Yorùbá Names: The Structural and Cultural Denotation

Understanding the structure of Yoruba names is very important while teaching Yoruba language. The structure of Yoruba names mostly serves as the foundation for the structure of a speech, because Yoruba names are structured like phrases and sentences. e.g. Olú rẹ̀ mí lẹ́ kún - a sentence, the name is written as Olúrẹ̀mílẹ́kún.

There is no doubt personal and place names are some of the oldest elements in the Yoruba language. A study of these names will unveil a lot of facts about the Yoruba culture and importantly, the syntax and morphology of the Yoruba language.

I would like us to take a journey through classification of Yoruba names structurally and culturally, while I reference the book, "Yoruba names: their structure and their meanings by Modupe Oduyoye, 1971".

Kí  lo rí  lọ́ bẹ̀ tó fi wa ro ọwọ́ 

Literal Meaning: What did you see in the soup that made you hold back your hand

Denotative Meaning: 

Tijó tijó ní s'ọlọ́mọge, ọ̀rọ̀ abiyamọ ní s'adélébọ̀ .

Denotative meaning: A spinster cherishes dancing, while the heart of a married woman is in child upbringing.
Connotative meaning: We have different priorities based on our status.

Tètè gbéyàwó kóo má gbé ìyà wò, má tètè gbéyàwó kó lè ba gbé ìyà wò .

Denotative Meaning: Marry early so that you will not experience hardship; do not marry early that you may taste hardship.

Connotative Meaning: Do the right thing at the right time so that you can enjoy good benefits; do otherwise and face the consequence.

Tálágbádá yíò fi kú, yíyan la ó rò pé ó n yan.

Denotative Meaning: When a man in a big and attractive regalia is dying, people will think he is just stylish.
Connotative Meaning: People that do not take their problems seriously will not be taken seriously, till the situation gets out of hand.

Yoruba Proverb and Meaning.

Taa ní jẹ́ẹ́ ọdẹ -aperin níwájú  ọdẹ apààyàn.


Denotative Meaning: Who is the hunter who kills an elephant beside the hunter that kills human beings.
Connotative Meaning: This proverb is used when we are referring to a superior.  
   
  

Yoruba Proverb and Meaning.

-Taa ní í jẹ́ akúwárápá níwájú akúyányán?


Denotative meaning: Can we compare a person seized by epilepsy to someone that is dead?
Connotative meaning: Life challenges varies and they are in levels. Some are more complex than others. This proverb is used when we want to describe a situation as tougher than another.