The language of Oru
Glossary
Words, names, proverbs and deities from Firstborn of the Sun and Heir of the Shadow — drawn from Yorùbá language and cosmology.
200 entries
Words
Everyday Yorùbá words, foods and fabrics woven through the story.
Agbára(A)dorn-(Gba)-(Ra)m
Strength
Búbù(Bu)llish-(Boo)k
a long flowing garment worn by women in West Africa
Dùndún(Dun)e-(Dun)e
Sweet sound
Aṣọ-òkè(A)xe-(Sho)p (O)rdain-Cas(ca)de
Cloth from the west African hinterland
Ago(A)xe-(Go)liath
Watch/Clock
Ewé-efinrin(A)ble-(Wai)l (A)ble-(Fin)esse-(Rin)ging
Scent-leaf
Agbádá(A)bide-(Gba)-(Dar)ling
Flowing robe-like garment peculiar to males in West African countriess, especially Nigeria
Àmàlà(A)bide-(Mar)quee-(La)nd
Yam flour made to dough with hot water
Gbẹ̀gìrì(Gb)-(E)nd-(Gee)se-(Ree)l
Jute mallow and beans soup
Àmàlà àti Gbẹ̀gìrì
Yam flour dough and jute mallow and beans soup
ÀṣíríA(bide)-(Shi)-(Re)quest
Needs to be opened to see
Àkàrà(Acco)nting-(Ra)t
Bean cake
ÀpátaA(bide)-(Pa)rable-(Ta)ckle
Rock
Ìran(E)vangel-(Wron)g
Vision/Generation
Irú-ọmọ(I)magine-(Ru)le
Offspring/Seed
Àmàlà and Gbẹ̀gìrì
Yam flour, jute mallow and beans soup
Aṣọẹbí(A)vailable-(Sho)p-(E)ndow-(Bee)troot
Uniform wear
Àdìrẹ(A)vailable-(De)pend-(Re)nder
Tye and Dye fabric
Exclamations
Cries, oaths and outbursts as they fall in the mouth.
Irọ́(I)magine-(Ro)t
False!
Mù'ná jáde(Mo)on-(Nau)ghty (Ja)m-(Da)me
Bring out fire
Ẹ̀ẹ̀wọ̀(Aaaay)-(Wo)rm
Forbidden
Dìde! Fún mi ní agbára rẹ(De)cide-(Day)!
Stand up! Give me your power
Ọ̀dẹ̀(Au)thentic-(De)n
Fool! Dumb!
Ó ga jù(O) (Ga)bi (Ju)rassic
Outrageous!
Names
The names characters carry, and what they were given to mean.
(A)Bíọ́dúnA-Be-O
Born during a festival/celebration
Àbẹ̀níA-Be-Ni
Begged to have/Begged to be born
Adékọ̀yà (kọ̀yà)
The crown (royalty) rejects suffering/We have come to reject suffering
Adémilúà (Milúà)
The crown brings gathering & celebration/We have come to celebrate
Àdùkẹ́A-Du-Kẹ
Someone people compete or take turns to care for or pamper
ÀdùnnìA-Du-N-Ni
Sweet to have
ÀjàgbéA-Ja-Gbe
Fought to carry
Àkanní
Possession stumbled upon
̀Aníkẹ́
To be had and pampered
AníwúràA-Ni-Wu-Ra
Owner of Gold (Wealth)
Àríké
Loved and pampered upon being seen
ÀṣáA-sha
Eagle
Babatúndé
Father Returns
BánkóléBa-N-Ko-Le
Build my house for/together with me
BùnmiBu-N-Mi
Gift(ed) to me
ẸniìtànE-Ni-I-Tan
A historical personage, one born in ways and manners to be remembered
Èyítáyọ̀E-Yi-Ta-Yo
Worth being joyous over
Gbẹ́kẹ̀Gbẹ-Kẹ
Put trust in...
