't find it.
