Yoruba

noun

Yor·​u·​ba ˈyȯr-ə-bə How to pronounce Yoruba (audio)
plural Yoruba or Yorubas
: a Niger-Congo language of southwestern Nigeria and parts of Benin and Togo
also : a member of any of the Yoruba-speaking peoples of this region
Yoruban noun or adjective

Examples of Yoruba in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ayra Starr—who sings in English, Yoruba, Nigerian Pidgin, and French—dropped her sophomore album, before going on to dominate the festival circuit all summer. Tariro Mzezewa, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2025 With a long history in the Caribbean and origins in West Africa—possibly stemming from the Ahanta, the Igbo, or the Yoruba—Junkanoo has long been a unique display of African culture and spirituality. Sasha C. Wells / Made By History, TIME, 26 Dec. 2024 The complexity of Cuba was also on display as many of the pilgrims are believers in Santería, an offshoot of the Yoruba religion brought to Cuba more than 200 years ago by African slaves. Patrick Oppmann, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024 Born in Cuba to Yemaya — a figure introduced in Shallow Waters — Oya inherits otherworldly powers from her Yoruba lineage. Anita Kopacz, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Yoruba 

Word History

Etymology

Yoruba Yorùbá

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Yoruba was in 1841

Dictionary Entries Near Yoruba

Cite this Entry

“Yoruba.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Yoruba. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

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