Káyọ̀déKa-Yọ-De
Brings joy along
Kẹ́hìndéKẹ-Yin-De
Last to arrive
Kẹni)
Not a yoruba word but a nickname for for Kéhinde
Máyọ̀wáMa-Yọ-wa
Brings joy along
Mọ́rèmíMọ-Re-Mi
Child that attracts my attention
ỌlátúnjíO-La-Tun-Ji
Wealth Wakes up again
Ọmọ'geỌ-Mọ-Ge
Someone who is particular about appearance and fashion
Ọmọ́tádéO-Mo-Ta-De
Child is up to the Crown/Child is good enough as the crown
Onílẹ̀O-Ni-Le
Owner of the land
Oyíndà(mọ́lá)O-Yin-Da-Mọ-La
Honey mixed with Wealth
Rẹ̀míRẹ-Mi
Brings/Brought me joy
ṢẹgẹShẹ-Gẹẹ
A nickname for "Ṣẹgun"
TáíwòTa-I-Wo
Taster the world
TèmiTe-Mi
Mine
̀TèmiL'ọrẹ (not Lọ́rẹ)
Mine's the Gift/This gift is mine
Tófaratì (Tofa)
One that can be rested/relied upon
Mẹ́fà
Six
Méje
Seven
Mẹ́sàn
Nine
Mẹ́wà
Ten
Mọ́kànlá
Eleven
Méjìlá
Twelve
Adékọ̀yàA-De-Ko-Ya
The crown (royalty) rejects suffering/We have come to reject suffering
AdémilúàA-De-Mi-Lu-A
The crown brings gathering & celebration/We have come to celebrate
ÀkànníA-kan-Ni
Possession stumbled upon
Àníkẹ́A-Ni-Ke
To be had and pampered
Àríkẹ́A-Ri-Ke
Loved and pampered upon being seen
BabátúndéBa-Ba-Tu-N-De
Father Returns
KẹniKẹ-Ni
Not a yoruba word but a nickname for for Kéhinde
TèmiL'ọrẹLọ-Rẹ
Mine's the Gift/This gift is mine
L'ọrẹLọ-Rẹ
Mine's the Gift/This gift is mine
TófaratìTo-Fa-(Ra-Ti)
One that can be rested/relied upon
TofaTo-Fa-(Ra-Ti)
One that can be rested/relied upon
Fúnkẹ́(Foo)l-(n)-(Che)mistry
Given to be cared for
Ọmọlẹwà(U)p-(Mo)ck-(Le)ns-(Wa)p
Child is beauty
Lẹwà(Le)ns-(Wa)p
Short form of Ọmọlẹwà
Abísọ́lá(A)rt-(Bi)n-(Su)m-(La)ck
Born into wealth
Ọlánrewájú(U)p-(La)b-(n)-(Ra)il-(Wa)ffle-(Ju)ly
Progressive wealth
Adékùgbé(Ar)t-(Day)-(Coo)l-(Gbe
The crown remains
Aládé(Ala)rm-(Day)
Owner of the Crown
Adérẹ̀mílẹ́kún(Ar)t-(Day)-(Re)gular-(Mi)st-(Le)cture-(Cu)mber-(n)
Comforted by the crown
Ọmọladùn(U)p-(Mo)ck-(La)ck-(Dun)e
Children are sweet
Ládùn(La)ck-(Dun)e
Short form of Ọmọladùn
Àjànàkú(Aja)r-(Nu)n-(Coo)l
Elephant
Tóyìn(To)ny-(Yean)
Worthy of Praise
Ọmọ́lékan(U)p-(Mo)ck-(La)ck-(Dun)e
One more child
Lékan(La)ce-(Cor)n
Short from of Ọmọ́lékan
Proverbs
Òwe — the sayings elders reach for when plain speech won't do.
Ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ ogun là ń mọ̀; Ẹnì kan kì í mọ ìparí i rẹ̀
We typically know how a war begins; no one can tell how it will end
Ẹni bá ṣetán à ti ta iyì àti ẹ̀yẹ t’ó ní, á rí ẹni ràá láì san'wó
Whoever is willing to sell their honour and prestige, will find someone who is ready to buy it without paying
Bí a bá sọ òkò s’ọ́jà, ará-ilé eni ní n bá
He who throws a stone in the market will hit his relative
Ohun tí Àgbàlagbà rí ní’jókò, Ọmọdé ò lè ríi ní’dúró
What an Elder sees while sitting down, a child can never see it while standing up
Ẹní bá ṣe ǹkan t'ẹ́nìkan ò ṣe rí, yóó rìí ǹkan t'ẹ́nìkan ò rí rí
He who does what no one has done before will see what no one has seen before
A fi Ọ́ j'ọba, ò ń ṣe àwúre; dákun, ṣé o fẹ́ jẹ oyè Ọlọ́run ni?
You have been crowned as a king, and yet you're making spells and charms; do you also want to be crowned God?
