kí ni ìṣòro náà?
In Yoruba, "what is the problem?" is expressed as kí ni ìṣòro náà?
This phrase is used to ask about the nature of a difficulty or a trouble.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of kí (what), ni (is), ìṣòro (problem/difficulty) and náà (the).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word kí functions as the interrogative pronoun "what" at the beginning of the question. The word ni acts as a copula (is) to link the subject and the question word. The noun ìṣòro can be modified by the definite article náà (the) to specify a particular problem.
Did you know?
- When speaking to an elder, you would change the entire structure to include honorifics to avoid appearing disrespectful while asking about their trouble.
- The word ìṣòro is derived from the verb ṣòro, which describes something that is difficult or heavy to carry.
- In Yoruba culture, asking kí ni ìṣòro náà? can sometimes sound more like an interrogation or a challenge than a genuine offer of help, depending on your tone.
Examples in context
- Báwo ni, kí ni ìṣòro náà?How are you, what is the problem?
- Sọ fun mi, kí ni ìṣòro náà?Tell me, what is the problem?
Example conversation
Folake sees Babatunde looking worried while working.
- FolakeBabatunde, kí ni ìṣòro náà?Babatunde, what is the problem?
- BabatundeÌṣòro ni pé òkùnkùn ń bẹ níbí.The problem is that it is dark here.
- FolakeÓ dára, jẹ́ kí á tan iná.Okay, let us turn on the light.
- BabatundeO ṣeun, Folake.Thank you, Folake.
