kí ni ìṣòro rẹ?
The English phrase "what is your problem?" is translated into Yoruba as kí ni ìṣòro rẹ?
This phrase is a question used to ask someone what difficulty or trouble they are experiencing.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of kí (what), ni (is), ìṣòro (problem/difficulty) and rẹ (your).
Which one should you use?
While the phrase can be used to ask about a difficulty, using the singular rẹ in a heated context can sound confrontational or rude, similar to the English usage.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the phrase polite or to address more than one person, replace the singular possessive rẹ with the plural/polite yín, resulting in kí ni ìṣòro yín?
Did you know?
- In certain Yoruba dialects, you might hear people refer to 'trouble' using the word wahala, which is actually borrowed from Arabic via Hausa. This is common in informal Nigerian slang.
- The word ìṣòro comes from the verb ṣòro, which describes a state of being difficult or cramped. It literally captures the feeling of a situation being 'tight' or restricted, making it hard to move through.
- Yoruba is a tonal language, meaning that changing the pitch of the words in kí ni ìṣòro rẹ? can completely change the meaning of the sentence or make it unintelligible.
Examples in context
- Kí ni ìṣòro rẹ?What is your problem?
- Sọ fun mi, kí ni ìṣòro rẹ?Tell me, what is your problem?
Example conversation
Tunde sees Titi looking very upset and worried.
- TundeTiti, kí ni ìṣòro rẹ?Titi, what is your problem?
- TitiÌṣòro mi ni pé mi ò ní owó.My problem is that I don't have money.
- TundeMá ṣe bẹ̀rù, Tunde máa ràn ẹ lọ́wọ́.Don't worry, Tunde will help you.
- TitiO ṣeun gan-an.Thank you very much.