À á n pe ẹran t'ó ni'wo, ìgbín náà n yọ'jú
When animals with horns were called, the snail also showed up thinking it was worthy
Èèyàn boni lára j’aṣọ lọ; Ẹni tó l’áṣọ tí ò l’éèyàn, ìhòhò ló wà
People provide better cover than clothes; whoever has clothes but has no one, is naked
Àwòdì n fò fẹrẹrẹ, ó l'óun fẹ́ m'Olúwa. Ibi tí yóó fò dé, kò yé mi.
Àwòdì (a specie of Eagle that flies really high), says it wants to meet the Most High. Ridiculous! It has no idea the height it will have to fly to
Bí ó ti lè wù kí oòrùn mú gangan tó, bó pẹ́ bó yá, ó n bọ̀ wá fi àyè sílẹ̀ fún òṣùpá
No matter how hot the sun is up above, eventually it will leave room for the moon
Tó bá kù díẹ̀ kí ọmọ olóore jìn sí kòtò, mànàmáná á ṣiṣẹ́ imole fún un
Just before a good person trips and ends up in a ditch in the dark, lightning would light up their path
Ọgbọ́n ọdún yìí, wèrè èmíì
Today's wisdom, may be tomorrow’s madness
Dúrógbadé tó ń dẹ isà ejò, bí kò bá dúró gba adé, ọmọ míì yóò gbàá
A royal heir who unconscionably exposes himself to risk, hunting snakes, may find that someone else has been crowned king in his stead
Àjùmọ̀bí ò kan t'àánú; Ẹni orí rán sí'ni ló ń ṣe'ni lóore
To be related to someone by blood does not guarantee receiving favour from them; help comes only from those divinely sent to one
À ń sọ̀rọ̀ olè jíjà, aboyún náà ń dá sí i; Ṣíọ̀! odidi èèyàn ló gbé pamọ́ o.
We were condemning theft and the pregnant woman had the effrontry to join in; Isn’t she herself concealing a whole human?
Kí a tó dé ibi tí à ń lọ, a máa ń kọ́kọ́ dé ibi tí a kò fẹ́.
Before getting to our destination, we may have to get to where we’d rather not be.
Ọgbọ́n díẹ̀ agọ̀ díẹ̀, l’ẹ̀dá fi ńrí ilé ayé gbé; ọgbọ́n àgbọ́njù a máa pa ọlọ́gbọ́n lára.
A little wisdom combined with a little stupidity is how anyone gets to live in the world; excessive wisdom often proves harmful to the carrier, at the end.
Bí a bá dé ìlú táà léèyàn, ìwà rere làá ní
If one is a complete stranger in a town, one ought to simply be of good character.
Bí ọmọdé bá l'áṣọ bí àgbà, Kò lè lákìísà bí àgbà
Even though a lad has the same number of “clothes” as an elderly person, The number of his “rags” will not be the same as that which pertains to the elderly man.
Ibi tí à ń lọ là ń wò, a kì í wo ibi táa ti ṣubú
Focus on where you are going, not where you had fallen.
Àgbà t'ó b'ọ́mọ rẹ̀ sọ òtítọ́, ni kì í fi ojú rere wò
An elder who tells the truth to his child often gets frowned upon.
Ọ̀nà àjò kì í hàn gbangba fún arìnrìn-àjò
The path of a traveler is never clear.
Bó ti wù kí ojú kan tóbi tó, ojú méjì sàn ju ojú kan lọ
No matter how big an eye is, two eyes are better than one.
Wúrà tó máa dán, á la iná kọjá
A piece of gold that wants to shine must pass through fire first.
Ajá tí yóó sonù, kì í gbọ́ fèrè ode
A dog that is bound to get lost will not hearken to the hunter’s whistle.
Àgùtàn ò ní sùn láàárín ajá, kó má fi ara kó eégbọn.
A sheep won't lie in the midst of dogs and not get dog ticks on itself.
Tí ẹṣin bá dá’ni, a máa ń tun ùn gùn ni
If one is thrown by a horse, one ought to remount it again.
A kò gbọdọ̀ torí kòkòrò kó sí’ni lójú, ká wá ki igi bọ ojú ọ̀hún.
One shouldn’t poke a stick into one’s eye simply because an insect entered the eye.
A kì í dàgbà jù fún ohun tí a kò bá mò.
