orúkọ rẹ
The English phrase "your name" is translated into Yoruba as orúkọ rẹ.
This phrase is used to refer to the name belonging to the person you are currently addressing.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of orúkọ, meaning "name" and rẹ, meaning "your" or "yours".
Which one should you use?
orúkọ rẹ is used when speaking to someone of equal or lower status. In contrast, you should use orúkọ yín to refer to "your name" when you want to show respect to an elder or a person of higher status.
How does it change in a sentence?
The possessive pronoun rẹ follows the noun orúkọ to indicate possession.
Did you know?
- The word orúkọ is used not just for people, but to name the 'destiny' or the spiritual essence a person possesses from birth.
- In many Yoruba households, a child's name is not just a label but a narrative of the circumstances surrounding their birth. Asking for a name can sometimes lead to a long story about the family's history.
- Because Yoruba is a tonal language, a slight change in the pitch of the syllables in orúkọ can completely change the meaning of the word from 'name' to other unrelated concepts. Mispronouncing the tones could result in saying something entirely different.
Examples in context
- Ṣé mo lè mọ orúkọ rẹ?Can I know your name?
Example conversation
Titi and Tunde meet for the first time at a party.
- TitiPẹlẹ, kí ni orúkọ rẹ?Hello, what is your name?
- TundeOrúkọ mi ni Tunde.My name is Tunde.
- TitiTunde, orúkọ rẹ dùn mọ́ mi.Tunde, your name sounds pleasant to me.
- TundeO ṣeun, Titi.Thank you, Titi.
