kí lò dé?
The Yoruba phrase kí lò dé? is used to mean "what is this?" in the sense of asking what is happening or what the problem is.
Did you know?
- While kí lò dé? asks about a situation, a person wanting to identify a physical object would instead use kí ni yìí? Using kí lò dé? for a physical object would sound like you are asking why the object exists there.
- While kí lò dé? literally asks 'what has happened?', it is frequently used to express a sense of shock or disapproval at a messy or chaotic scene.
Example conversation
Folake walks into the room and sees Babatunde looking upset.
- FolakeBabatunde, kí lò dé?Babatunde, what is the problem?
- BabatundeMo sọ ohun tí mo rí sọ.I am saying what I saw.
- FolakeKí ni nǹkan náà?What is the matter?
- BabatundeKò sí nǹkan kan.It is nothing.