One is never too old to learn what one does not know
Gbólóhùn kan lè ba ọ̀rọ̀ je; Gbólóhùn kan náà lè tún ọ̀rọ̀ ṣe
Words are powerful; they can build up and pull down, use them wisely
Odò tí ó gbàgbé orísun rẹ̀ yóò gbẹ
The river that forgets its source will dry up
Àáké gbàgbé, ṣùgbọ́n igi kò gbàgbé
The axe forgets, but the tree remembers
A kìí ní k’ọ́mọ ma d’ẹ́tẹ̀, t’ó bá ti le dá’lé gbé.
We don't restrain a kid from bringing shame/reproach/disgrace upon himself, as long as he is able to live alone in (the bush) isolation
Òròmọadìyẹ ń bá àṣá ṣeré, ó rò pé ẹyẹ oko lásán ni
The chick gullibly plays with the hawk believing it to be an ordinary bird.
Ẹni tó ń lé nkan níwájú, ń fi àwọn ǹkan míràn sẹ́hìn.
Whoever is pursuing something ahead is actually leaving some other things behind.
Nígbà tí ènìyàn bá yó fún ìfé, gẹ̀rẹ́gẹ̀rẹ́ òkè máa n dàbí ẹ̀bá Ọ̀dàn
When a person is in love, a cliff becomes a meadow
Ojú ló ń kán àrẹ̀mọ tó ń dé fìlà, tó bá gorí ìtẹ́ bàbá a rẹ̀, yóò dé ohun tó ju àrán lọ.
A royal heir who’s wearing a cap is simply in haste; he’ll get to don far more than velvet caps upon ascending his father’s throne.
Olè tó gbé kàkàkí oba, níbo ni yóó gbé fon ón?
The thief that steals the king’s bugle/trumpet, where is he going to blow it?
Ọkàn kì í pa'rọ́
The heart does not lie.
Kò sí ohun t'ó ní ìbẹ̀rẹ̀ tí kò ní l'ópin
There is nothing that has a beginning that won’t have an ending.
Ìjì layé; t'ó bá fì sí'wájú, á tún fì s'ẹ́yìn ni
Life is a storm; if it blows forward, it will often blow backward, as well.
Mọ̀jà mọ̀sá ni ti akínkanjú; akínkanjú tó bá mọ̀ọ́ jà tí kò mọ̀ọ́ sá á bá Ògún lọ.
Warriors must know when to fight and when to retreat, a warrior who knows when to fight but not when to retreat will perish in battle.
Ojú tí yóò ròyìn ogun ò ní kú s’ógun
A warrior destined to recount war stories won’t perish in battle.
Bí inú bá bí baba tó bá gbé ọmọ rẹ̀ jù sí inú èèrùn, bí inú rẹ̀ bá rọ̀, inú ẹ̀èrùn lè má rọ̀
If a father in anger throws his child into a raid of army ants, by the time he calms down, the ants may still be raging
Ọjọ́ tí orí bá ti kúrò lára ejò ló di okùn lásán.
The day a snake loses it's head, is the day it becomes nothing but a mere rope
Ohun tí ó jẹ́ tìrẹ kò ní kọjá à rẹ
What is yours wouldn't pass you by
Ilé Ọba t'ójó, ẹwà l'ó bù sí i
When a king’s palace burns down, the rebuilt palace turns out even more beautiful.
Deities
The Òrìṣà and primordial beings who move behind the world.
Erinlẹ̀
old god of the earthThe Earth ElephantEh-Reen-Leh
Obàtálá
the old god of ressurrectionsent by Olódùmarè to participate in creationOh-Bah-Tah-Lah
Ògún
god of iron/metalOh-Goon
Ọya
god of the airAw-Yah
Ṣàngo
god of fireShawn-Goh
Odùduwà
god of existenceOh-Du-Du-Wah
Aganjù
god of the wilderness, desert and volcanoesAh-Gan-Ju
Irúnmọlẹ̀
Divine promordial beingsI-Roon-Moh-Leh
Olódùmarè
Supreme BeingO-lo-du-ma-re
Ọlọ́run
Owner of the HeavensO-lo-roon
Olófì
Variant of OlódùmarèO-lo-fi
Ọ̀ṣun
god of fresh water, fertility, and prosperityO-sun
Ọ̀rúnmìlà
god - witness to destinysent by Olódùmarè to participate in creationO-roon-mi-la
Ọ̀ṣọ́ọ̀ṣì
god of the forest, hunting, precisionO-sho-shi
Yemọja
MermaidYe-moh-jah
Ọbalúfọn
Legendary king and ancestorO-ba-loo-fun
Ọ̀ranyàn
Legendary king and ancestorO-run-yawn
Òrìṣà
gods associated with particular aspects of creation, natureO-ri-sha
Elédùmarè
Variant of OlódùmarèE-le-du-ma-re
Ẹ̀ṣù
god of authority, decision, enforcement of divine powersent by Olódùmarè to participate in creationE-shoe
Àjàká
Legendary king and ancestorA-ja-ka
Places
The lands of Oru and the realms beyond them.
Oru(O)bey-(Rw)anda
Heat
Òtútù(O)paque-(Two)-(Two)
Cold
Ìlú-Ọba(I)mbibe-(Lu)cid-(O)pportunity-(Ba)lloon
Land of the King
Gbàgede(Gb)a-(Ga)in-(De)
Arena
Ìlú-Ìmọ̀(I)mbibe-(Lu)cid-(Imbibe)-(Mu)ndane
Land of Knowledge
Ìlú-Ọ̀pọ(I)mbibe-(Lu)cid-(Or)dain-(Kpur)
Land of Plenty
Ìlú-Idán(I)mbibe-(Lu)cid-(I)magine-(Dun)geon
Land of Magic
Ìlú-Òdì(I)mbibe-(Lu)cid-(O)at-(De)cide
Land of Stronghold
Ìlú-Oníṣọ̀nà(I)mbibe-(Lu)cid-(O)bey-(Ni)ckel-(Sho)p-(Nu)t
Land of Artisans
Ọ̀run(Or)dain-((Ru)le-(N)dola
Heaven/Firmament
Ayé(A)rchaic)-(Ya)ble [Imagine able with a Y before it]
World
Ìlú Iná Àti Àpáta(I)mbibe-(Lu)cid (In)-(Or)der (A)vailable-(Ti)nder (A)vailable-(Kpa)-(Ta)ngible
Land of Fire and Rocks/Stones
Ìlú-Aláṣẹ(I)mbibe-(Lu)cid-(A)pple-(La)va-(She)ll
Land of Authority
Titles
Ranks, offices and forms of address in the kingdom.
AláàfinA-La-A-Fin
Custodian/Owner of the PalaceKing
Aya'ba (Aya Ọba)
Wife of the KingQueen
Àlùfáà-ÀgbàA-Lu-Fa-A-A-Gba
Senior PriestHigh Priest (Arch Priest)
Baálẹ̀-IkúBa-A-Le-I-Ku
Chief of Death
Baba-ÌtànBa-Ba-I-Tan
Man of StoriesMan who tells stories
Ìyá-AyéI-Ya-A-Ye
Mother of the WorldPowerful Priestess
Ìyá-IdánI-Ya-I-Dan
Mother of Magic
Ọmọ-Ọba (Ọmọ'ba)
Son of the KingPrince
Ọmọ Ìlú miO-Mo-I-Lu-Mi
Indigene of my townFellow Citizen
Ọmọ ìyá míO-Mo-I-Ya-Mi
Child of my motherMy blood/Fellow Citizen
Ab’Ọ́bakú(A)pple-(Bu)ckle-(Ba)d-(Coo)l
One who dies with the KingKing's righhand man
Aya ỌbaA-Ya-Ọba
Wife of the KingQueen
Ọmọ-ỌbaỌ-Mọ-Ọba
Son of the KingPrince
Olúwo(O)h-(Lu)cid-(Woe)ful
The prime/chief of the order
Ìyá-Nlá(I)n-(Ya)m-(N)-(La)ck
Great Mother
Yèyé-ìwẹ̀ (x2)Kan(ye)-Kan(ye?)-(E)volve-(We)ll
Mother of Baths
Oníṣègùn(O)h-(Ni)ckel-(Sha)pe-(Goon)
Herbalist/Pharmacist/Doctor
Alága(A)pple-(La)b-(Gha)na
Chairperson
Numbers
Counting, one through twelve.
Ọ̀kanỌ-Kan
One
MejiMẹ-Ji
Two
Mẹ́taMẹ-Ta
Three
Mẹ́rinMẹ-Rin
Four
MárùnMa-Run
Five
Mẹ́fàMe-Fa
Six
MéjeMe-Je
Seven
Mẹ́jọMe-Jọ
Eight
Mẹ́sànMẹ-San
Nine
Mẹ́wàMe-Wa
Ten
Mọ́kànláMọ-Kan-La
Eleven
MéjìláMe-Ji-La
Twelve